Roatan Fish Species & Best Bite Seasons
What to catch in Roatan year-round. Complete species guide from Blue Marlin to Bonefish, plus month-by-month best-bite windows.
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12 Sport Fish You'll Catch in Roatan.
Every trip aboard Dos Reyes Roatan Charter's 6 elite fishing trips targets specific species based on the season, water conditions, and what you want to catch. Below is a breakdown of the sport fish available in Roatan waters and when each is at peak. For a broader look at the full fleet including snorkeling and island tour options, see the excursions hub.
Blue Marlin
The deep-water trophy of Roatan. Marlin run the outer drop-offs and Cayman Trench edges most of the year, with peak action November through February. Trolling with rigged ballyhoo or artificial lures at 6 to 8 knots along the 1,000-fathom curve is our primary technique.
Wahoo
Fast, aggressive, and delicious. Wahoo strike hard on high-speed trolled skirts and ballyhoo. Best action is the cooler months when water temps drop into the high 70s.
Mahi-Mahi (Dorado)
Vibrant, acrobatic, and always a crowd pleaser. Mahi run in schools around floating structure and weed lines. Peak season is winter through spring.
Yellowfin Tuna
Yellowfin move through the Bay Islands offshore waters in summer. Live bait and vertical jigging produce the most consistent hookups.
Blackfin Tuna
Smaller cousin of the yellowfin but always around. Excellent light tackle target on our half-day charters.
Barracuda
Ambush predator found reef-side. Cast tube lures or troll shallow-diving plugs along the reef edge. Great pull on light tackle.
Kingfish (King Mackerel)
Reef-adjacent open water target. Trolling with drone spoons or slow-trolling live bait works best.
Grouper (Black, Red, Nassau)
Bottom fishing over structure produces consistent grouper hookups. Our jig and bottom fishing charter specializes in this.
Snapper (Cubera, Red, Mutton)
Structure and reef-edge bottom fishing. Snapper are excellent table fare and abundant year-round in Roatan.
Bonefish
Flats species. Our private flat fishing charter targets Bonefish on the tidal shallows off Sandy Bay and Coxen Hole.
Permit
The holy grail of the flats. Sight-casting to tailing Permit in shallow water requires patience and precision.
Tarpon
Silver King. Rolling schools in the mangrove backwaters and outer flats. Fly and light tackle.
Roatan Fishing Seasons.
Roatan fishing is productive year-round, but each season has its stars. Use this as a guide when planning your trip — Captain Julio Bodden matches your target species to the right vessel setup and route.
December — February
Peak Marlin season, Wahoo running strong, Mahi arriving in numbers. Water temps 78 to 80°F. Trade winds moderate.
March — May
Bonefish and Permit tailing on the flats. Yellowfin tuna moving in. Mahi still strong. Calmest sea conditions of the year.
June — August
Tarpon season peaks. Yellowfin tuna consistent. Warm water, lighter winds, longer days.
September — November
Transition season. Kingfish and Barracuda active reef-side. Fewer boats on the water — best time for solitude.
Match your target to the right charter.
Not sure which trip fits your target species? Here is how our four fishing charters map to what you want to catch:
- 01
Private Morning Fishing Charter in Roatan
Prime early-hours window for Wahoo, Mahi, Barracuda, Kingfish. 4 hours on the water.
- 02
Afternoon Fishing Roatan
Perfect for reef-edge Grouper, Snapper, Kingfish. Sunset run back to marina.
- 03
Full Day Deep Sea Fishing Roatan
Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo. Reach the deep drop-offs and seamounts with time to work them.
- 04
Jig and Bottom Fishing Charter
Grouper, Snapper, Amberjack. Vertical jigging and live bait over structure.
- 05
Private Flat Fishing Charter
Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon on the tidal flats. Sight-casting and light tackle.
- 06
Night Fishing Charter
Reef Snapper, Grouper, Squid. A different Roatan under the stars.