Some great Roatan fishing tips

Roatan boasts fantastic fishing all year round. However, certain times of the year are better for specific types of fish. So, when's the best time to be on this gorgeous Bay Island with your fishing gear? Here’s our best advice:

Generally, you'll have the best luck fishing in Roatan from April to September. The weather is usually calm during these months, and the water conditions are perfect for all sorts of fishing. Inshore angling for bonefish, permit and tarpon is really good through the summer, and, offshore, the billfish, like marlin and sailfish, are at their peak between May and August. Late summer can be excellent, too.

For example, on Roatan’s West End, the annual Roatan International Fishing Tournament is planned in September, and that event draws lots of folks to Coxen Hole and around the western end of the island. The good news? The fishing here, on the East End, where Ocean Breeze Villa is located, is just as good, but you won’t find the crowds. Just some advice in the event you were considering a visit come September. 

What's biting in Roatan and when?

If you're dreaming of reeling in a big marlin or sailfish, plan your trip for some of the warmest months of the year in Roatan. This is when these majestic migratory fish are just off our shores, and it’s when most anglers tangle with their trophies.

If you’re into tuna fishing, the blackfin and yellowfin tuna start to show up in April and they’re prolific all the way through July. We regularly catch blackfin tuna just off “the wall,” right out in front of Ocean Breeze Villa. This is where the Mesoamerican Reef drops off into the deep, blue water of the Caribbean. Fishing can be so good, that we rarely have to leave sight of the house. 

Bonefish, permit and tarpon

These fish — particularly bones and permit — are a bit more dependent on the tides than are the blue-water fish our offshore folks chase. Most fly fishers will look for dark night skies and modest to moderate tides when they plan a visit to Roatan. Honestly, though, the best time to come down to chase bones and permit on our flats is … whenever you have the time to do it. We had two groups with us a couple of weeks ago, and our guides were telling us that the tides were not ideal. Regardless, both groups saw permit, and some smaller fish came to hand. 

Tarpon are around all summer, and the warmer it is, the bigger the fish that move into the shallows. It’s almost never a bad time to chase tarpon here in the Bay Islands. 



More offshore targets

Wahoo, those speedy and elusive fish, are more common from October to February when the water is a bit cooler. Dorado (mahi-mahi) are abundant from March to June. You'll often find them near floating debris and sargassum patches, so always take a minute to fish around that structure. Also, shallow wrecks are great fishing targets for pelagics that migrate through. 

Bottom fishing

Bottom fishing is good all year round! However, the calmer months from April to September usually make for a more comfortable experience.Weather Wise

Keep in mind that October to January is the rainy season, which can sometimes bring rough seas. Fishing is still possible, but conditions might be less predictable. For calmer seas and generally more enjoyable fishing, aim for April to September.