People ask me this question more than any other: "When is the best time to go spearfishing in Panama?" And my honest answer is: it depends on what you're hunting.
Panama's Pacific coast — and specifically the waters around Santa Catalina and Coiba National Park — is productive year-round. Unlike many destinations that have a narrow window, here you can have an exceptional trip in virtually any month. But if you want to optimize for specific species, visibility or conditions, timing matters. Here's what I've learned after more than a decade diving these waters every week.
The Two Seasons You Need to Know
Panama's Pacific coast operates on two main seasons driven by the Intertropical Convergence Zone — and understanding what each one does to the water is what separates a good trip from an exceptional one.
- Dry season (January – April): From February onwards, offshore trade winds intensify and generate a powerful upwelling — cold, nutrient-rich water rises from the deep, transforming the Pacific into something extraordinary. Visibility spikes (15–30m+), water temperatures drop to 24–26°C, and the offshore banks come alive with yellowfin tuna, wahoo and large pelagics. My personal favourite time of year.
- Wet season (May – November): Rain arrives and water warms back up (27–30°C). Dorado (mahi-mahi) peak from October through January in the warmer water. Reef species are hyperactive. June and July are typically the best months of the wet season — good visibility, excellent reef hunting, and often surprisingly calm windows offshore.
Neither season is bad for spearfishing. The fish change, the hunting style changes — but the opportunity is there every month of the year. We are open and ready to guide you whenever you come.
Month-by-Month Breakdown
Water at its warmest (27–30°C). October through January are the prime months for dorado (mahi-mahi) — schooling fish, fast and spectacular to catch. Reef hunting excellent year-round. Humpback whales present July–October. Cubera snapper, amberjack and roosterfish very active throughout.
The offshore trade winds intensify and the upwelling begins — cold Pacific water rises, nutrients flood the surface and the offshore banks come alive. Yellowfin tuna arrive in force from February. Visibility spikes to 20–35m. These are genuinely epic months — the kind of days you talk about for years.
The best of the dry season. Tuna at peak density, some of the largest individual fish of the year appearing in March and April. Wahoo active. Visibility exceptional. Pietro’s personal favourite window — flat seas, cold blue water and fish everywhere offshore.
Still very strong offshore fishing. Rain begins to arrive but windows between systems remain wide. Reef species becoming more active as water warms. A fantastic month many visitors overlook — fewer boats, same quality of fishing.
Typically the best months of the wet season. Visibility holds well, reef hunting is exceptional, and there are often solid offshore windows. June and July consistently produce great days — with far fewer tourists than the dry season peak.
Rainiest months of the year but still very productive on the reef. Shorter offshore windows, but the hunters who come in August and September often have unforgettable reef days. Cubera snapper, grouper and amberjack at their most aggressive.
Pietro's take: My favourite time of year is the dry season — January through April — when the upwelling transforms the Pacific and the tuna arrive offshore. But my second favourite? June and July. The reef is on fire, there's nobody else out there, and some of the most memorable days I've had on the water happened in the middle of the wet season. Don't let the calendar decide for you — tell me when you can come and I'll tell you honestly what to expect.
Targeting Specific Species
Yellowfin Tuna — February to May
Yellowfin tuna arrive at the offshore banks of Pacific Panama from February onwards, driven by the cold upwelling generated by the offshore trade winds. Individuals over 100kg are encountered regularly. The peak window is February through April, when schools are densest and the dry season keeps seas flat. May remains excellent before the rains fully arrive.
Cubera Snapper — Year-Round
Cuberas are the backbone of reef spearfishing here. Big ones (10–25kg) are resident in the rocky outcrops and drop-offs around the islands year-round. July and August tend to produce the most active feeding, but I've had exceptional cubera hunts in every single month of the year.
Roosterfish — March to July
Roosterfish are one of the most exciting inshore targets — they fight like nothing else. March through July is when they appear in greatest numbers along the sandy beaches and rocky points. April and May are peak roosterfish months along our coastline.
Wahoo — November to March
Fast, lean and absolutely delicious — wahoo are a bluewater prize. They appear with the dry season. Mid-water drifts at offshore banks in December and January often produce shots at wahoo up to 30–40kg.
Dorado / Mahi-Mahi — October to January
Dorado thrive in warm water, and the warmest months in Pacific Panama run from October through January. These are the best months for mahi-mahi — schooling fish around debris lines and current edges. October through December are typically exceptional, with schools of 5–15kg fish common and occasional 25kg+ specimens appearing.
Visibility — What to Expect
Visibility is what most divers care about most. Here's an honest breakdown:
- February – April (upwelling / dry season peak): 20–35m on reef, exceptional offshore clarity driven by the cold upwelling
- January and May (shoulder): 12–22m, very good — visibility begins improving in January as dry season builds
- June – July (early wet season): 10–20m — typically the best visibility of the wet season, still very solid
- August – October (deepest wet season): 5–15m — variable after heavy rain, but recovers fast; reef hunting remains excellent regardless
- November – December (transition): Improving steadily, warmer water and good dorado fishing as the year ends
The important thing to understand is that even at 8–10m visibility, the reef hunting here is phenomenal. Visibility affects blue water hunting more than reef hunting — fish don't care about the visibility, they care about the structure and the food.
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
Tell me when you're thinking of visiting and I'll give you an honest assessment of what to expect and what species to target. Every trip is planned around your goals — not a calendar.
Chat with Pietro on WhatsAppMy Honest Recommendation
If you can only come once and want the most complete experience — offshore tuna, exceptional visibility, flat seas and reef hunting — February through April is the window. The upwelling has fully kicked in, the tuna are there, and the Pacific is at its most powerful and clear. This is peak season for a reason.
My personal favourites? The dry season from January through April for the offshore action — and June and July for the wet season. The reef is extraordinary, the crowds are gone, and some of the best days I have ever had on the water happened in June.
If you can only come in August or September — come anyway. The reef does not sleep. The cubera snapper, grouper and amberjack do not care about the calendar.
The Pacific off Santa Catalina fishes well in every month of the year. What changes is what you hunt and how you hunt it. Tell us when you can come — we will tell you exactly what to expect and put you in the right spot.
— Pietro Ciotti, Spearbaby