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FISHING CALENDAR · COLOMBIA (PACIFIC COAST & ORINOCO)
Colombia (Pacific coast & Orinoco) Fishing Calendar
On the Pacific coast around BahĂa Solano and NuquĂ, lodges say inshore fishing is best from March to June, peaking in April and May when the sardine run brings sailfish, roosterfish and cubera close to shore. Offshore marlin season runs September to January and peaks in November. In 2022 Colombia's Constitutional Court struck down sport fishing; a 2025 law then created a legal 'tourism fishing' category with AUNAP permits for operators. Peacock bass in the Vichada and Orinoco region are best in the dry season, January to March.
Government fish & wildlife updates
- AUNAP – Autoridad Nacional de Acuicultura y Pesca — Colombia's fisheries authority: vedas, permits and tourism-fishing rules
Month by month
| Fish | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific – offshore | |||||||||||||
| Black marlin | Anigua Beach House (BahĂa Solano) gives a September–January season with the peak in November.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Blue marlin | Anigua Beach House gives a September–January season with the peak in November.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Pacific sailfish (pez vela) | Sport Fishing magazine and Black Sands Lodge say sailfish crowd near shore in April–May with the sardine run. Anigua lists sailfish with its September–January offshore season, peaking in November.[1][3][4] | ||||||||||||
| Yellowfin tuna (atún aleta amarilla) | Sources disagree: Black Sands Lodge says April–June near shore, while Anigua says September–January offshore with a November peak. No shared peak month.[2][4] | ||||||||||||
| Wahoo (peto) | Anigua Beach House: season March–June, peak April–May.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Dorado (mahi-mahi) | BahĂa Solano lodges list dorado offshore but give no months.[1][4] | ||||||||||||
| Pacific – inshore & rocks | |||||||||||||
| Roosterfish (pez gallo) | Anigua Beach House: season March–June, peak April–May.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Cubera snapper (pargo dientón) | Anigua Beach House says March–June with an April–May peak; Black Sands Lodge says April–June is best.[1][2][4] | ||||||||||||
| Tarpon (sábalo) | Tarpon have moved into the Pacific through the Panama Canal; Anigua Beach House gives March–June, peak April–May.[1][2][3] | ||||||||||||
| Black snook (rĂłbalo negro) | Sport Fishing magazine and Black Sands Lodge name Pacific snook as a target, but give no months.[3][4] | ||||||||||||
| Freshwater – Orinoco & Vichada | |||||||||||||
| Peacock bass (tucunarĂ© / pavĂłn) | FishingBooker says January–March is best and the Vichada region shines December–March; Orinoco River Lodge runs December–April. Fishing is best in the dry season when water drops. The AUNAP OrinoquĂa veda (after Easter to 31 May) limits selling and moving food fish.[5][6][7][8] | ||||||||||||
Never keep: In the Bita River basin (Vichada), AUNAP forbids recreational fishing for royal peacock bass (Cichla intermedia), blue arowana and valentĂłn catfish (Resolution 2877 of 2022).[8]
Bait & rig for each fish
Black marlin
Bait: Live skipjack, bonito and small yellowfin tuna.
Lures: Big marlin lures (10–14 in) on 80-lb gear.
Leader: 80–150 lb mono, 15 ft.
Blue marlin
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo, mackerel and live tunas.
Lures: Large skirted trolling lures.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
Pacific sailfish (pez vela)
Bait: Live goggle-eyes, pilchards, threadfin herring and ballyhoo.
Lures: Small trolling lures and rigged ballyhoo.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Yellowfin tuna (atĂşn aleta amarilla)
Bait: Live baits (blue runners, bonito) and chunks.
Lures: Spreader bars, skirted lures, poppers and stick baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
Wahoo (peto)
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo and live baits on wire.
Lures: High-speed trolling lures and lipped diving plugs on wire.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Use heavy abrasion/bite leader; many wahoo anglers add short wire or cable because of the teeth.
Dorado (mahi-mahi)
Bait: Ballyhoo, flying fish, squid and cut bait to keep a school near the boat.
Lures: Skirted trolling lures, small feathers and bucktail jigs.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 30–60 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common mahi start; increase for abrasion or mixed wahoo water.
Roosterfish (pez gallo)
Bait: Live sardines, mullet, ladyfish and small jacks (caballito).
Lures: Big poppers and stickbaits, and long-casting metal lures from the beach.
Leader: 30–60 lb fluorocarbon.
Cubera snapper (pargo dientĂłn)
Bait: Live lobsters (where legal), big live fish and whole squid.
Lures: Large jigs and swimbaits on heavy tackle.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Tarpon (sábalo)
Bait: Live crabs, mullet, pinfish, threadfin herring and large shrimp.
Lures: Swimbaits, soft-plastic jerkbaits, plugs and flies; small jigs for baby tarpon.
Rig: A documented tarpon option is a live-line/live-bait rig using main line, leader, a circle hook and live bait without added weight. Component strength and size must match the fish and local rules.
Leader: A strong monofilament leader helps resist contact with the gill plate and tail.
Local fishing reports — what’s biting now
- FishingBooker – Colombia — Charter listings with catch reports and the month's top catches
Sources
- Sportquest Holidays – Solo Anigua Beach House, BahĂa Solano
- Sportquest Holidays – Anigua Beach House Ultimate Saltwater Adventure
- Sport Fishing magazine – Colombia: Remote Fishing Frontier
- Fly Water Travel – Black Sands Lodge, BahĂa Solano
- FishingBooker – Colombia fishing charters
- Aardvark McLeod – Orinoco River Lodge, Colombia
- Red's Fly Shop – Akuani River Lodge (Vichada)
- AUNAP – BoletĂn: nuevas resoluciones para la OrinoquĂa (Res. 2663 y 2877 de 2022)
- Blu Radio – La Corte Constitucional tumbó la pesca deportiva (2022)
- El Espectador – Pesca turĂstica en Colombia: el proyecto de ley (2024)
- Ley 2501 de 2025 – pesca de turismo (texto publicado)
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every month on this calendar comes from the sources above. Empty boxes mean no official source gives those months. Rules change — check the agency page before you keep a fish.
On the bay, in the mangroves or on the ocean, the everyday struggles get left at the dock — for those few hours it’s just you, the water and peace.