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FISHING CALENDAR · PERU (PACIFIC COAST & AMAZON)

Peru (Pacific coast & Amazon) Fishing Calendar

Northern Peru (Cabo Blanco, El Ñuro, Máncora) is famous big-game water: marlin and swordfish are best in the cool months around July-August, while perico (mahi) runs from spring into summer and is closed by PRODUCE from May to August. Peru has official minimum sizes for many fish, like cabrilla 32 cm and corvina 55 cm. In the Amazon, the dry season (about June to November) is best, and paiche is closed October to February.

Government fish & wildlife updates

Month by month

Peak (source says best)In season / caughtSpawningClosed seasonOpen, no official month data
FishJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecNotes
Offshore (Cabo Blanco, El Ñuro, Máncora)
Black marlin (merlín negro)Fishing World Guide gives April-November, best June-October. Cabo Blanco's famous fish came in April-August, including the 1,560 lb world record on 4 August 1953; July-August is where both agree. Local captains told Marine CSI the fish now show up later in the year.[1][2][3][14]
Striped marlin (merlín rayado)Fishing World Guide says April-November with a June-October peak, but El Ñuro harpoon landings were mostly in November-December, so sources don't agree on a peak.[1][4]
Swordfish (pez espada)A 2021 study of the El Ñuro fishery found most swordfish in the cold season (May-November), peaking in July and August. Official minimum size 150 cm.[4][9]
Yellowfin tuna (atún aleta amarilla)Fishing World Guide says yellowfin are caught all year off Cabo Blanco. Official minimum size 60 cm.[1][9]
Perico (dorado / mahi-mahi)PRODUCE sets the perico season (Oct-Apr since 2014; 1 Sep 2026-30 Apr 2027 this year) and bans it the rest of the year. Minimum size 70 cm fork length. IMARPE data show most fish off Paita in November-December and farther south in December-January.[5][6][7][8]
Inshore & rocks
Cabrilla (Peruvian rock seabass)Caught all year along the coast (Pucusana, Paracas, Lima), per Fishing World Guide. Official minimum size 32 cm.[1][9]
CorvinaCaught all year from shore and boats, per Fishing World Guide. Official minimum size 55 cm.[1][9]
Freshwater (Amazon)
Peacock bass (tucunaré)Low water packs the fish into channels and lakes. Lorenzo Expeditions says June-November is best around Iquitos and Peru Jungle says August-November; both agree on August-November.[10][11]
Paiche (arapaima)PRODUCE bans taking paiche from 1 October to the end of February (everywhere except the Putumayo basin) while it breeds.[12][13]

Never keep: None of these fish is banned all year, but perico is closed May-August and wild paiche October-February by PRODUCE.[5][6][12]

Bait & rig for each fish

Black marlin (merlín negro)

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.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Striped marlin (merlín rayado)

Bait: Live mackerel and caballito (green jack), and live or rigged ballyhoo.

Lures: Small to medium marlin lures (6–10 in) trolled at 7–9 knots.

Leader: 80–150 lb mono, 15 ft.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Swordfish (pez espada)

Bait: Common starting baits are ballyhoo, sardines, flying fish, squid strips or other locally abundant forage matched to size.

Lures: Trolling heads, feathers, plugs, spoons and metal jigs are common; match lure size and color to local forage.

Rig: Specialized deep-drop bait rig with breakaway/controlled weight and lights where lawful.

Leader: Heavy abrasion-resistant leader, often 150–300 lb class in specialized swordfish systems.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Yellowfin tuna (atún 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.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Perico (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.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Local fishing reports — what’s biting now

Sources

  1. Fishing World Guide - Pesca en Perú
  2. Sport Fishing Magazine - The Greatest Big-Game Fishing the World Has Ever Known (Cabo Blanco)
  3. Marine Conservation Science Institute - Cabo Blanco Marlin Study
  4. Pazos-Niño de Guzmán et al. 2021 - Harpoon fishery for billfishes at El Ñuro, Peru (Rev. Biol. Mar. Oceanogr.)
  5. PRODUCE - Resolución Ministerial 245-2014-PRODUCE (perico season) via FAOLEX
  6. Infomercado - Cuota de perico 2026-2027 (RM 00334-2026-PRODUCE)
  7. Actualidad Ambiental - Inicia la temporada de pesca del perico (2024)
  8. IATTC - Aspectos generales de la pesquería de perico en Perú (presentation)
  9. Resolución Ministerial 209-2001-PE - tallas mínimas de captura (FAOLEX)
  10. Lorenzo Expeditions - Peacock bass fishing in Iquitos
  11. Peru Jungle (Amazonia Expeditions) - Fishing in the Amazon
  12. El Peruano - RM 00320-2020-PRODUCE (modifies RM 215-2001-PE, paiche season)
  13. Actualidad Ambiental - San Martín: inspections of paiche during the veda (2018)
  14. PBS Nature - Superfish: Cabo Blanco and its marine life

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.