Where the bait moved
A productive month still depends on bait, water color, currents and the distance fish are holding from the marina.
Local patterns · twelve months on the water
Puerto Vallarta fishing seasons
See when eight of Puerto Vallarta’s most popular game fish are fair, good, or at their seasonal best—then check Stan’s latest report before choosing your charter.
A planning guide, not a promise
Start with the season. Finish with current conditions.
Water temperature, currents, bait and weather can move a bite forward or back. Use this chart to choose a target window, then use the latest fishing reports and a conversation with Stan to make the final call.
Interactive season planner
Choose a month or target species.
The full chart remains visible and indexable. Filters only help you compare it faster.
Selected outlook
Best fishing in October
- Excellent
- Good
- Fair or developing
| Species | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Fair | |
| Good | Good | Poor | Fair | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | |
| Good | Good | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | |
| Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | |
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | |
| Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Fair | Excellent | |
| Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | |
| Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair |
Seasonal ratings preserve Master Baiters’ original Puerto Vallarta availability chart. Conditions vary year to year. View the legacy chart.
Use local context
Three things a chart cannot tell you.
How much range you need
Bay fishing and offshore banks require different charter lengths. The right boat and departure time matter as much as the calendar.
What happened this week
Stan’s current fishing reports are the final layer: recent catches, realistic expectations and the grounds producing now.
Talk to the people on the dock
Have dates in mind?
Tell us your dates, group size, and target species. We will help match you with the right boat and conditions.