Phuket fishing - Complete guide to deep-sea game-fishing

Phuket Travel Guide, Thailand

Big Game Fishing

Phuket is achieving international recognition
as a major player in the gamefishing world

Game for fishing?

Mahi mahi (dorado), tuna, sailfish, marlin and other species abound in the blue waters of the Andaman. Depending on the tides, you can test your skills against the renowned marlin at the Drop-off, near the Similan Islands.
The deep blue waters of the Andaman Sea are ideal for gamefish, and the region is on the migratory paths of classic fighting fish such as marlin. At certain times of the year, the sailfish fishing compares with anywhere in the world; and this is one of the top three queenfish venues. Check out our Seasons/Species chart for the best times of the year.

Fish galore

As Phuket's gamefishing industry is still in its infancy, there is an abundance of gamefish to be found in the region. Mangrove estuaries and shallow island reefs are home to numerous species of light-tackle gamefish including sea bass, barracuda, giant trevally, queenfish and mangrove jack. Farther out in the deeper waters of the Andaman Sea roam a multitude of blue-water, pelagic species like black marlin and sailfish, as well as king mackerel and tiger sharks.

Near enough

The Racha Islands are a popular destination only a couple of hours from Phuket, and between these two locations alone are just about every species of gamefish found in the Pacific. Here you can go after such prizes as giant trevally, dolphinfish (dorado), barracuda, wahoo and rainbow runners. Among several other popular destinations from Phuket are the Similan Islands and "The Drop-off."

Year-round

Good fishing is available all year around. The period between June-August, when the seas can get rough, is especially good for sailfish. Gamefishing boats generally fish in the lee of islands such as Racha Noi and Racha Yai, during this season. Late November is a good time to go after marlin, tuna and any number of other fighting fish. By this time, the monsoons have settled, and the fish are biting.

Remember November

Virtually every species of bluewater fish can be caught right now. Sailfish are common off Racha Yai and juvenile black marlin show up all along the west coast of Phuket, providing great medium- to light-tackle fishing.

Meanwhile, 90km west of Phuket at the continental shelf drop-off, there is a fair chance of larger black marlin, often 100-300kg. Also found are yellowfin tuna (20kg), wahoo (40kg) and numerous barracuda, dorado and skipjack tuna.

The chance to do battle with sharks is good as tiger, hammerhead, bull and the occasional mako shark take the bait during day or night-fishing trips.

Fishing contest

In November, the annual Phuket International Sportfishing Classic draws teams from around the world. The Phuket Sportfishing Classic tournament is held during this month.

Phuket International Sportfishing Classic

Catch and release

Fishing is not every conservationist's favourite sport. But operators and amateur enthusiasts alike are however coming to recognise the importance of sustainable gamefishing practices. An important part of this is the practice of releasing prizes such as marlin and sailfish unharmed. More and more, local operators are encouraging this trend. The Phuket Sportfishing Classic, for example, has from its inception insisted that billfish be recorded and then released alive, if they are to count as points in the competition. All sharks caught must also be released. The contest also clearly marks areas such as Shark Point, a marine wildlife sanctuary, as being out of bounds.

Boats for hire

While most charter companies are booked far in advanced for multi-day excursions, fully equipped sportfishing boat for one-day outings are readily obtained. Aloha Tours and Blue Water Anglers have small fleets of local craft and imported sportsfishing vessels for charter. They also offer daily join-in day trips. The standard one-day charter on a professional boat like the "Andaman Hooker" or Phuket Big Game Fishing's Dorado including all gear, water, soft drinks and lunch runs at about US$350 per day (up to 6 persons, 8.30am-6.30pm).

Generally it's cheaper to rent a boat for light-tackle inshore fishing; 6,500 baht for 6-8 persons for 5-6 hours of fishing.

Renting a Thai longtail boat and trying the old method of hand-jigging for fish is a novel experience. Only 400-600 baht/hour, for 3-4 people, it's a very relaxing way to spend an afternoon.