Bucket List Destination
Andaman Islands
Andaman Islands Fishing
Destination Overview
The Andaman Islands are a chain of tropical islands in the Bay of Bengal, stretching between India and Southeast Asia. Although part of India, they sit much closer to Myanmar and Thailand than to the Indian mainland. Port Blair is the gateway to the fishery. From here, boats access offshore islands, reefs, channels, pinnacles and steep drop-offs surrounded by deep water. The underwater terrain is a major reason the fishing is so productive. Shallow coral reef can fall quickly into hundreds of metres of water, creating feeding areas for both reef predators and pelagic species.
Barren Island is one of the most distinctive fishing areas in the archipelago. The active volcano rises directly from the sea, with deep water and reef structure surrounding the island. It creates an unusual fishing environment where anglers can work surface lures over reef edges before moving into deeper water for tuna and other offshore species. The Andamans combine heavy reef fishing with bluewater fishing and have built an international reputation around giant trevally and dogtooth tuna.
Target Species & Fishing Style
Giant trevally are the main target in the Andaman Islands. GTs patrol reef edges, current lines, channels, points and submerged structure, where anglers target them with heavy spinning tackle and large poppers and stickbaits.
Dogtooth tuna are the other major drawcard. These fish live around steep coral drop-offs, reef passes, pinnacles and deep structure rather than roaming open water like many other tuna species. Vertical jigging is one of the key methods for targeting them, and the fight is often decided within the first few seconds as the fish attempts to reach the reef. The species list extends well beyond GTs and dogtooth. Green jobfish, rose jobfish, bohar snapper, groupers, emperors, brassy trevally, bluefin trevally, coral trout, wahoo and yellowfin tuna are all part of the fishery.
Heavy spinning tackle dominates the reef fishing. Poppers and stickbaits cover shallow reefs and current-swept structure, while vertical jigs reach dogtooth tuna, jobfish, groupers and other species holding deeper. Moving offshore opens another side of the fishery. Trolling and bait fishing around deep structure and seamounts produce wahoo, tuna and billfish. Both black and blue marlin occur throughout the wider Andaman Sea, with fish concentrated around offshore structure holding skipjack tuna and other baitfish.
Seasons & Peak Fishing
The fishing season is dictated by the monsoon. The main season runs from November through May, when calmer seas allow boats to reach the outer reefs, islands and offshore structure. The southwest monsoon arrives from mid-May and continues through September, bringing stronger winds, rain and rougher seas across the region.
For a fishing trip, January through April is the strongest all-round window. These months combine access to offshore grounds with good opportunities for GTs, dogtooth tuna and the wider reef species mix. January through April is also the established billfish season in the Andaman Basin, with both black and blue marlin found around the offshore seamounts. February and March sit right in the middle of the season and are excellent months for anglers wanting to combine heavy reef casting, jigging and offshore fishing within the same trip.
Who This Trip Is For
The Andaman Islands suit anglers who enjoy heavy saltwater fishing, casting large surface lures and jigging around deep reef structure. The fishing can be physically demanding, particularly when targeting giant trevally and dogtooth tuna, so it is a better fit for anglers comfortable using heavier tackle for long periods. It also suits anglers who want variety rather than focusing on a single species. A trip can include GT popping, stickbaiting, deep jigging and offshore fishing for tuna, wahoo and billfish.