Best Times & Seasons to Fish Antigua & Barbuda (Full Guide)

Antigua & Barbuda are home to world-class fishing but it often gets overlooked by anglers. Knowing the best time and seasons to fish Antigua can lead to the trip to truly remember.

The best time to fish in Antigua & Barbuda is during the summer months when many of the species migrate into the waters around. This goes from May to October, though some species peak during the winter months such as sailfish, marlin, and bonefish.

Fish SpeciesBest Times to Fish in the Antigua & Barbuda
MarlinThe best season is March through July.
SailfishNovember through March is the best fishing season for local sailfish.
Mahi MahiNovember through May the fishing season with January being the peak month.
TunaYear-round availability. August through February is the best times.
King MackerelFebruary through May is the peak kingfish season.
TarponThe best fishing window is March through October.

Antigua supports fishing all around the year but provides the best fishing seasons from spring to fall. There are always more than enough fish species for you to catch during these seasons, and you should put your fishing skills to the test from March through October.

You will find several fish species in the waters of Antigua. These fish species have their fishing seasons, which gives you the best time to catch them. You should visit the waters of Antigua during these times for the best angling.

mahi mahi caught by an angler
(Image courtesy of Mystic Amara Fishing Charters (Jolly Harbour) & Fishing Booker)

Best Times to Fish Antigua

Although fishing runs throughout the year in Antigua, the best season for fishing runs from spring to fall. You should fish the waters of Antigua from March through October to make the best catch. The fishing season can also extend to winter, depending on the fish species you catch.

Another important thing you have to consider when fishing in Antigua is the best time to go fishing in the day.

You have to know the best time to fish as it will give you direct and easy access to the fish species you want to catch, and it will make your fishing trip worthwhile and comfortable.

There are different fish species, and they all have their active time, and this is the time you should fish them. So, if you are targeting a fish species that is active in the morning, you should visit the waters of Antigua in the morning.

Some fish species are active throughout the day, so you can fish at whatever comfortable time you want. But most times, fish species are active in the morning, making the morning the best time to fish in Antigua.

Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Antigua & Barbuda

These charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a great value. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing ChartersLocation
Mystic Amara Fishing ChartersJolly Harbour, Antigua & Barbuda 
Overdraft Fishing ChartersEnglish Harbour, Antigua & Barbuda
H2O Fishing ChartersEnglish Harbour, Antigua & Barbuda

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.

Antigua Species Breakdown: Best Time

You will find numerous fish species in the waters of Antigua. Antigua is the home to various fish species with different sizes, varying strength and aggressiveness, tasty meat, and good commercial price. It is a place for anglers to explore every of their fishing skills on their preferred fish species.

Here are some of the fish species you will find in Antigua;

King Mackerel

King mackerels are one of the most common migratory fish species you will find in Antigua. They are mostly seen and available during the summer. You will make a good catch of kingfish if you visit the Antigua waters from June through August.

The best time to catch king mackerels is during their feeding or spawning and playtime. King mackerels are mostly active during dawn and dusk, and they are always ready to eat during this time. You should prepare your fishing gear and catch the kingfish during this time.

There are numerous places to fish mackerels in Antigua. One of these places is Rendezvous Bay, where you can access king mackerels and other fish species. You can also enjoy the view of the waters, landscape, and marine life.

Barracuda

If you want to make the best and most successful fishing operation on barracudas, you should visit the waters of Antigua during the winter.

Winter provides the most barracuda numbers and ensures they are active and ready to take the bite. Visit the waters of Antigua from December to February to make the best catch.

If the tidal movements are at appropriate levels, barracudas will make the best bite in the morning. They will also make a good bite in the evening and give you the chance to make a good catch.

Visit the waters of Antigua in the early hours of the morning or late hours of the evening to experience the best fishing operations.

The Willoughby Bay is a good place to put your fishing skills to test against barracudas. You can visit the waters during the winter and anytime in the morning or evening to enjoy a good catch of barracudas. You can also enjoy catching other fish species at this location.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Puerto Rico, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish the U.S. Virgin Islands, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Wahoo

Wahoos are available all-round the year, and you can make a significant catch in the waters of Antigua. For the best fishing, you should target the spring to autumn months. March and October are the two best months.

Fishing wahoo in the early hours of the morning can bring the most luck and success. Wahoos are very active during the morning hours before the sun’s heat starts to set in. You can also make a good catch by fishing them during the late hours of the evening.

Wahoos are quite common in the waters of Antigua, as you will find them almost everywhere. One of the places to visit to make a good catch of wahoo is Nonsuch Bay. The waters of this bay house numerous wahoo that will contribute to your fishing success in Antigua.

Mahi Mahi

Fishing Mahi Mahi in Antigua brings a lot of fun, enthusiasm, and success, especially when done during late spring to the fall months.

Mahi mahi are very active, available, and heavily take the bite during these times. You can enjoy your mahi-mahi fishing in Antigua by fishing from May through November.

Fishing mahi-mahi is best done during the morning before the first light and late in the evening. You should fish Mahi mahi in the morning between 5 am, and 8 am to make a good catch.

You can also fish them in the evening from 4 pm till nightfall. You can give yourself the best mahi-mahi fishing experience by fishing at the right time of the day.

Several fishing spots in Antigua will provide you with successful mahi-mahi fishing. You can visit Half Moon Bay to make a good catch of mahi-mahi. You can also visit other fishing locations in Antigua to experience successful mahi-mahi fishing operations.

White Marlin

You should target the mid-winter and early spring to experience successful white marlin fishing in Antigua. These are the times that produce the best white marlin fishing results. You should visit the waters anytime from January to April.

The white marlin is one of the most active fish species you will find in the waters of Antigua. They are most active during the morning and evening hours and also active during the afternoon, but you will experience reduced success in the morning and evening.

Fishing white marlins are quite easy in Antigua as you would not need to search the whole country to get the best fishing location. Several fishing locations will give you easy access to white marlins.

One of the best locations for white marlin fishing is Dickenson Bay, and you can enjoy your fishing activities at this bay.

Best Time of the Day to Fish Antigua

Fishing in Antigua is best done during the early hours of the morning and late hours of the evening. This is when most of the fish species are active and take the bite the most.

You can enjoy and experience one of the best fishing operations when you fish in Antigua in the morning and evening.

Antigua Fishing & Tidal Impacts

The tides at Antigua can be very promising when it comes to fishing. You only need to target the slack tides to make the best of your fishing operations in Antigua. The slack tides last for two hours before and after high and low tides.

marlin fishing picture
(Image courtesy of Mystic Amara Fishing Charters (Jolly Harbour) & Fishing Booker)

Storms & Antigua Fishing

Storms are one factor that affects fishing in Antigua, but if you consider it appropriately, you will be able to make the best out of your fishing. Fishing in Antigua is best done after the storm.

Many fish species become more active after the storm and are ready to bite. And this makes them vulnerable to your catch.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish near Barbados, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Is Winter Fishing Good or Bad in Antigua?

Winter fishing is a common practice in Antigua. Several fish species are active during this season. You can visit several fishing locations in Antigua to catch your preferred fish species during the winter.

Night Fishing in Antigua

As much as fishing operations are successful in the day, they are equally successful at night. You can fish the waters of Antigua during the night and make a tremendous catch, and you can catch your preferred fish species at whatever fishing location you want.

Shore/ Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons

Fishing the shores of Antigua can give you an intriguing fishing experience. Shore fishing is a common practice in Antigua as there are several shores for anglers to explore their fishing skills.

You can also explore your fishing skills and make one of your greatest catches at the waters of Antigua.

Top 5 Fishing Spots in Antigua

Antigua has several spots where anglers can carry out their fishing activities. You can visit different places in Antigua to explore every one of your fishing activities. Here are some fishing spots you should visit in Antigua.

  • Runaway Bay: Runaway Bay is a good place for you to catch different fish species in Antigua. You can visit the waters of the bay to put your fishing skills to work and enjoy every one of your fishing operations.
  • Willoughby Bay: Willoughby Bay is one of the places to visit if you want to enjoy the most of your fishing operations. You can carry out any fishing practice to make a good catch at this bay.
  • Half Moon Bay: When discussing fishing in Antigua, we must not exclude Half Moon bay. It is one of the most common fishing spots you will find in Antigua. You will also have access to different fish species at this bay.
  • Rendezvous Bay: This fishing location is one of the locations that houses varieties of fish species for anglers. Several anglers come from different parts of the world to fish the waters of Rendezvous Bay, and you can enjoy fishing here also.
  • Potworks Dam: This is another popular fishing spot for anglers. You can explore every of your fishing practices at the Dam and be successful with it. Enjoy your fishing activities and give yourself a memorable fishing experience at the Potworks Dam.

Booking Charters in Antigua

You have to make the most of your fishing in Antigua, and a good way to do this is by booking a charter. Booking charters will assist in transporting you during your fishing operations in Antigua, and it will make fishing easier and more productive whenever you visit the waters of Antigua.

There are several characters you will find in Antigua, so you should book your preferred choice of charter and enjoy your fishing operations.

Best Seasons to Go

Several seasons in the year, but not all seasons favor booking a charter going for fishing. These few seasons support fishing a charter, and these are the reasons you should book your charter in Antigua. Booking your charters at the right season will provide you with the maximum fishing experience.

Fishing is best done during the spring through the fall season, so the best time to book the charter is during this time. You can book your charter anytime from March to October for the best fishing result. You might also want to focus on the summer to book your charter, as it can be one of the best times during the fishing season.

Booking charters during the busiest season in Antigua is also one approach you should consider. The busiest season falls between the summer months, from June to August. There are several fish species that you will come across when fishing during this season and different people to meet.

Aside from meeting different people and catching different fish species, you also experience different events during the summer. You get to enjoy Antigua as a tourist and as an angler. Give yourself a worthwhile fishing experience in Antigua during the appropriate season.

Morning Vs. Afternoon

There are different times of the day where fishing is most successful. And these times depend on the species of fish you are targeting. Booking your charter is for your enhanced fishing success, which is why it is most important to book it at the right time of the day.

Fishing is most successful during the early hours of the morning, and you will also experience almost equivalent success when you fish in the late hours of the evening. Most fish species in Antigua will retreat to deeper parts of the water during the afternoon, making it difficult to catch them.

So, if you want to record high fishing success, you should book your charter in the morning, where there are numerous fish species to catch. You can also book in the afternoon, but you will experience reduced fishing success as there are limited fish to catch during this time.

You can also carry out numerous fishing practices, depending on your choice. You can make the best and most memorable fishing experience by fishing and booking charters at the right time in Antigua. Antigua is home to numerous fish species, so you should utilize that to the fullest.

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