Best Times & Season to Fish The Bahamas (Complete Guide)
The Bahamas offers some of the best fishing in the world. But understanding the best time to visit this tropical paradise can seem daunting. So what is the best time to fish in the Bahamas for world-class action?
The best season to fish Bahamas is during the months of May to September when you can expect to catch marlin, snapper, dolphin, amberjack, and yellowfin tuna. If you are wanting to catch big wahoo, the best time to fish in the Bahamas would be the winter season, between December and March.
Some of the absolute best fishing in the world can be had in the Bahamas. This island chain of the southern border of Florida has more than 700 islands total, each with something to offer any level of angler.
With hundreds of world-record catches, more than 50 of which are current, the Bahamas have become a world-class fishing destination. The fact of being able to fish in such a beautiful tropical paradise only helps to lure ambitious anglers.
With so many fishing opportunities to be had, many newcomers to the area wonder what the best season is to fish in the Bahamas. That is what we hope to answer for you in this article. We hope to show you which species of fish you can catch in the Bahamas and when in the year is the best time to go.
Best Time to Fish Bahamas
Unlike other tropical destinations, you might be accustomed to, the tourist season for the Bahamas is from mid-December to April. While the temperature is great all year-round, the islands of the Bahamas are in the middle of what is known as the “Hurricane Belt.” This makes hurricanes a possibility from June to November.
What that means for the best time to fish the Bahamas depends on the risks you are willing to take to plan a trip during the hurricane season; the risk being your trip may be inadvertently canceled or postponed.
Yet, if you are willing to take that risk, the best time to fish the Bahama is during the summer months of May to September.
It is during these months when the waters are at their warmest and the most species of fish come to the waters around the islands. Whether you choose to take a charter to the deep waters or want to fly-fish for the popular bonefish, fishing in the Bahamas will surely be the adventure of a lifetime.
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Top Fishing Spots in the Bahamas (Best Times & Seasons)
There are many areas in the Bahamas that make for some of the best fishing in the world. Here are some of the top fishing spots in the Bahamas.
Grand Bahama Island
The clear, deep waters along Grand Bahama offer some of the best fishing in the world. These are prime hunting grounds for snapper, grouper, and barracuda, as well as kingfish and wahoo. Whether wanting to fish the reefs or get out in the deep, this area is sure to please.
New Providence Island
From anchoring and bottom fishing to trolling for monsters, the waters around New Providence are known for their many game fish species.
From November to February, you can expect to catch the wahoo, while May to August is best for the tuna. If blue marlin is what you are after, you can get great catches in June and July.
The Exumas
This area allows anglers to fly fish for the bonefish or go out into the deep for fish like the wahoo, kingfish, tuna, and mahi-mahi.
While fly fishing here is great all year round for bonefish, the deeper waters seem to peak between May and July. This is one of the most popular destinations for fishing in the Bahamas, so peak season is sure to be teeming with tourists.
Treasure Cay
Treasure Cay is home to some excellent fishing in the Bahamas. The Cay’s bonefish flats are known the world over and are just a short cruise from the marina while an experienced charter can take you to the deeper waters for marlin, mahi-mahi, and wahoo, just to name a few. These charters will often do a mix of bottom and drift fishing.
Green Turtle Cay
Both experienced and novice anglers seek out the waters of Green Turtle Cay. Giant game fish love the waters as they are abundant with baitfish, so large tuna, kingfish, and some world-record wahoo call this place home for the summer months.
This area is also known for the experience fishing guides, making it the go-to place to fish in the Bahamas for a novice deep-sea angler.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in the Bahamas
These Bahamas-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a great service. 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 Charters | Location |
| Yellowtail Charters | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Captainctours Charters | Nassau, Bahamas |
| 5 G’s Fishing Charters & Tours | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Te’vaughn Adventures Charter | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Chubasco – 48’ Hatteras Sportfishing | Paradise Island, Bahamas |
| Blue Finn Charters | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Fishing 242 Charters – 32′ SeaVee | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Yellowtail Charters – 32′ | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Wahoo Charters | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Born Free Fishing – Freestyle | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Safety First Charter | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Bonefish Paradise Fishing Services | Mangrove Bush Settlement |
Booking Charters in Bahamas
Deep-sea fishing is undoubtedly what allures many to fishing in the Bahamas. When booking a charter to fish the Bahamas, you will need to know these three important tips: what is the best season to fish the Bahamas, what time of day is best to fish the Bahamas, and what length of the trip should you choose when booking a fishing charter.
Best Season to Book Bahamas Fishing Charter
The best season to book a Bahamas fishing charter is largely dependent on which species of fish you wish to pursue.
For example, if you are wanting to go for the popular bonefish (which the Bahamas are known to have the largest population of) or the amberjack, these fish are best targeted from October to May. However, if the larger blue marlin is your fish of choice, you’ll want to book your Bahamas fishing charter during the months of May, June, and early July.
Many travelers are hesitant about booking a fishing charter in the Bahamas during hurricane season, which goes from July to November. These may be some of the best fishing times in the region, so if you’re flexible in your dates, meaning a last-minute postponement due to weather wouldn’t ruin your trip, these may be the best times to plan your fishing trip.
Best Time of Day to Book a Charter in The Bahamas
Morning vs. Afternoon
Though not numerous, there are a couple of differences between fishing in the morning in the Bahamas to fishing in the afternoon.
Morning
When setting out in the morning to fish the Bahamas, competition will be at its highest, especially during the peak months of December to June. However, there still will not be a shortage of fishing spots to try or fish to be caught. With many species feeding in the early morning hours, this makes the action at its peak.
If deep-sea tuna or marlin is what you are after, you’ll definitely want to consider morning fishing in the Bahamas; early morning offers the best bite and most action.
Afternoon
There is still some great fishing to be had in the afternoon hours. Many of the bonefish charters offer both morning and afternoon trips simply because the bonefish is so prominent all day long.
And, though the temperature is warm all day long, it will be at its peak in the afternoon, which is why some anglers tend to want to get their fishing trip in earlier. If you can brave the heat, this might be the best time to fish for you.
Length of Fishing Charter Trip
You will find many options available for lengths of fishing charter trips. These can be grouped into three categories: half-day, full-day, and multi-day trips.
½ Day Trip
Half-day fishing charter trips in the Bahamas are great for the species of fish that live in the flats and inshore, such as the bonefish and groupers.
Most charters will let you start putting lines in the water after about 15 minutes on the water, meaning travel time to the fishing spots is short. This equals more time spent actually fishing.
Full Day
If you are after the bigger fish or wanting to take a chance in the deeper waters, a full-day trip is almost a necessity. Though in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf Stream can still be an hour’s trip one way, longer in some places.
And, if you are wanting the big ones, the Gulf Stream is where they are at. Since these types of trips involve lots of travel time and time not actually fishing, many fishing charters will have an indoor area the anglers can stay in to stay cool and enjoy the trip.
Multi-day trips
Multi-day fishing charters in the Bahamas are designed to be more of an all-inclusive vacation package. These often include lodging, as well as multiple days of fishing for different species.
If you’re wanting to experience several different types of fishing while in the Bahamas, a multiple-day trip might be the best for you.
Bahamas Species Breakdown (Best Times)
Sitting at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico gives the Bahamas the nickname “Gateway of the Gulf.” Because of this, there are many different types of fish able to be caught when fishing in the Bahamas. In this section, we will look at some of the top species.
Bonefish
The bonefish was the one to put the Bahamas on the map for anglers all over the world. They are found in the sandy flats around the islands all year round but are more common between the months of October and May: it’s during these times the weather is dry and the water at its coolest.
Though they are heavy in population, they are a very elusive fish; they scare easy and can often jet off at 45 miles per hour, requiring a mixture of skill and luck to bring them in. The early morning hours of the day are excellent for fishing for bonefish in the Bahamas.
Barracuda
You can not mention fishing in the Bahamas without naming the barracuda. This toothy, agile fish can be caught all year round, both inshore and offshore. These fish are known for their explosive fighting ability as well as their scenic jumps. With the right baitfish, you can expect t land barracudas any time of the day.
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
As the mahi-mahi love to hang out below float debris, the best location to catch these angler favorites is the Sargasso Sea area, which borders both Florida and the Bahamas.
These trophy fish hunt primarily during the day, so late morning into early afternoon are great times to fish for mahi-mahi in the Bahamas. The bigger of the species are found towards the deeper waters of the Gulf Stream, though they rarely go lower than 280 feet.
Marlin
The best time of the year to marlin fish the Bahamas is going to be between the months of March and July. Whether you are after the white or blue species of Marlin, these months are peak, with multiple bites happening in one trip.
While the average marlin caught in the Bahamas weighs 225 pounds, it is not uncommon for one to tip the scales at 1,000+. For the bigger fish, and more likelihood of landing one, you may want to consider a full-day fishing charter.
Wahoo
No list of Bahama fish would be complete without mentioning the wahoo. The migratory species come through the Bahamas between the months of November and March each year, making this the peak time to fish.
The downside to this is the winter months often bring higher winds, making it harder for smaller boats to navigate the Gulf Stream. This means you will want to have a flexible schedule to find the perfect time to fish for this prized species.
The best place to have the highest success in wahoo fishing in the Bahamas is along the western edge of the Bahama bank near the West End. This area is great for wahoo fishing due to the drop-off, where this species loves to hide.
Tuna
Yellowfin tuna are a staple in the Bahamas, with many anglers hoping to land one while fishing for other species. They are most commonly found in the Northwest Providence Channel to the south of Grand Bahama.
Here you can hook on to several in a trip, especially during the peak season of May to July. The only problem is they are a staple diet of local, larger predators such as sharks. It is not uncommon to have a tuna stolen by a shark while reeling them in.
The Bahama Fishing & Tidal Impacts
The tides do play a large role in fishing the Bahamas, especially for those species which love the shallow waters of the flats. In many areas, the fishing will slow down when the tide is slack, meaning the time between high and low tides when the water movement is minimal, but high tide and low tide both bring with it their own issues.
High Tide
When fishing in the flats, high tide means they are often flooded into the mangroves. This allows fish to swim up into the mangroves for shelter from predators, including angles.
It’s extremely difficult to access the mangroves and very unlikely you will get a fish to be remotely interested in what you are offering.
For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish near Barbados, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Low Tide
Low tide has a completely opposite effect on these shallow waters. Many of the flats are dry during low tides, or so shallow the fish are not able to swim in them. During these times, the fish will group in the entrance to the channels and into deeper waters.
Storms & Bahamas Fishing
Being located in the hurricane belt of the world, storms play a major role in the fishing of the Bahamas. If you go during the months of December to June, chances are the greatest issue you’ll face as far as the weather does is a thunderstorm or rain. During these months, the fishing is at its peak for many species with the calm waters.
However, this changed from July to November when tropical storms and hurricanes can wreak havoc on fishing plans.
Though these are some peak months for many species, trips are often canceled or postponed due to weather. And, once a storm passes, it may take several days for the fishing to return to normal.
Is Winter Fishing Good or Bad in the Bahamas?
Being in the tropics means the temperatures around the Bahamas never reach what we would call cold. In fact, as mentioned many times already, between the months of December and June are some of the best fishing the Bahamas have to offer. The waters tend to be calm and cool, the perfect recipe for hard and fast fishing action.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Saint Lucia, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Cayman Islands, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Jamaica, please check out this helpful guide.
For a complete breakdown of the fishing charter costs in the Bahamas, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Curacao, please check out this helpful article.
