Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Bali (A Complete Guide)

Bali is one of the most popular vacation destinations on earth but it is a very overlooked fishing destination with some of the best fishing in the Pacific Ocean. Knowing the best time of year to fish these rich waters can make a huge difference.

The best season to fish Bali is October through May for cobia, barracuda, tuna, sailfish, king mackerel, and mahi mahi. This season will offer the best weather conditions and the best fishing in these rich waters.

Fish Species	Best Times to Fish in Bali Coastal Waters
Cobia	May through October is the peak fishing season.
Barracuda	Barracuda are available year-round. Fall can be especially good.
Tuna	June through November is the best season for tuna.
Mahi Mahi (Dorado)	Early summer through early winter is the peak mahi mahi season.
Sailfish	November through April is the best fishing season for sailfish in Bali.
Marlin	Year-round availability. July through November is the peak season.
King Mackerel	2 major seasons are October-January & May through August.
Wahoo	August through January is the best season for wahoo.

Fishing in Bali is highly productive in the spring and fall months. The fishing season in Bali starts in March and ends in May, and also begins in September till November. You can also experience excellent fishing during summer, but spring and fall are the prime fishing season.

Bali will give you access to numerous fish species and plenty of fishing spots to catch them. You can visit Bali during the spring through autumn to carry out all the fishing practices you want. You can also create for yourself the most memorable fishing adventure or experience when you visit Bali.

Best Times to Fish Bali

If you want to visit Bali for your angling activities, you should choose spring and autumn for your adventure. These two seasons are the prime fishing seasons in Bali and are the best time to embark on your fishing journey. You can visit the waters of Bali anytime from March through November.

You will need more than knowing the best season to visit Bali for your fishing operations, and you will also need to know the best time of the day to go fishing. Without knowing the best time of the day to prepare your gears and visit the waters of Bali, you might more or less be wasting your time.

When fishing the waters of Bali, you have to know the most active times of the fish. And this falls in the early hours of the morning and late hours of the evening. During these hours, you should visit the waters to make a good catch of whatever fish species you are targeting.

You can provide yourself with the best fishing experience or adventure in Bali by choosing the most appropriate season to go fishing. Choosing the best time of the day also adds to your chance of fishing success. And with your fishing gears intact and your fishing skills top-notch, you can pull the best strings with fishing in Bali.

Bali Species Breakdown: Best Times

Fishing in Bali can be very stress-free and highly productive. And this is due to the numerous fish species you will find there. You will find various fish species with varying sizes, different active times, etc., at the waters in Bali.

Here are some of the fish species you will find in Bali.

Red Bass

Fishing red bass in Bali is best done during the spring seasons, and the spring provides more of the best conditions for fishing the red bass in Bali. You should prepare and target the month of March through May to make a good catch.

Fishing the red bass is best done in the morning before the sun heats the waters. Red bass love cool waters, so they will retreat to the deeper parts of the water to enjoy a cool habitat in the afternoon. The deeper parts also hold more bait, giving red bass a chance to eat even in the warm afternoons.

Fishing red bass can be done at several fishing spots in Bali. One of the fishing spots for fishing is Amed, a place containing numerous red bass and other species of fish. You can visit this location to make a good catch of red bass and give yourself a memorable fishing experience.

Cobia

If you want to make a good catch of cobias in Bali, you should target the summer season. The summer is one of the best times to fish cobias and numerous other fish species in Bali. You should fish the waters of Bali from June through August to make a good catch of cobias.

Fishing the cobia can be quite difficult in the morning as low visibility makes you hardly see them. The best time to fish cobias in Bali is in the afternoon where the sun is at its highest or brightest. Fishing during this time will make you experience a tremendous catch of cobias.

Jimbaran Beach is one of the numerous places to fish cobias in Bali. Many anglers visit the beach to explore their fishing skills when catching cobias and other fish species. You can also visit the beach to give yourself an adventurous fishing trip in Bali by visiting Jimbaran Beach.

Grouper

Anglers usually make successful grouper fishing when it comes to summer and fall. These two seasons provide the best conditions for grouper fishing in Bali. You can visit the waters of Bali from June to August or September to November to experience one of the best fishing trips. You can also make a good catch of groupers during the summer months.

Fishing groupers can either be done in the early mornings or late afternoons, and you should target the hours after dawn till noon and hours after dusk till nightfall. You can visit the waters of Bali during any of these times to make a good catch of groupers.

The Nusa Penida is one perfect place for you to fish for groupers in Bali. Nusa Penida houses varieties of fish species that include the groupers. It is one of the fishing spots anglers like to visit to exercise their fishing skills and make a good catch.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Maui, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Phuket, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish the Great Barrier Reef, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Cairns, please check out this helpful article. 

Bigeye Trevally

The bigeye trevally is one species you will find all year round in Bali. You can visit the waters of Bali anytime in the year to make a good catch of the bigeye trevally. But the peak fishing seasons fall in the autumn months, and you should fish in Bali from September to November for the best fishing results.

Fishing the bigeye trevally is best done in the early hours of the morning or late evening. You will find many anglers fishing the waters of Bali during these hours and making a good catch. You can also visit the waters to make a good catch of the bigeye.

There are several places you can fish bigeye trevallies in Bali. One of the fishing spots is the Serangan area that houses several fish species. You can visit the area and catch as many bigeye trevallies as you want.

Mahi Mahi

Fishing mahi mahi occurs almost throughout the year, but the peak fishing season starts from summer through mid-fall. Fishing from June through October will assure you of successful mahi mahi fishing. You can create a memorable fishing experience by fishing mahi mahi during the appropriate season.

When fishing mahi mahi, you need to target the early morning hours when the high tides are moving in and out. You will find many mahi mahi active during this time, making it easy for you to catch them. You can also give yourself a top-notch fishing experience when going after mahi mahi.

Fishing mahi mahi can be done anywhere in Bali. There are several fishing spots where you can catch mahi mahi and other fish species. You can visit the Tanjung Benoa to explore your fishing skills on the common dolphinfish and several other fish species.

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.

Best Time of the Day to Fish Bali

Depending on the fish species you want to catch, fishing can be done all day in Bali. You can fish all day and all night and get results, but fishing during the best time of the day will give you the best results. The best time to fish is during the early morning hours, and you get access to varieties of fish species during this time.

Bali Fishing & Tidal Impacts

The tide is one of the factors you should consider when fishing in the waters of Bali. When considered appropriately, the tide can enhance your fishing operations and provide you with the best result. The best time to fish is during the slack tides, and fishing during 2 to 3 hours of high and low tides will give you the best fishing results.

Storms & Bali Fishing

When fishing in Bali, you have to understand and consider some factors. One of the factors to consider is the storm. You have to know the best time to fish, whether during, before, or after a storm. The best time to fish is after a storm. The storm increases the activeness of the fish, making them easy to catch.

Is Winter Fishing Good or Bad in Bali?

Several fish species are active during the winter. These fish species make winter fishing very interesting and full of fun. You can visit the waters of Bali during the winter to enjoy your fishing operations.

Night Fishing in Bali

You can also fish in the waters of Bali during the night. Night fishing is a common fishing practice in Bali. Many anglers fish in the waters of Bali at night, and they experience a super successful fishing operation. You can also enjoy night fishing in Bali and give yourself a memorable fishing experience.

Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons

The shores of Bali can also be utilized for the best fishing operations. You can make the most of the shores of Bali by preparing your fishing gear and putting your fishing skills to work. Enjoy your fishing operations by shore fishing the waters of Bali.

Top 5 Fishing Spots in Bali

There are several fishing spots in Bali where you can put your fishing skills to the test. Let’s check them out;

• Jambaran Beach: One of the places to visit when fishing in Bali is Jambaran Beach. The Jambaran Beach allows anglers to carry out different fishing operations or practices. It also houses varieties of fish species that suit the taste of many anglers.
• Nusa Penida: The Nusa Penida Island is also a good fishing spot in Bali. The island offers non-stop fishing all around the year. It allows anglers to catch different fish species ranging from sharks to barracudas, snappers, and the likes.
• Serangan Beach: Serangan Beach is a popular place for fishing in Bali. Several anglers visit the beach to catch their preferred fish species. You can also visit the beach to enjoy your fishing adventure.
• Karangasem Beach: Karangasem Beach is also a commonplace angler visiting when fishing in Bali. It is a good spot for fishing as it contains different fish species that every angler loves.
• Tanjung Benoa: If you search for a fishing spot that contains several species of fish in Bali, you should visit the Tanjung Benoa. The Tanjung Benoa provides one of the best conditions for successful fishing.

Booking Charters in Bali

Booking charters are essential preparation procedures you need to put in place. Visiting Bali for your angling operations will require you to move about, transporting yourself from one place to another. And a good way to do that is to book a charter.

Several charter agencies are ready to provide you with the best charter service in Bali. You should book any of these charter services to make the best out of your fishing operations in Bali.

Best Season to Go

The year contains several seasons, but not all these seasons can fully support fishing in Bali. You have to know the best fishing season and book your charters towards the season. Booking your charter during this time will provide you with the best fishing experience in Bali.

The fishing season in Bali runs from spring through autumn, peaking at mid to late spring and mid to late autumn. Several fish species are active and ready to bite during these seasons. Make the most of your fishing from March through November.

Fishing during summer can also be as profitable and productive as fishing during spring and autumn. Summer is the busiest season in Bali, which makes fishing during this time a double portion.

You get to enjoy your trip as a tourist, viewing amazing structures, landscapes and also experiencing various events. As the second benefit, you get to enjoy your trip as an angler and fish as many fish species as you want. You can make your fishing experience in Bali the best you have ever gotten.

Morning Vs. Afternoon

The best way to ace your fishing operations in Bali is by booking your charter at the appropriate time. You might have difficulty deciding what time is best for you to book your charter, but there is an easy way to go about it. The best time to book your charter depends on the nature of fish species present in Bali.

In Bali, there are more active fish in the morning than in the afternoon, making fishing most productive in the morning. So, if you want to book your charter in Bali, you should make sure you do that in the morning.

Booking charters in the afternoon is good and productive, but booking them in the morning is better and more productive. You can enjoy various fish species you will find in the waters of Bali, and booking an appropriate charter can be the exact help you need. Enjoy your fishing operations in Bali and give yourself a fishing adventure to remember.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Mauritius, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Indonesia, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Indonesia, check out this article.