Best Time & Seasons to Fish Bermuda (Complete Guide)

Many anglers traveling to Bermuda want to know the best time and season to fish. Located 600 miles away from the nearest mainland, several factors can play into your decision on when to fish in Bermuda.

The best time to fish Bermuda is between May and November, when you can expect to land a strong-pulling bonefish, or even a giant blue Marlin, and everything in between. The offseason is over-winter where fishing can be very limited and prone to poor weather.

This article will break down every aspect of Bermuda fishing so you know exactly when to fish for each major species of fish and how weather can impact your opportunities. If you are looking for a great fishing charter, I have a few great ones I can strongly recommend and will do so later in this article.

Best Fishing Times: Spots in Bermuda 

For a sport fisherman, finding the best spot to fish in Bermuda is key. Here we’ll break down some of the top ones and tell you when is the primetime fishing window at each location.

Mangrove Bay

Home to the Royal Navy Dockyard, Mangrove Bay has some of the calmest waters in Bermuda, making it an excellent place to get out on a boat and catch some bonefish and grouper. Nearby Somerset Village offers and retail needs you might have, allowing you to focus on staying out as long as you want. 

Castle Harbor

Fishing in Bermuda doesn’t get much better than Castle Harbor. Deep enough for species such as the wahoo and mahi mahi with shallow waters for the grouper, snapper, bonefish, and others, calm waters of the harbor offer great fishing on and offshore. Fishing here peaks during the months of May to August. 

Great Sound

If you visit any region around the Great Sound you will notice several locals out on the water each morning. That’s because the Great Sound is inhabitant by almost every species of fish Bermuda has to offer, with the exception of the big ones. You’ll find any time of the day is right for fishing here, though mornings tend to be the most crowded times. 

Harrington Sound

One of the only inland bodies of water in Bermuda, Harrington Sound is fed from the Atlantic through a narrow inlet called Flatts inlet, as well as several underwater cave systems. Several islands are in Harrington Sound, making them perfect to set up for a day of fishing. Many species live in Harrington Sound, though shellfish have been on the decline in recent years. 

North Lagoon

North Lagoon is a broad term used to describe the area containing the many reefs around Bermuda. These reefs offer some of the best fishing in the world. The many shipwrecks in the area make it great for bottom dwellers. Snapper, barracuda, rockfish, and bonefish are just a few species you can expect to pull from the reefs. Even better? Though the fish are smaller than those found in deeper waters, the number of fish you will catch surpasses that you’ll catch in the deep.

Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Bermuda

These Bermuda-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, 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
Atlantic Spray Charters	St. George’s, Bermuda
Sea Wolfe Sportfishing	Sandys MA 01, Bermuda
Challenger Charter Fishing Bermuda	Sandys MA 06, Bermuda
Attitude Adjustment Charters	Sandys WK09, Bermuda

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 to create your combo.

Best Time to Fish Bermuda

The best time to fish Bermuda is by far the summer to early fall, the months of May to September when the waters are calm and warm. May to June is prime for the wahoo and yellowfin tuna, as well as the bonefish, which can easily be caught year-round. After June, as the waters warm, species of sharks, mahi mahi, and amberjacks come near the islands, as well as the monstrous blue marlin.

Though many species do migrate out of the area once the water turns cold, there can still be good fishing done in Bermuda during the winter months. You are sure to catch some bonefish during the winter, while the white marlin returns during the colder months as well.

Bermuda Species Breakdowns

As mentioned earlier, Bermuda is home to more than 27 species of game fish. Here is a breakdown of some of the top fish to catch in Bermuda.

Bonefish

One of the most popular species in Bermuda, the bonefish is most commonly caught while fly fishing in the shallow waters of the reefs and inlets. They can also be caught year-round, as they do not migrate away during the colder months. They do tend to scatter to the deeper waters during a storm and rough waters but will often return a day or two after the water calms. 

Barracuda

Barracudas can be caught anywhere in Bermuda, from the sandy floor of the inlets to the reefs and even deeper. They are known for being a very aggressive fish and able to swim up to 25 miles an hour. Barracuda tend to peak between June and August in Bermuda waters.

Marlin 

There are two common species of marlins that can be caught in Bermuda: white and blue. The white tends to like the cooler waters better, making them more likely to be caught during the cool months of the spring and fall seasons. The blue, on the other hand, peak from May to September.

Mahi Mahi

Bermuda fishing for mahi mahi peaks between July and November. Like every other species in Bermuda, there is no off-season, meaning the mahi mahi can be caught legally all year round.

Wahoo

Though the wahoo can be sporadic through the winter months in Bermuda, they do tend to peak between around April and stay strong through November. However, if you find yourself fishing for the bluefin tuna during the winter, don’t be surprised if you find yourself fighting a wahoo.

Tuna

Tuna is one of the most popular trophy species sought after in Bermuda. Bluefin tuna tend to be extremely active in the winter months while the yellowfin and blackfin peak from June to August. While they can be found periodically in the reefs, you will want to launch out into the deep for the big ones.

Booking Charters in Bermuda

If the big fish are what you are after, you will want to book a fishing charter in Bermuda. These charters allow you to get offshore into the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean and hook the big one. You will need to know the best season to book a fishing charter, the best time of day to take your trip, and the best length of trip for the value.

Best Season to book a Bermuda fishing charter

While there are Bermuda fishing charters that operate year-round, the best season to book a Bermuda fishing charter it going to be the later spring and summer months. The water temperature at this time has increased, bringing in most species of fish, while the waters remain relatively calm, allowing the boats to operate safely. This also happens to be prime tourist season, meaning the number of people competing for available spots is incredibly high. 

That being said, there is still some excellent fishing to be had during the winter months. The bonefish, one of the most often caught species in Bermuda, can still be caught in the shallow waters during winter. Also, as many anglers are out to catch the big one, wahoo and tuna can still be caught in the deep waters of the gulf stream during the winter months, where the water is still relatively warm.

Morning vs Afternoon

Fish tend to feed more often when the water is darker, meaning early morning and late afternoon/evening. That’s why you see many fishing charters in Bermuda start their day at 6 am or sooner, as it can take an hour or longer to reach the waters of the Gulf Stream, where the bigger fish live.

Morning

The morning hours are going to be the most popular fishing times for fishing in Bermuda, especially those going on deep sea charters. This will also be a popular time for reef fishing, as well as fishing from the shore. Several species of fish will come to the shallower waters of the reefs and shoreline to feed on smaller baitfish. Plus, if you go before the sun has fully risen, you may be able to beat the beachgoers if fishing from the shore.

Afternoon

If you are going on a full-day charter in Bermuda, chances are most of the afternoon will be spent traveling back to the dock. However, the afternoon hours are still a great time to have a line in the water, especially considering the second solunar feeding period begins around 4 PM, as the sun begins to set.

Best fishing charter lengths in Bermuda

When booking a fishing charter in Bermuda, you’ll have a few different options when it comes to the length; a half-day, full-day, and possibly a multi-day trip. Let’s look at the best fishing charter length for Bermuda.

½ Day

There are three major reef systems around Bermuda; the first being only 1 mile from the shore, the second (known as the Challenger Bank) is roughly 12 miles away, and the third (known as Argus bank) is about 30 miles away. When going on a half-day fishing trip in Bermuda, you’ll likely fish one of these three systems. You can expect to catch snappers, groupers, bonefish, and other smaller species.

Full Day

For the bigger fish, such as the wahoo, mahi mahi, tuna, and marlin, you’ll need to go to deeper waters, often the Gulf Stream. That trip can often take several hours depending on water conditions. While the bigger fish have been known to occasionally come closer, if you are wanting to land a big one, a full-day charter is almost a must. These tend to leave early in the morning and arrive back at down late in the afternoon, depending on how many hours you schedule

Multi-Day

Multi-day fishing charters are not as common in Bermuda as they might be in other parts of the world. Many multi-day trips are designed to allow the anglers to see special sights that are hours away from their place of origin they wouldn’t normally see in a single day. In Bermuda, with it only being 24 miles long and almost in the middle of the Atlantic, there are not many sites to see. That’s not to say you can’t schedule a fishing charter for multiple days in a row; just be prepared to be back at dock each night.

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

Best Time of Day to Fish Bermuda

The best time of the day to fish Bermuda inshore and in the reefs is during the morning and late afternoon hours when the fish are more likely to be feeding. Offshore fishing in Bermuda is great all day, weather permitting, though more action can be had during feeding times. 

Bermuda Fishing & Tidal Impacts

Being so far out into the ocean, tides will have a major impact on fishing in Bermuda. If the tides are strong, many fishermen will change from bottom fishing to trolling. The reason for this is the strong tides cause more movement in the water, spoiling bottom fishing. When trolling, depth sounders and fish finders are used along the edges of the water bank. 

Pro tip: Sometimes during strong tides, the fish will drift to the edge of the water bank; this is the time to throw anchor and begin chumming. This is when you drop pieces of cut-up baitfish into the water, luring the fish out, giving you a better chance of hooking one.

Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good?

Winter fishing in Bermuda is not as common as during other seasons, simply because of the weather. During the summer months, the waters tend to be calm; this isn’t so during the winter. That’s why many charters often shut down till Springtime. However, if you can find a relatively calm day and a captain willing to take you out, the wintertime might just be the best time to hook on to a monster tuna or wahoo. 

With its close proximity to the Gulf Stream, the water temperature around Bermuda rarely drops below 60 degrees. Though this is too cold for many species who will seek out warmer waters, these monsters still stay, making for some of the best fishing around.

Storms & Bermuda Fishing

On average, the weather during the peak fishing season in Bermuda of May to September is predictable, making for plenty of time to fish. However, the rainfall during these months does tend to increase. However, possibly the worse time to plan a fishing trip to Bermuda is during Hurricane season, mainly October and November. During these months, the weather can be unpredictable, potentially causing you to get stuck in a storm.  

Storms also tend to send many of the fish out into the deeper waters for safety, even during the summer months, which means the shores and reefs aren’t as good of a destination immediately following a storm. However, after just a couple of days these fish return, and the fishing goes back to normal.