Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Seychelles (Complete Guide)

Seychelles is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations on earth but it also offers some of the best fishing around. Knowing the best times to fish in Seychelles can make a huge difference in your success levels.

The best time to fish in Seychelles is from October through May though great fishing can be found year-round.

Seychelles is a fantastic travel and fishing destination. It’s an archipelago that consists of more than 100 islands. The destination impresses its natural beauty. During a trip to Seychelles, you can enjoy the breathtaking views of lush forests and the ocean.

Best Time to Fish Seychelles

A Seychelles fishing trip requires proper planning. It’s necessary for anglers to decide when to go fishing in the region. 

A peak fishing season starts in October and ends in May. Weather conditions are comfortable and the vast majority of fish species get active during these months. 

Fishing in Seychelles is very productive in April. A peak fishing season comes to an end. However, many fish species are active this month. The weather is good and the waters are calm at this time of the year. Also, anglers have a good chance to land a trophy fish. 

It’s also important to note that anglers should plan their fishing adventures with Seychelles fish species in mind. Some species of fish are active all year-round. However, seasonal species of fish bite well at certain times of the year only. 

Fishing in Seychelles is very productive in the late fall. November is a great time to enjoy a variety of fishing techniques such as bottom fishing, jigging, fly fishing, and popping.   

Such species as marlin, sailfish, tuna, and trevally get active during the summer months. Spring is a great time to catch bonefish, mahi-mahi, and marlin in the waters of Seychelles. 

Seychelles Species Breakdown: Best Times

Barracuda

The best time of year to fish for barracuda in Seychelles is between November and April. Baie Sainte Anne is a good place to fish for barracuda in the area. 

Bonefish

The period of the year between February and April is the best to go fishing for bonefish in Seychelles. Fishing for bonefish is good near Bel Ombre. 

Black Marlin

October – March are the best months to catch black marlin in Seychelles. Baie Sainte Anne is the right place to experience black marlin fishing in the region. 

Blue Marlin

Blue marlin fishing season begins in the late fall and ends in the early spring. Roche Caiman is a good place to catch blue marlin in the region. Marlin bites well during the morning and afternoon hours. 

Mahi Mahi

Mahi fishing season starts in October and ends in April. However, the peak fishing season is between November and March. Fishing for mahi-mahi is best during the morning and evening hours. It makes sense to target mahi-mahi near Baie Sainte Anne.     

Sailfish

The season to catch sailfish in Seychelles begins in May and finishes in September. However, anglers get the best results between June and August. Go to Victoria to target sailfish in the waters of Seychelles. 

Snapper

Fishing for snapper in Seychelles was the most successful between October and March. Snapper bites well in the early morning. Anse Etoile is the perfect place to target snapper in the area. 

Trevally

Trevally fishing season starts in the early spring and ends in the late fall. However, the best time of the year to fish for trevally in the late spring and the late summer. Roche Caiman is the ideal place to fish for trevally in the region. 

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin tuna is one of the top catches in Seychelles. It’s possible to catch yellowfin tuna in Seychelles year-round. However, anglers get the best results in January and December. Visit Grand Anse to catch yellowfin tuna during a fishing trip.  

Wahoo

Wahoo bites well in Seychelles all year long. However, the best months to fish for wahoo are January and December. A lot of wahoo can be found near Baie Sainte Anne. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Seychelles

These Seychelles-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
Bedier & Sons Charter (Delfino)	Baie Sainte Anne, Seychelles
Gerry’s Private Charters – Virgo	Bel Ombre, Seychelles
Billy’s Fishing Charter	Victoria, Seychelles
Seychelles Yacht Charter – uShaka	Victoria, Seychelles
Mae Guide Angler	Anse Etoile, Seychelles

Seychelles Regions: Best Fishing Times

Anse Boileau

Fish in Anse Boileau bite well when the weather is hot. Here, fishing is best between early June and late October. 

Anse Royale

Fishing in Anse Royale is the most productive during the spring months. Anglers get the best results in April.  

Desroches Island

Desroches Island is a fishing location where it’s possible to enjoy fishing year-round. 

La Digue

The fishing season in La Digue is best between November and April. 

Mahe

Anglers can fish Mahe at any time of the year. However, fishing is the most successful in the late fall. 

Providence

The best season to fish in Providence is between the late winter and the late spring. 

Takamaka

Fishing in Takamaka is good year-round. 

Victoria

The best time of year to fish Victoria is between November and May. 

Vista Do Mar

Fishing in Vista Do Mar is excellent all year-long. However, the rainy season in the area is between November and February. And of course, a rainy season creates challenges for anglers. So, fishing during these months should be avoided. 

Best Time of Day to Fish Seychelles

If you are trying to get the answer to this question, then you should decide what species you are targeting, how and where you are going to fish, the season of the year, weather conditions, and some other factors. 

Anglers should always study the bite times of fish species that they are going to catch carefully ahead of time. 

Generally speaking, anglers go fishing in the early morning during warm months and in the late afternoon during cold months.       

Seychelles Fishing & Tidal Impacts

Fishing in Seychelles is affected by tides. Fishing in the area is good during incoming tides. The water flow during a rising tide can bring small marine animals to the area. Oxygen-rich waters increase the activity of fish in the area.

As a result, fish begin to search for food actively. So, great fishing opportunities are created in the region. That’s why it’s so important for anglers to study the tide times carefully when getting ready for fishing adventures in Seychelles.   

Is Winter Fishing Bad in Seychelles?

Seychelles is in the southern hemisphere. Therefore, the region has a tropical climate. That means that the weather in the area is warm and humid during the winter months. So, winter is a good time to experience fishing in Seychelles. 

Many species of fish are active in the area between December and January. Anglers can catch fish species that are active in the region all year long. Fishermen can also target seasonal species which get active only during the winter months.  

December is usually the peak of the fishing season in Seychelles. It’s the ideal time to fish for such species as mahi-mahi, marlin, and tuna. Anglers have a good chance to catch a big fish in the waters of Seychelles in the early winter.   

The heaviest rainfalls happen in Seychelles in January. That’s why anglers find it challenging to fish in the area. Nevertheless, it’s possible to do some fishing during this month. 

Rainfalls are expected in February as well. However, fishermen can spend more time on their favorite hobby this month. Fishing in Seychelles is very productive in February. So, anglers can catch a variety of fish species. The top targeted species in the Seychelles area include jobfish, marlin, tuna as well as snapper.      

Top Fishing Spots in Seychelles

Anse Etoile

Anse Etoile is the ideal place for fishermen, who are looking to do some angling in the pristine waters of Seychelles. This destination is best-known for its Anse Etoile Fishermen’s Association. Anse Etoile offers a great variety of fish. Among the fish species that anglers can target in this area are barracuda, mahi-mahi, and grouper.

Baie Sainte Anne

Baie Sainte Anne is another fishing destination that has gained huge popularity among anglers. It’s the right place to target inshore fishing, offshore fishing as well as reef fishing. The main targets in the waters near Baie Sainte Anne are barracuda, blue marlin, and sailfish. 

Bel Ombre

Bel Ombre is another popular fishing destination in Seychelles. Here, anglers can do inshore fishing as well as offshore fishing. Various reef fish can be found in the area as well. That means that anglers can experience reef fishing in Bel Ombre. Here, anglers can fish for mahi-mahi, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, and other fish species. 

Grand Anse

Grand Anse is one of the top fishing locations in the region. Grand Anse is home to such species of fish as amberjack, mahi-mahi, and sailfish. Here, fishing is possible in nearshore waters and offshore waters.

La Digue

A lot of anglers choose to visit La Digue during their trip to Seychelles and they do this for a good reason. Nearshore and offshore waters are full of fish. Here, anglers can catch such species of fish like mahi-mahi, sailfish, and yellowfin tuna.             

Roche Caiman

Roche Caiman is a fishing destination that provides anglers with great opportunities. It’s the place where anglers can experience inshore and offshore fishing. Fishing techniques such as bottom fishing, deep-sea fishing, and jigging are widely used in the area. The most abundant species in the waters of Roche Caiman are amberjack, jack crevalle, and grouper. 

Victoria

Victoria is well-known for its productive fishing grounds. It’s a good place to visit if you are a big fan of bottom fishing, jigging, and trolling. The most popular species of fish in Victoria are mahi-mahi, sailfish, and yellowfin tuna. Such fish species as bonefish, blue marlin, dogtooth tuna, trevally, and wahoo are all additional targets to put on an angler’s list.     

Booking Guides & Charters in Seychelles

– Best season to go 

As we have already said, fishing in Seychelles is best between October and May. However, a busy tourist season is between the middle of December and January. It’s the holiday season. So, a lot of tourists visit Seychelles at this time of the year. The demand for fishing is high and prices go up during the peak travel season. That’s why fishing is more expensive during these months. 

If you would like to avoid fishing during a busy season, visit Seychelles either between October and November or between February and May. By doing so, anglers can avoid fishing during a busy season and get excellent results. So, fishing during these months provides the best value for money.       

– Morning vs. afternoon 

Morning fishing in Seychelles is better during hot warm months. Water cools down and that’s why fish begin to search for food actively. Fishing during morning hours is more comfortable because anglers can avoid fishing in the heat. However, it’s necessary to wake up early to enjoy morning fishing. 

Fishing in the afternoon is recommended during the cold months. Water is getting warmer and the activity of fish increases in the afternoon. Anglers get a lot of bites during afternoon hours. On the other hand, afternoon fishing trips are short.     

– 1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters 

Half-day fishing trips last 4 – 8 hours. Nevertheless, anglers have enough time to enjoy fishing. It makes a lot of sense to book a 1/2 day fishing trip if you are a beginner. Half-day trips allow anglers to improve their fishing skills and target their catch. On the other hand, half-day trips are not a good choice for experienced anglers who want to catch a trophy fish. 

Full-day charters give anglers more fishing time. Anglers can fish in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Plus, the chance to land a trophy fish is high during full-day trips. However, full-day trips are more expensive compared to 1/2 day ones.

Let’s say that you want to spend several days fishing. If so, multi-day fishing charters are worth considering. Multi-day charters are the perfect choice for avid anglers. Fishermen spend several days on the water and get meals as well as drinks during their trips. Multi-day charters are very productive. Anglers get a lot of bites and often catch trophy fish during such trips. However, multi-day charters are more expensive compared to full-day ones.     

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