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

Tanzania is one of the best fishing destinations in Africa. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish these insanely rich waters will make a big difference for your success.

The best times for fishing in Tanzania are during the dry season, from June to October, when the weather is more favorable and fish are more active.

Month	Tanzania Fishing Location
January	Zanzibar Island – Head to the pristine beaches of Zanzibar for excellent deep-sea fishing opportunities, with chances to catch marlin, sailfish, and yellowfin tuna.
February	Lake Victoria – Explore the vast waters of Lake Victoria, known for its abundance of Nile perch, tilapia, and catfish, offering exciting fishing experiences.
March	Rufiji River – Navigate the mighty Rufiji River in Selous Game Reserve for thrilling fishing expeditions, targeting tigerfish, catfish, and giant freshwater perch.
April	Mafia Island – Enjoy the tranquil waters of Mafia Island, where you can catch kingfish, snapper, and grouper in the warm Indian Ocean.
May	Pangani River – Experience the serene Pangani River, teeming with tilapia, catfish, and Nile perch, providing an idyllic setting for freshwater fishing.
June	Pemba Island – Embark on fishing adventures off the coast of Pemba Island, known for its rich marine life and opportunities to catch barracuda, dorado, and wahoo.
July	Kilwa – Visit the historical town of Kilwa and explore its surrounding waters, where you can target trevally, amberjack, and giant barracuda.
August	Rufiji Delta – Discover the estuary of the Rufiji River Delta, famous for its impressive population of giant tarpon and other gamefish.
September	Ruaha River – Navigate the beautiful Ruaha River and try your hand at catching tigerfish, tilapia, and catfish while enjoying the stunning wildlife of Ruaha National Park.
October	Ruaha River – Navigate the beautiful Ruaha River and try catching tigerfish, tilapia, and catfish while enjoying the stunning wildlife of Ruaha National Park.
November	Lake Tanganyika – Venture to Lake Tanganyika, one of the deepest lakes in the world, where you can target species like Nile perch and tigerfish.
December	Mahale Mountains – Fish in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika near the Mahale Mountains, known for its remarkable population of tigerfish and other gamefish.

This article will discuss the best times and seasons to fish in Tanzania. We will also talk about where some of the best fishing in the state is on a month-by-month basis.

Best Times: Freshwater Fishing in Tanzania

Lake Victoria – Targeted fish: Nile Perch, Tilapia, Catfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from June to September.

Lake Tanganyika – Targeted fish: Tigerfish, Yellowbelly, Lake Perch. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from June to October.

Rufiji River – Targeted fish: Tigerfish, Catfish, Nile Perch. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to September.

Selous Game Reserve – Targeted fish: Tigerfish, Yellowfish, Catfish. Best time to fish: June to October.

Ruaha River – Targeted fish: Tigerfish, Catfish, Tilapia. Best time to fish: May to November.

Katavi National Park – Targeted fish: Tigerfish, Tilapia, Catfish. Best time to fish: May to October.

Lake Natron – Targeted fish: Tilapia, Catfish, Lungfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to September.

Lake Rukwa – Targeted fish: Nile Perch, Tilapia, Catfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to August.

Lake Eyasi – Targeted fish: Tilapia, Catfish, Lungfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from June to October.

Lake Manyara – Targeted fish: Tilapia, Catfish, Yellowfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to September.

Lake Jipe – Targeted fish: Tilapia, Catfish, Yellowfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to August.

Mtera Dam – Targeted fish: Nile Perch, Catfish, Tilapia. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to September.

Pangani River – Targeted fish: Tigerfish, Catfish, Tilapia. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to October.

Kilombero River – Targeted fish: Tigerfish, Catfish, Tilapia. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from June to September.

Wami River – Targeted fish: Tigerfish, Catfish, Tilapia. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to August.

Lake Burunge – Targeted fish: Tilapia, Catfish, Yellowfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to September.

Lake Babati – Targeted fish: Tilapia, Catfish, Yellowfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to August.

Lake Ndutu – Targeted fish: Tilapia, Catfish, Yellowfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to September.

Lake Chala – Targeted fish: Tilapia, Catfish, Yellowfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from May to August.

Lake Victoria (Mwanza) – Targeted fish: Nile Perch, Tilapia, Catfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from June to September.

Best Times: Saltwater Fishing in Tanzania

Mafia Island – Targeted fish: Barracuda, Tuna, Snapper. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from November to March.

Pemba Island – Targeted fish: Sailfish, Marlin, Tuna. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from October to March.

Zanzibar Island – Targeted fish: Kingfish, Dorado, Wahoo. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from October to March.

Kilwa Island – Targeted fish: Barracuda, Tuna, Snapper. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from October to March.

Dar es Salaam – Targeted fish: Kingfish, Dorado, Tuna. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from September to March.

Tanga – Targeted fish: Kingfish, Barracuda, Snapper. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from September to March.

Bagamoyo – Targeted fish: Kingfish, Barracuda, Snapper. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from September to March.

Saadani National Park – Targeted fish: Barracuda, Tuna, Snapper. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from September to March.

Pangani – Targeted fish: Kingfish, Barracuda, Snapper. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from September to March.

Mtwara – Targeted fish: Tuna, Dorado, Kingfish. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from October to February.

Mikindani – Targeted fish: Barracuda, Snapper, Tuna. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from October to March.

Kilwa Masoko – Targeted fish: Barracuda, Tuna, Snapper. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from October to March.

Mafia Channel – Targeted fish: Kingfish, Barracuda, Tuna. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from November to March.

Zanzibar Channel – Targeted fish: Sailfish, Dorado, Tuna. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from October to March.

Mnazi Bay – Targeted fish: Kingfish, Tuna, Snapper. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from October to March.

Menai Bay – Targeted fish: Barracuda, Snapper, Tuna. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from October to March.

Kilwa Kivinje – Targeted fish: Kingfish, Barracuda, Snapper. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from September to March.

Tanga Bay – Targeted fish: Kingfish, Barracuda, Tuna. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from September to March.

Dar es Salaam Bay – Targeted fish: Kingfish, Dorado, Tuna. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from September to March.

Mafia Island Channel – Targeted fish: Barracuda, Tuna, Snapper. Best time to fish: Year-round, with peak season from November to March.

Species Seasonal Breakdown

Nile Perch

The best times to fish for Nile Perch in Tanzania are during the dry season, which typically lasts from June to October. They are most active during early morning and late afternoon. Some of the best locations for Nile Perch fishing in Tanzania include Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi), and the Rufiji River.

Tigerfish

The best times to fish for Tigerfish in Tanzania are during the dry season, which is from June to October. They are most active early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Some of the best locations for Tigerfish fishing in Tanzania include the Rufiji River, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Rukwa, and the Selous Game Reserve.

Yellowfin Tuna

The best times to fish for Yellowfin Tuna in Tanzania are during the months of May to September. They are most active during the early morning and late afternoon. Some of the best locations for Yellowfin Tuna fishing in Tanzania include the waters around Pemba Island, Mafia Island, Zanzibar Island, and the deep-sea areas off the coast.

Kingfish

The best times to fish for Kingfish in Tanzania are typically during the months of October to April. They are most active during the early morning or late afternoon. Some of the best locations in Tanzania for Kingfish fishing include the waters around Zanzibar Island, Mafia Island, Pemba Island, and the Tanzanian mainland coast.

Wahoo

The best times to fish for Wahoo in Tanzania are typically during the months of October to February. They are known to be most active during early morning or late afternoon. Some of the best locations in Tanzania for Wahoo fishing include Pemba Island, Mafia Island, Zanzibar Island, and the deeper offshore waters of the Indian Ocean.

Mahi-Mahi

The best times to fish for Mahi-Mahi in Tanzania are typically from November to February. They are most active during the early morning and late afternoon hours. Some of the best locations for Mahi-Mahi fishing in Tanzania include the waters around Zanzibar Island, Pemba Island, Mafia Island, and the offshore reefs and drop-offs in the Indian Ocean.

Sailfish

The best times to fish for Sailfish in Tanzania are generally from October to March. They are most active during the early morning and late afternoon. Some of the best locations for Sailfish fishing in Tanzania include the waters around Zanzibar Island, Pemba Island, Mafia Island, and the offshore reefs and drop-offs in the Indian Ocean.

Marlin

The best times to fish for Marlin in Tanzania are usually during the months of November to February. They are most active during early morning or late afternoon. Some of the best locations in Tanzania for Marlin fishing include Pemba Island, Mafia Island, Zanzibar Island, and the waters off the coast of Dar es Salaam.

Giant Trevally

The best times to fish for Giant Trevally in Tanzania are generally from November to March. They are most active during the early morning and late afternoon hours. Some of the best locations for Giant Trevally fishing in Tanzania include the waters around Pemba Island, Mafia Island, Zanzibar Island, and the deeper offshore areas of the Indian Ocean.

Dogtooth Tuna

The best times to fish for Dogtooth Tuna in Tanzania are typically during the months of June to September. They are known to be most active during the early morning or late afternoon. Some of the best locations in Tanzania for Dogtooth Tuna fishing include Pemba Island, Mafia Island, Zanzibar Island, and the deeper offshore waters of the Indian Ocean.

Jack Crevalle

The best times to fish for Jack Crevalle in Tanzania are usually during the months of September to December. They are most active during the early morning or late afternoon. Some of the best locations in Tanzania for Jack Crevalle fishing include the waters around Zanzibar Island, Mafia Island, Pemba Island, and the Tanzanian mainland coast.

Queenfish

The best times to fish for Queenfish in Tanzania are typically during the months of November to February. They are most active during the early morning or late afternoon. Some of the best locations in Tanzania for Queenfish fishing include the waters around Zanzibar Island, Mafia Island, Pemba Island, and the Tanzanian mainland coast.

African Pompano

The best times to fish for African Pompano in Tanzania are during the months of November to March. They are usually caught during the early morning or late afternoon. Some of the best locations in Tanzania for fishing African Pompano include Pemba Island, Zanzibar Island, Mafia Island, and Dar es Salaam.

Red Snapper

The best times to fish for Red Snapper in Tanzania are typically during the months of May to October. They are commonly caught during early morning or late afternoon hours. Some of the best locations in Tanzania for fishing Red Snapper include Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar Island, Mafia Island, and Pemba Island.

Spanish Mackerel

The best times to fish for Spanish Mackerel in Tanzania are typically during the months of May to October. They are most active during early morning or late afternoon. Some of the best locations in Tanzania for Spanish Mackerel fishing include the waters around Zanzibar Island, Pemba Island, Mafia Island, and the Tanzanian mainland coast.

Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Egypt. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Kenya. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in South Africa. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Cape Town.

Best Fishing in Tanzania on a Seasonal Basis

Winter (June-August)

Zanzibar Island: Explore the coastal waters of Zanzibar Island during the winter months for a chance to catch species like kingfish, snapper, and barracuda.
Pangani River: Head to the Pangani River and enjoy winter fishing for species such as Nile perch, catfish, and tilapia in a serene river setting.
Lake Tanganyika: Visit Lake Tanganyika during the winter season and fish for species like yellowbelly, mormyrids, and catfish in one of Africa’s Great Lakes.
Selous Game Reserve: Discover the Selous Game Reserve during the winter months and experience thrilling fishing opportunities along the Rufiji River, with chances to catch tigerfish, bream, and barbel.

Spring (September-November)

Lake Victoria: In spring, head to Lake Victoria for exciting fishing opportunities, with chances to catch Nile perch, tilapia, and catfish.
Pangani River: Explore the Pangani River, where you can try your hand at catching tilapia, catfish, and Nile perch in the calm freshwater environment.
Ruaha River: Navigate the beautiful Ruaha River and enjoy spring fishing for tigerfish, tilapia, and catfish while surrounded by the stunning wildlife of Ruaha National Park.
Mahale Mountains: Visit the Mahale Mountains and fish in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, known for its remarkable population of tigerfish and other gamefish during the spring season.

Summer (December-February)

Zanzibar Island: Explore the waters around Zanzibar Island during the summer months for exciting fishing opportunities, with chances to catch barracuda, tuna, and dorado.
Pemba Island: Head to Pemba Island and enjoy summer fishing for species like snapper, grouper, and kingfish in the pristine waters surrounding the island.
Selous Game Reserve: Visit the Selous Game Reserve and experience thrilling summer fishing on the Rufiji River, where you can target species such as tigerfish, catfish, and tilapia.
Lake Tanganyika: Discover the abundant fish population in Lake Tanganyika during the summer season, with opportunities to catch species like yellowbelly, sardine, and mormyrids.

Fall (March-May)

Lake Victoria: Explore the waters of Lake Victoria during the fall months for excellent fishing opportunities, with chances to catch species such as Nile perch, tilapia, and catfish.
Ruaha River: Head to the Ruaha River and enjoy fall fishing for species like tigerfish, bream, and barbel in the scenic surroundings of Ruaha National Park.
Kilwa Masoko: Visit Kilwa Masoko and experience exciting fall fishing along the coastline, with opportunities to catch species like kingfish, snapper, and grouper.
Mahale Mountains National Park: Discover the Mahale Mountains National Park during the fall season and fish in the waters of Lake Tanganyika for species like yellowbelly, mormyrids, and catfish.