Best Times & Seasons to Catch Fish in Turks & Caicos

Turks & Caicos Islands offer world-class fishing. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish in the local waters helps anglers catch more fish during their trips.  

The best times to fish near Turks & Caicos are from January to March and from November to December for barracuda, blackfin tuna, blue marlin, bonefish, cero mackerel, grouper, king mackerel, mahi-mahi, red snapper, sailfish, sharks, triggerfish, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo. 

Turks and Caicos Islands are a popular deep-sea sport fishing destination. The island provides anglers with an amazing fishing experience. It’s an ideal location for bonefishing.

Best Time to Fish Turks & Caicos

Turks & Caicos Islands are a destination where fishing is possible year-round. There is no bad time to visit the island. However, fishing is more productive in the region when the water is colder. 

Turks & Caicos Islands are home to many fish species. Fishing in the area is best from January to June and from November to December. The vast majority of fish species are active in the local waters at these times of the year. 

Anglers should go fishing in the waters near Turks & Caicos Islands when their favorite fish species are active. Fishing in the waters near Turks & Caicos Islands requires meticulous planning. It’s necessary to study the bite times of the top targeted species and visit the region when fishing is best. Let’s say that you would like to target grouper.

In this case, you can visit the island from the late spring to the late fall. The marlin fishing season in Turks & Caicos Islands starts in the early spring and ends in the early fall. It’s possible to catch yellowfin tuna in the region from the late spring to the early fall.   

Turks and Caicos Species Breakdown: Best Times

Barracuda

Barracuda fishing near Turks and Caicos Islands is best from January to June and from November to December. Barracuda feeds actively in the local waters in the early morning and in the late evening. Barracuda can be found in the waters near Turtle Cove.   

Blackfin Tuna 

The blackfin tuna fishing season near Turks and Caicos Islands is high from July to October. It would be great to fish for blackfin tuna in the region early in the morning. Blackfin tuna can be caught in the waters near Grand Turk.  

Blue Marlin

The peak blue marlin fishing season in the region starts in May and ends in August. Blue marlin feeds actively during morning and evening hours. Grand Turk is the right place to go fishing for blue marlin. 

Cero Mackerel

The best times of the year to catch cero mackerel are from January to March and from November to December. Cero mackerel bites well at dawn and at dusk. Anglers often catch cero mackerel in the waters near Grand Turk.     

King Mackerel

The best time of the year to catch king mackerel near Turks and Caicos Islands is May – June. King mackerel feeds actively at dawn and at dusk. Turtle Cove is the ideal place to catch king mackerel in the local waters. 

Mahi-Mahi

When fishing for mahi-mahi in waters near Turks and Caicos Islands, anglers get the best results from January to June and from November to December. Mahi-mahi bites well in the middle of the day. Turtle Cove is one of the best mahi-mahi fishing spots in the area. 

Grouper

Grouper fishing is the most productive in the region from January to April and from November to December. Grouper bites well in the early morning and in the late afternoon. It makes sense to fish for grouper in the waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean. 

Sailfish

Sailfish get active in cold waters. It would be great to target sailfish from January to April and from October to December. The early morning is the best time of day to fish for sailfish. Go fishing to Grace Bay to catch sailfish in the region. 

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin tuna fishing is best near Turks and Caicos Islands in May–August. The chance to catch yellowfin tuna is high in the early morning before sunrise. Yellowfin tuna is one of the top targeted fish species in Grace Bay. 

Wahoo

Wahoo fishing is very productive in the area from January to March and from October to December. Anglers often catch wahoo at first light. Grace Bay has gained popularity among anglers, who prefer to target wahoo. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Turks & Caicos

These Turks & Caicos-based charters are some of the best at putting you on great fishing action. 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
Caicos Water Fun Charters	The Bight Settlement
Grand Slam Charters LTD – 48′ Boat	Turtle Cove
Grand Slam Charters LTD – Reef Fishing	Grace Bay Providenciales
Grand Slam Charters Ltd- Deep Sea Fishing 43′	Turtle Cove
Screaming Reels Fishing Charters	Grand Turk

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 Day to Fish Turks and Caicos

Going fishing at the right time of the day is crucial to an angler’s success. The best time of day to fish Turks and Caicos Islands mainly depends on the time of the year, the fish species that you are targeting, and the weather. Anglers need to go fishing when the vast majority of their favorite species are active in the waters around the island. 

Turks and Caicos Islands are known as the region where the climate is warm year-round. It’s hot in the region at any time of the year. Anglers choose to go fishing in the local waters during the morning and evening hours.

It’s the time of the day when the weather is not hot and anglers find it comfortable to fish. Many fish species feed actively during the morning hours. Morning is the best time of the day to fish Turks and Caicos Islands.            

Turks and Caicos Fishing & Tidal Impacts

The activity of fish is greatly affected by tides. It would be better to study tide times for Turks and Caicos Islands before you go fishing. Fishing in the region is best during an incoming tide and a falling tide. 

The chance to catch a trophy fish is higher during a rising tide. Fish go out of deep waters and begin to fish on flats. So, anglers find it easy to catch it. 

During a falling tide, the water is cooler. As a result, the activity of fish increases. It’s also important to note that anglers find it easy to locate fish on a falling tide. That’s why fishing is getting better. 

Fishing is less productive when a tide is high and when a tide is low in the region. There is no water movement during low and high tides and that’s why fish stay inactive.  

Storms & Turks and Caicos Fishing

Storms and rainstorms make fishing in the region dangerous. Turks and Caicos Islands are located in an area with a tropical climate. Storms and rainstorms usually occur in the region during hurricane season. Storms usually hit the area from June to November.

Fishing trips are canceled if storms and rainstorms are expected in the area. That’s why anglers should always check the local weather forecast before booking a fishing trip to Turks and Caicos Islands.  

Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Turks and Caicos?

Winter fishing is good in the waters near Turks and Caicos Islands. However, bad weather often makes fishing in the region difficult. If the weather allows, anglers can enjoy fishing in the region and catch barracuda, bonefish, mahi-mahi, groupers, snappers, sailfish, sharks, triggerfish, and wahoo. 

Night Fishing in Turks & Caicos

Night fishing is possible in waters near Turks & Caicos Islands. Fishing during nighttime has some benefits for anglers. When fishing at night, anglers can avoid the summer heat. It’s also important to note that night fishing can be very productive.

The best time of the year to fish at night in the region is May – July. Anglers can successfully catch groupers and snappers in the local waters during night hours.  

Best Seasons to Book a Turks & Caicos Charter

Due to the warm climate, fishing near Turks & Caicos Islands is good throughout the year. The waters of Turks and Caicos Islands are home to year-round species as well as fish species that are active during the cold and warm months. Below, we’ll explain what anglers can expect when fishing in the area during the spring, summer, fall, and winter months.   

Spring

The ideal conditions are created for fishing on Turks & Caicos Islands during the spring months. It’s the time of the year when the waters are warm and the winds are calm. Bonefish gather in schools during the spring months. In spring, fishing is very productive on flats.

The chance to catch a trophy fish is high. It’s possible to fish for barracuda, mahi-mahi, grouper, jack crevalle, mahi-mahi, snapper, sailfish as well as wahoo in spring. 

Summer

The weather is hot on Turks and Caicos Islands during the summer months. Summer is a great time of the year to target bonefish on the flats. That’s why it would be better to go fishing either in the early morning or in the late evening.

Water is getting colder and fish begin to feed actively. In summer, anglers can also target blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, jack crevalle, blue marlin, white marlin, permit, and yellowfin tuna. 

Fall

It’s getting cooler in the fall. Cool-weather affects fishing in the area. Anglers often catch large bonefish during the fall months. Fall is a great time of the year to catch blackfin tuna, bonefish, and sailfish.

Winter

The weather often changes in the region in the wintertime. It can be cool, windy, cloudy, or rainy. So, anglers may face some challenges. However, winter fishing near Turks and Caicos Islands can be very good.

Anglers can successfully catch barracuda, bonefish, mahi-mahi, grouper, snapper, sailfish, triggerfish, and wahoo during the winter months. 

Top 5-10 Fishing Spots in Turks and Caicos

Turtle Cove

Turtle Cove is the place where anglers can use deep-sea fishing, heavy tackle, and trolling techniques. Anglers can go fishing in nearshore waters and offshore waters.

Reef fishing is also very productive in this place. Fishing in the area is best during the spring and fall months. The top targeted species in Turtle Cove include barracuda, mahi-mahi, and king mackerel.

Grand Turk

Grand Turk is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean that’s located between the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. The destination allows anglers to do fantastic fishing and enjoy beautiful views of the coast. Fishing in Grand Turk is excellent year-round.

Among the fish species that anglers can target in the region are: blue marlin, king mackerel, mahi-mahi, Spanish mackerel, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo.

The Bight Settlement

The Bight Settlement is known for its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Here, anglers can fish in nearshore waters, inshore waters, and offshore waters. When fishing in the region, anglers mainly use bottom fishing and trolling techniques.

Fishing in the waters near the Bight Settlement is excellent in January – July and in November – December. Catches include barracuda, grouper, snapper, mahi-mahi, triggerfish, and other species when fishing in the area.  

Grace Bay

Grace Bay provides anglers with easy access to shallow flats. It’s the place where anglers can successfully catch bonefish. It’s also possible to go fishing in deep ocean waters. The bay offers year-round fishing opportunities.

However, the best time of the year to fish near Grace Bay is from March to July. Anglers can target bonefish, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and other species when fishing near Grace Bay.    

North Caicos

North Caicos is known for its productive flats fishing sites. There are channels and estuaries in the area. This spot attracts a lot of fly fishermen.

Fishing in North Caicos is best from March to November. Among fish species that anglers can target in the area are bonefish, blackfin tuna, blue marlin, grouper, snapper, sailfish, and wahoo.          

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Curacao, check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Aruba, check out this article.  For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Puerto Rico, check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in St. Kitts & Nevis, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in St. Martin, check out this guide.