Best Time to Fish in the Maldives: Month-by-Month Fishing Seasons

You can go fishing in the Maldives all year round, but the best time depends on what you want to catch and how calm you want the sea to be. The country has two monsoon seasons, and the main sport fish each have months when they are most active. This guide explains the Maldives fishing seasons month by month, the best time for GT, tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi, and how to plan a fishing trip around them.

Best time to fish in the Maldives: the quick answer

• December to April is the best time for most visitors: calmer seas during the northeast monsoon, and the peak season for yellowfin tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi.
• April to October is the most commonly reported season for giant trevally (GT), the Maldives' signature sport fish.
• November to April is the season for dogtooth tuna on the deep reef slopes.
• All year: skipjack tuna and reef fishing, and private charters run in every month.

If you want calm water and the widest choice of species, aim for February to April, when the northeast monsoon is settled and the GT season is starting.

Maldives fishing seasons: the two monsoons

The Maldives has a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons, and they shape the fishing more than anything else.

Northeast monsoon (Iruvai): December to April

The northeast monsoon is the dry season. Winds are lighter, rain is less frequent and the sea is generally calmer, which makes for more comfortable days on the boat and good trolling conditions along the atoll edges. Pelagic fish such as yellowfin tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi are in season, and this is also the busiest time for tourism.

Southwest monsoon (Hulhangu): May to November

The southwest monsoon brings more rain, stronger winds and rougher water on some days. Fishing trips still go out throughout the season, choosing sheltered spots and calmer days, and some of the best sport fishing happens now: the GT season runs through these months. Fewer visitors means quieter islands and reefs.

Transition months: April and November

April and November are the changeover months between the monsoons. Winds often drop and the sea can be very calm, which makes them good months for fishing. April in particular overlaps the end of the pelagic season and the start of the GT season.

Maldives fishing calendar: month by month

This calendar shows which species are in season each month, based on the species records in our Maldives fish species guide. Fish don't read calendars: seasons vary by atoll and year, so treat this as a guide rather than a guarantee.

Month	Monsoon	In season
January	Northeast	Yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, dogtooth tuna, skipjack
February	Northeast	Yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, dogtooth tuna, skipjack
March	Northeast	Yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, dogtooth tuna, skipjack
April	Transition	GT, mahi-mahi, dogtooth tuna, skipjack
May	Southwest	GT, skipjack
June	Southwest	GT, skipjack
July	Southwest	GT, skipjack
August	Southwest	GT, skipjack
September	Southwest	GT, skipjack
October	Southwest	GT, skipjack
November	Transition	Dogtooth tuna, skipjack
December	Northeast	Yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, dogtooth tuna, skipjack

Reef fish such as groupers, snappers and emperors are caught all year, so a reef fishing or jigging session is always an option.

Best time for GT fishing in the Maldives

Giant trevally live on Maldivian reefs all year, but the season most commonly reported for GT fishing is April to October, through the southwest monsoon. During these months GT are active along the outer reef edges and at the channel mouths, where the tide pushes baitfish between the lagoons and the open ocean. On any given day, the tide matters more than the month: GT feed hardest when the water is moving, so charters plan their popping and jigging around the tide.

The remote southern atolls, such as Gaafu Alifu, are among the best places to fish for GT in this season, because their channels and outer reefs see little fishing pressure. Read more in our guide to GT fishing in the Maldives.

Best time for tuna fishing in the Maldives

The Maldives is famous for tuna, and there is a tuna season for most of the year:

• Yellowfin tuna: December to March. The calmer northeast monsoon is the peak season for yellowfin, caught mainly by trolling offshore and around schools of feeding birds. See yellowfin tuna fishing in the Maldives.
• Dogtooth tuna: November to April. Dogtooth live on the deep reef slopes and drop-offs and are usually caught by jigging. See dogtooth tuna fishing.
• Skipjack tuna: all year. Skipjack are the backbone of the Maldives' traditional pole-and-line fishery and can be caught in every month.

Best time for wahoo and mahi-mahi

Wahoo are in season from December to March, the same window as yellowfin tuna, and are caught by trolling lures at speed along the atoll edges. Mahi-mahi run from December to April and are often found around floating debris and fish aggregating devices (FADs). A trolling trip in these months can produce all three species in a day.

Fishing in the southwest monsoon: is it worth it?

Yes, especially for GT. The southwest monsoon covers most of the GT season, and the islands and reefs are quieter. The trade-off is weather: some days are windy or wet, and a few may be too rough to go far offshore. If you're travelling between May and November:

• Book a few days rather than a single day, so a rough day doesn't cost you your only trip.
• Be flexible about which day you fish; the crew will pick the calmest days and the most sheltered spots.
• Focus on popping and jigging along the reef rather than long offshore trolling runs.

Plan your fishing trip around the season

Our private charter boat, Emperor, fishes all year from Maamendhoo in Gaafu Alifu Atoll. It takes up to 5 anglers, at USD 1,380 per boat for a full day or USD 980 for a half day, and the crew adapts the day to the season: trolling for tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi in the northeast monsoon, popping and jigging for GT through the southwest monsoon, and jigging for dogtooth tuna from November to April.

To fish several days and ride out any weather, a fishing package at the Maldives Fishing and Holidays Lodge includes the lodge, full-board meals, the domestic flight, the boat transfer and a private charter on every fishing day. A 4-night package with 3 full fishing days costs USD 2,571 per person for 2 anglers or USD 1,497 per person for 5.

See all fishing packages, our Maldives fishing trip cost guide, or the sample fishing trip itinerary.

Best time to fish in the Maldives: FAQs

What is the best month for fishing in the Maldives?

For calm seas and the widest range of species, February to April. For GT, April to October. For yellowfin tuna and wahoo, December to March.

Can you fish in the Maldives all year round?

Yes. Private charters run in every month, skipjack and reef fish are caught all year, and the main sport fish have seasons that between them cover the whole year.

When is GT season in the Maldives?

April to October is the most commonly reported GT season, through the southwest monsoon, though GT live on the reefs all year and can be caught outside it.

When is tuna season in the Maldives?

Yellowfin tuna peak from December to March, dogtooth tuna from November to April, and skipjack tuna are caught all year.

Is the rainy season a bad time to go fishing?

Not necessarily. The southwest monsoon (May to November) brings more rain and some rough days, but it covers most of the GT season and the reefs are quieter. Book several days so you can fish the calmer ones.

Is December a good time to fish in the Maldives?

Yes. December is the start of the northeast monsoon, with calmer seas and the start of the yellowfin tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi season. It is also a busy holiday month, so book early.