Andaman — October 2026 Fishing Report
October is the Andaman's most anticipated month on the fishing calendar. After five months of southwest monsoon closure, the offshore world begins its slow, dramatic reopening. The swell recedes, the wind shifts, and the extraordinary fishing grounds of the Similan Islands, the Surin Archipelago, and the deep offshore pinnacles of the North Andaman begin to emerge from their closed-season inaccessibility. The first liveaboard operators confirm their October departures with the urgency of a season finally unlocked. For fishing anglers who have been waiting since May, October in the Andaman is the month of return.
Water and Weather
The southwest monsoon's withdrawal from the Andaman is not a single dramatic event but a gradual weakening over three to four weeks. October opens with swell averaging 2–3 metres on exposed Andaman coasts — a notable improvement from September but still challenging for small boats. By mid-October, the transition to northeast wind influence becomes apparent: swell drops to 1–1.5 metres, the sky shifts from the uniform grey of the monsoon to scattered cloud, and the water clarity in offshore areas improves dramatically.
Sea surface temperatures run 29–30°C in October. The clear water that defines the Andaman's world-class diving and fishing returns first at depth — the offshore pinnacle systems achieve 20–25 metre visibility by mid-October, making lure presentations to deep GT and pelagic species once again effective.
The Similan Islands National Marine Park's official reopening date varies slightly by year, typically occurring in mid-to-late October pending marine park authority confirmation. Surin Islands National Marine Park opens on a similar schedule. Confirm current-year opening dates with operators closer to your planned visit.
What's Biting Now
Giant trevally — The October GT season opening is one of the Andaman's marquee events. Fish that have experienced minimal liveaboard pressure since May are in prime condition and, typically, the first October sessions on the Similan and Surin pinnacles produce aggressive surface responses to poppers and stickbaits. GT from 15–35kg are present throughout the offshore pinnacle system. This is among the best GT popper fishing available anywhere in the world.
Sailfish — Andaman sailfish are present year-round but become concentrated on the offshore banks through October as baitfish aggregations develop. Trolling rigged ballyhoo or circle-hook-rigged live garfish around the Similan Bank structure produces October sailfish encounters. Double-hook-up situations are not unusual on productive days.
Yellowfin tuna — Offshore tuna become increasingly accessible from mid-October as the settled weather allows passage to the deeper open-water areas south of the Similan chain. Trolling skirted lures and rigged flying fish targets these fish on the offshore troll runs between pinnacle stops.
Dog tooth tuna — The deep pinnacle structures of the north Andaman (Richelieu Rock, the Surin drop-offs) hold dogtooth tuna year-round. October's improving visibility means jigging these pinnacles with heavy flutter jigs in the 200–400g class becomes effective once again.
Spanish mackerel — Transitioning to October availability on the inshore and mid-channel reef structures. Trolling chrome lures over the reef systems between Phuket and the Phi Phi chain produces consistent Spanish mackerel. The inshore mackerel fishing is accessible from Phuket and Krabi day-charter boats throughout October.
Queenfish — Already in good shape through October's improving conditions. The Phang Nga Bay channels and the Phuket east coast rocky shores produce queenfish on surface lures and metals from full-day inshore charters.
Barramundi (estuarine) — The Krabi and Phang Nga estuarine systems continue to produce through October with improving clarity. As the river systems begin shedding their monsoon turbidity, lure presentations in the mangrove channels become more productive.
What to Target This Month
Top pick: first liveaboard to the Similan Islands — GT and sailfish. Book your spot on the first available October liveaboard departure to the Similan Islands. These trips, typically running from late October, offer access to GT and pelagic species that have been unfished for five months. The fishing quality of the first season trips to any offshore system that has been rested since May is consistently exceptional. Popper and stickbait fishing on the granite pinnacles at dawn is the defining October Andaman experience.
Second pick: Richelieu Rock jigging for dogtooth tuna. Richelieu Rock, the Surin Islands system's famous pinnacle, is accessible from Surin-based liveaboards from late October. The deep edges of this isolated limestone structure hold large dogtooth tuna year-round, and October's first access after the monsoon closure produces reliable encounters. Heavy slow-pitch and flutter jigging in the 150–300m water column beside the rock.
Third pick: Khao Lak inshore charter for Spanish mackerel. The Khao Lak-based charter fleet re-activates in October and the sheltered waters between the mainland coast and the outer Similan island chain are excellent for Spanish mackerel trolling. A productive day-trip option from Khao Lak throughout October — the first accessible offshore fishing available to the Khao Lak visitor base after the summer closure.
What to Avoid
Avoid committing to early October (first two weeks) offshore liveaboard itineraries without thorough communication with your operator regarding cancellation policies — the monsoon exit is gradual and a slow-moving October weather system can delay the season opening by one to two weeks. Avoid the west-coast Andaman beaches for shore fishing in early October — swell is still significant on exposed west-facing coasts through mid-month. Avoid the Myanmar Mergui Archipelago in October without a vessel equipped for variable sea state — while the passage is increasingly feasible, conditions in this remote area require a capable offshore vessel.
October's Opening Day Effect
The first Similan Islands trip of each new Andaman season invariably produces extraordinary fishing. Fish that have experienced zero pressure since the previous May are present in full numbers and are behaviourally naive to liveaboard fishing techniques. The October opening-week GT fishing at the Similan pinnacles is often described by experienced liveaboard captains as the best GT surface action of the entire season. Book your spot on these first departures as early as possible — they fill within hours of availability announcement.
Venue Spotlight
Similan Islands (Mu Ko Similan National Marine Park) — The nine-island granite archipelago 70km northwest of Khao Lak is the Andaman's flagship offshore destination and the centrepiece of the October reopening. The pinnacle structures in the 10–40 metre depth range around the northern islands hold resident GT populations and act as aggregation points for sailfish, tuna, and other pelagics. October's first visitors to these sites encounter fish in prime, unpressured condition.
Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock — Further north and slightly more remote than the Similans, the Surin Islands and the iconic Richelieu Rock are accessible from late-October liveaboards. Richelieu Rock is world-famous in diving circles; among fishing anglers it is less known but equally remarkable for the dogtooth tuna and GT that inhabit its deep peripheral structures.
Khao Lak (Phang Nga Province) — The mainland gateway to the Similan and Surin liveaboard operations, Khao Lak provides excellent accommodation and October is one of the best-value times to visit. The local charter fleet running day inshore trips is worth engaging for Spanish mackerel and reef fishing while waiting for liveaboard departure dates. The beaches, still quiet in October, are spectacular.
Logistics in October
Phuket International Airport is the primary Andaman gateway with full international service. Khao Lak, the Similan liveaboard departure point, is 80km north of Phuket Airport — a 90-minute drive. Krabi Airport serves the southern Andaman approach. October accommodation rates across Phuket, Khao Lak, and Krabi are at low-to-mid-season prices — rising toward November's higher demand but still offering good value. Book liveaboard fishing trips directly with operators as early as possible — the season's first departures are in high demand from repeat clients.
Looking Ahead to November
November is the Andaman's finest month. The northeast monsoon is fully established, the Similan and Surin Islands are operating at peak liveaboard capacity, the GT fishing on the pinnacles reaches its November peak, and sailfish are increasingly numerous on the offshore banks. The daily diving and fishing calendar stabilises into its comfortable winter routine: calm mornings, manageable afternoon swells, spectacular sunsets. The Andaman in November is close to perfect.
