The Fishing Seasons in Samoa
When is the best time to fish in Samoa? The beauty of Samoa and why so many put them on their “fishing bucket list” is because the country has most of the highly-sought game fish in its waters all year round. We’re talking about yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, mahimahi, wahoo and barracuda, just to name a few. It’s true, however, that some fish species have a better season for fishing than others. Find out more about that, as well as other differences between the seasons that might affect your trip, in this guide to the best time for fishing in Samoa.
For a more generic guide on when to visit Samoa, check out The Best Time to Visit Samoa: A Month-by-Month Guide.
Quick Tips for Fishing in Samoa
- Inquire about how the catch is divided upon booking your fishing charter, as some charters have a policy of the operator keeping the catch
- Samoan reefs and their fishing rights are owned by villagers, so you need to seek permission first before dropping a line from shore
- Fishing gear rentals are only available from Le Vasa Resort (Apolima-uta, Upolu), while Red Hook Samoa (Apia) is a good go-to for purchasing gear.
For elaboration on each tip and more, check out The Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Samoa.
© SamoaPocketGuide.comThe Seasons in Samoa
So, if the fishing is good in Samoa year-round, what is the climate like? Samoa has two distinct seasons, the “dry season” and the “wet season”.
The dry season is between May and October. Temperatures are typically 23-29°C (73-84°F), with the rainfall being 133-257 mm (5.2-10.1 ″) per month. The sea temperatures are usually around 28°C (82°F).
The wet season is between November and April. Temperatures are typically 24-30°C (75-86°F) and Samoa experiences more frequent rainfall of 270-419 mm (10.6-16.5 ″) per month. The sea temperature is marginally warmer at 29°C (84°F).
In short, either season provides many good fishing days, but perhaps a little less so in summer when sea conditions can sometimes get too rough to be appealing for bluewater fishing. On the other hand, shore fishing within the lagoon tends to be good all year round thanks to the more sheltered conditions.
For more information on the weather and climate month-by-month, see our complete guide, Samoa Weather, Seasons & Climate + Samoa Weather by Month.
© SamoaPocketGuide.comPeak Game Fishing Seasons in Samoa
While most game species can be caught year-round in Samoa, some seasons are better for catching some species than others. The peak fishing season for particular fish species in Samoa is as follows:
- Yellowfin Tuna – November to May
- Dogtooth Tuna – September to November
- Wahoo – September to November
- Mahimahi – September to November
- Blue Marlin – November to May
- Black Marlin – September to November
- Pacific Sailfish – September to November
- Giant Trevally – January to April.
Learn more about some of these species in our guide, The Types of Fish in Samoa.
© SamoaPocketGuide.comThe Best Game Fish to Catch Year-Round in Samoa
Although many of the game fish species listed above have a peak season for fishing, they can actually be found in Samoa’s waters year-round. It’s what makes a fishing trip in Samoa so exciting, as you never know what you’re going to get! On the other hand, local fishing charters have the bait and fishing gear to target your chosen species, should you have one.
The best species to target at any time of the year, mainly because they don’t have a “bad” season to target them, include:
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Dogtooth Tuna
- Mahimahi
- Blue Marlin
- Pacific Sailfish
- Giant Trevally
- Spanish Mackerel
- Pacific Barracuda
- Wahoo.
More About the Fishing Season in Samoa
Now that you know the best time of year for fishing in Samoa, plan the rest of your fishing excursion using the following guides:
Finally, discover more awesome experiences in the 101 Best Things to Do in Samoa: The Ultimate List.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Samoa and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Samoa Tourism Authority (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Tourism Authority Corporate (Tourism news - Updated [2024])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Hotels Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Meteorological Division (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Customs & Revenue (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
- Land Transport Authority (Tourist driver’s license info - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At Samoa Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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