Chalong Fishing Charters

Chalong is where serious captains dock, refuel, and head out. Unlike the tourist beaches on Phuket’s west side, this is a working port — a stretch of moored vessels, fuel barges, bait coolers, and early-morning diesel hum. Most charters run from Chalong Pier, the long concrete jetty that extends over shallow flats into clear, green water. Departures begin around first light to beat the tide.

The Andaman Sea off Chalong is layered: inner reefs and drop-offs within 10 miles, then bluewater starting around the 30-mile mark. Offshore, the seafloor falls abruptly, creating deep ledges where bait schools gather. Small tunas and skipjacks bring in sailfish and marlin between November and April. During the northeast monsoon, calm seas and clean water make long runs possible — often to Racha Noi, Racha Yai, or the southern ridges that reach toward Similan.

Inshore, the fishing stays steady year-round. Trevally, queenfish, barracuda, and snapper haunt rocky points and coral shelves around Coral Island, Koh Hae, and the smaller islets west of Chalong Bay. Local skippers mix trolling and jigging — feather jigs for the trevally, deep-running lures for barracuda, live bait for coral trout. Closer still, anglers drop squid rigs and small spoons for a steady pick of reef species.

The fleet is diverse: traditional Thai long-tails fitted with twin outboards, mid-size sportfishers around 35–40 feet, and a handful of converted cruisers that handle multi-day liveaboard runs. Most boats include bait, tackle, and water; crews are fluent in English but operate with a quiet, pragmatic efficiency — little chatter, plenty of results.

Weather governs everything. The southwest monsoon (May–October) brings chop and cloud cover; captains switch to inshore or leeward runs near the islands. When the wind shifts northeast (November–April), the ocean calms, visibility spikes, and the pelagic season opens wide. Big-game specialists target marlin and sailfish using teasers and lures along offshore temperature breaks. Bottom anglers chase large grouper in 60–100 meters.

Fishing licenses are handled through the boat — individual paperwork isn’t required for guests. The harbor itself has cold-storage vendors, small tackle stalls, and bars where crews trade stories over ice buckets of Singha. For anyone planning serious fishing around Phuket, Chalong is the only logical port: functional, seasoned, and built around the rhythm of the tide.