Fish Species Found in Andaman

The apex predator of the Andaman reefs and the fish most anglers come here for. Giant trevally hunt the reef edges, channels and drop-offs year-round and are famous for explosive surface strikes on poppers and stickbaits. The largest of the genus Caranx, they reach 170 cm and 80 kg; the IGFA all-tackle record stands at 72.57 kg. Expect brutal, line-stripping runs towards the coral — this is topwater fishing at its most extreme.

A reef-dwelling tuna with a mouthful of teeth and a reputation for breaking tackle. Dogtooth patrol steep drop-offs and deep pinnacles such as Invisible Bank, where they crush knife jigs and deep-trolled lures. Fish over 50 kg are a real possibility in the Andamans; the world record is 107 kg. The first run is savage and straight down — heavy jigging gear and a strong drag are essential.

Fast, powerful and superb on the plate. Yellowfin roam the blue water beyond the reefs and show up around bait schools, current lines and birds. We target them trolling skirted lures and casting stickbaits into feeding schools, with fish from 10 to 60 kg common in season. Long, deep circling fights make them a favourite with anglers who like a stand-up battle.

The reef's ambush specialist — long, silver and armed with razor teeth. Barracuda hang around reef edges, channels and nearshore structure and attack fast-moving lures such as spoons, jerkbaits and topwater plugs with startling speed. The IGFA record is 59.5 kg. Wire leaders are a must; the strike and first run are spectacular.

A heavyweight of the coral reefs and rocky bottoms of the Andaman Sea. Groupers sit tight to structure and hit jigs, swimbaits and live bait, then bulldoze straight back into their hole — the fight is short, brutal and won or lost in the first few seconds. Excellent eating, and we release the large breeding fish.

A beautiful, bar-patterned trevally that feeds over sand flats, lagoons and reef edges, often following rays and sharks. Growing to 120 cm and 15 kg, golden trevally take small poppers, soft plastics and jigs and fight hard for their size — a great light-tackle target and a prized photo fish.

The two-spot red snapper, known here as red bass, is a thick-set reef brawler that smashes poppers and stickbaits meant for GT and powers straight for the coral. Found around reefs, rocky bottoms and drop-offs, fish over 10 kg are common. Mostly released due to ciguatera risk in large specimens — but the fight is pure quality.

The fastest fish in the Andaman Sea. Wahoo hunt the upper water column around drop-offs, current lines and floating debris, hitting high-speed trolled lures and bibbed minnows with blistering runs that can empty a reel in seconds. The world record is around 83 kg. Superb eating and a trophy for any angler.

A sleek, hard-pulling snapper common throughout the Andamans, from East Africa to Hawaii. Jobfish patrol reef drop-offs in mid-water and take jigs, spoons, plugs and live bait. The world record is 33.6 kg. Strong, dogged fighters and one of the finest table fish in the islands.

Nicknamed the 'reef donkey' for good reason — what amberjack lack in looks they make up for in raw pulling power. Found over deep reefs and pinnacles, they hit jigs and live baits and then simply refuse to come up, testing anglers' backs and tackle to the limit. One of the toughest fish to land in the Andamans.

The narrow-barred Spanish mackerel is a fast, toothy pelagic found along reef edges, channels and current lines throughout the Andamans. They hit trolled minnows, metal slices and live baits with a blistering first run that peels line at speed. Fish of 10–25 kg are common in season and few fish eat better — surmai is the islands' favourite table fish.

The ultimate billfish. Black and blue marlin roam the deep blue water off the Andaman drop-offs from November to April, taking trolled skirted lures and rigged baits. Hook-ups are followed by spectacular greyhounding jumps and long, grinding fights; fish from 80 to over 300 kg have been raised here. All marlin are tagged and released.

The acrobat of the Andaman Sea. Sailfish light up behind the boat in electric blue, slash at trolled baits and then put on an aerial show of tail-walking jumps. They gather around bait schools off the southern islands, with multiple hook-ups possible on good days. Caught on trolled lures, rigged ballyhoo or by casting to tailing fish — always released.

Long, slender and lightning-quick, the houndfish or sea garfish hunts just below the surface over reef flats and lagoons. They take small stickbaits, flies and live baits and respond with a series of wild, skittering jumps. A fun light-tackle target for families and fly anglers — handle with care, those jaws are sharp.

A compact, hard-pulling jack that schools around reefs, buoys and bait balls. Blue runners hit small jigs, spoons and poppers with gusto and fight far above their size on light tackle. They are also one of our best live baits for GT, dogtooth and sailfish — catch a few in the morning and the day often gets bigger.

Classic red reef snappers — emperor red, crimson and John's snapper among them — live over rocky bottoms, drop-offs and wrecks around the islands. They take jigs, soft plastics and cut or live bait, with a strong dive for cover on the strike. Prized for the table and a reliable bottom-fishing target when the pelagics are quiet.

One of the most striking fish on the Andaman reefs — deep blue body with vivid yellow fins. The blue and yellow grouper holds on steep coral drop-offs in 20–80 m and crushes jigs and live baits before trying to bury itself in the reef. Fish over 15 kg are possible; big breeding fish are photographed and released.

The electric-blue cousin of the GT. Bluefin trevally hunt in packs along reef edges and shallow flats, smashing small poppers, stickbaits and jigs with real aggression. Pound for pound one of the most exciting light-tackle targets in the Andamans.

Fast, schooling and always hungry, bonito chase bait on the surface in open water. They hit small metal jigs, spoons and trolled lures, giving fast runs on light gear — and are excellent bait for bigger predators like GT, wahoo and sailfish.

Sleek, fast and beautifully striped in blue and yellow, rainbow runners roam open water around offshore banks and floating debris. They hit small jigs, stickbaits and trolled lures with speed, and are prized both as a sporty catch and as excellent table fare.

A sleek, rose-coloured jobfish of deep reef slopes and drop-offs. Rusty jobfish take slow-pitch and deep jigs, giving a strong, determined fight from depth — and are rated among the finest eating fish in the Andaman Sea.

Bright red and covered in fine spots, this reef grouper lives among coral heads and rocky ledges. It ambushes jigs and soft plastics close to structure, so the first few seconds are a battle to keep it out of the reef. Excellent table fish.