Trinidad & Tobago Fishing Guide

Trinidad is known for big tarpon in the deep Bocas channels, while Tobago has marlin, wahoo, tuna and mahi off its north coast plus tarpon on the Plymouth and Pigeon Point flats. Blue-water fishing is best in the dry season and tarpon move in with the rainy season. Buccoo Reef Marine Park in Tobago is closed to all fishing.

📍 Trinidad and Tobago, at the south end of the Caribbean near Venezuela. On Trinidad, tarpon boats leave Chaguaramas on the northwest tip and fish the Bocas channels and the Gulf of Paria. Tobago is about 40 miles northeast; boats leave Pigeon Point and fish the north coast (Sisters Rocks, Castara, Charlotteville). Buccoo Reef is in southwest Tobago.

Map: spots, ramps and marinas

★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)

Open the full Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago map →

Quick facts

Tobago is about 40 miles northeast of Trinidad.
Trinidad tarpon gather in the deep Bocas channels; the First Boca is about 10 minutes by boat from Chaguaramas, and 60-90 lb fish are common.
Blue marlin are most common off Tobago from January to April.
Buccoo Reef became a no-fishing zone in 1973; the park covers about 7 sq km.
In TTGFA's Marlin Madness tournament off Tobago, billfish under 500 lb must be released.

What you can catch

Tarpon
Trinidad's Bocas, 60-90 lb common; smaller fish sight-fished on Tobago flats in summer.
Blue marlin
Off Tobago, most common January to April.
Wahoo
Dry season blue-water target.
Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Dry season blue-water target.
Tuna
Available year-round.
Sailfish
Seasonal catch off Tobago.
Kingfish
Seasonal.
Bonefish and permit
On Tobago's flats.

Month by month

January	Dry season; blue marlin off Tobago.
February	Blue marlin peak begins; wahoo, tuna and mahi.
March	Blue marlin peak off Tobago.
April	Last of the marlin peak; rains start to bring tarpon in.
May	Rainy season starts; tarpon move in.
June	Tarpon season.
July	Tarpon; a Trinidad catch-and-release tarpon tournament has been held in late July.
August	Tarpon; Tobago flats tarpon in summer.
September	Tarpon in the Bocas and Gulf of Paria.
October	Tarpon and inshore species.
November	Tarpon; tuna year-round.
December	Dry season blue-water fishing begins.

Tips

For Trinidad tarpon, fish the morning bite (usually over by 10 a.m.) and the late afternoon; a strong falling tide around new and full moon is best.
On Tobago, tarpon feed at dawn and dusk; overcast days lengthen the bite.
Do not fish inside Buccoo Reef Marine Park; boats must use the marked channel.
Ask your captain about current licence and vessel rules; the Fisheries Division registers fishers and vessels.
Tobago fisheries questions: Department of Marine Resources and Fisheries, Shirvan Road, 639-4354.

Rules and license

Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (Trinidad); Tobago House of Assembly, Department of Marine Resources and Fisheries (Tobago) · Official rules page ↗

Recreational fishing licence for visitors: not confirmed from an official source - check current rules.
Buccoo Reef Marine Park: fishing of any kind is strictly prohibited; taking fish, entering or operating a boat needs written permission (Marine Areas Act, Chap. 37:02).
Buccoo Reef tours only 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. with permitted vessels; boats must use the marked channel.
Fisheries Regulations ban taking fish, shellfish, crabs or shrimp in certain river-mouth areas.
Bag limits and size limits for sport fish: not confirmed from an official source - check current rules.

Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.

Boat ramps and marinas

The map above shows 3 boat ramps and 4 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.

Chaguaramas Marine Facility
Crew's Inn Marina
Small Boats
Trinidad & Tobago Yacht Club

Sources

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.