Fish the Andaman Sea with Sea Gypsies: Phuket Night Fishing

Cast a line at dusk, reel in dinner at night

Fish the Andaman Sea from a traditional longtail boat crewed by Sea Gypsies, the indigenous fishing community of the coast, with 3 to 5 anglers per boat and real time on the water. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Your catch is cooked to order at a seaside cafe in Rawai after you return to shore.

Step-by-step itinerary

Afternoon and evening fishing adventure

• Meet guide and Sea Gypsy crew
• Board longtail boat at Rawai Pier
• Sail 30 minutes to Bon Island
• Fish with spinning rod or hand line
• Watch sunset from boat deck
• Dine at seaside cafe with cooked catch
• Transfer back to hotel

The experience

You start at Rawai Pier on Phuket's southern coast, where your hotel transfer drops you at the jetty. A Sea Gypsy crew meets you there: the people who fish these waters every day and know where the fish gather better than any map. The longtail pulls away around 14:00 and heads for open water, a 30-minute sail across the Andaman Sea to the fishing grounds near Bon Island. With only 3 to 5 anglers per boat, there is room to move and time for the crew to show you how it works.

Once you reach the spot, you lower a spinning rod or a hand line to the seabed and wait. Snapper, grouper, sea bass, barracuda and tuna all bite here, and the crew reads the water to find them. Fishing is patience and luck in equal measure. Every pull on the line is its own small moment. As the afternoon turns to evening, the light softens and the sea begins to glow. You keep your line in the water while the sun sinks toward the horizon, watching from the deck of a longtail boat, one of the best seats on Phuket.

Back on shore, you sit down at a cafe by the sea in Rawai. The kitchen cooks your catch to order (fried, steamed or boiled), and the table fills with tom yum soup, fish soup and sashimi. You share the stories of the day over dinner while the guide arranges your transfer back to the hotel. Drinks are paid separately.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned minivan.
• traditional longtail boat.
• fishing equipment (spinning rod or hand line).
• drinking water on the boat.
• dinner at a seaside cafe in Rawai with your catch cooked to order, tom yum soup and fish soup.
• medical insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 12:30 and 13:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 5

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Treasure Island

Is this one for you?Pickup from your hotel means you don't need a car or a way to reach Rawai Pier on the southern coast. The afternoon departure gives you time to rest after arrival or fill the morning elsewhere in Phuket, and you're back at the hotel by late evening.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What fish can I catch in the Andaman Sea near Bon Island?

Snapper, grouper, sea bass, barracuda and tuna all bite in these waters. The Sea Gypsy crew knows where they gather and picks the spot based on the conditions of the day.

How many people fish from the boat at once?

Only 3 to 5 anglers per longtail, so you get real time on the water and the crew has time to teach you how they fish.

What happens to the fish I catch?

Your catch is cooked to order at a seaside cafe in Rawai after you return to shore. You choose how it is prepared: fried, steamed, boiled, or served as sashimi, with tom yum and fish soup on the table.

Does the price include the drive to and from my hotel?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned minivan are included. You meet the guide and crew at Rawai Pier after your transfer.

Who are the Sea Gypsies and why do they crew the boat?

The Sea Gypsies are the indigenous fishing community of the Andaman Sea coast. They supply much of the seafood sold in Phuket's markets and restaurants, and they know these waters better than any map.