Target Species and Seasons for Our St Thomas & St John Fishing Charters
Join Neptune Adventures for a St. Thomas & St. John fishing charter, where the vibrant waters of the Caribbean teem with a diverse array of target species throughout the seasons.
This page is your ultimate guide to understanding the prime times and ideal conditions to catch the prized fish of the Caribbean. From the majestic Blue Marlin at the North Drop to the swift Wahoo and the acrobatic Sailfish, each season brings its unique opportunities and challenges!
Offshore Fishing in St. Thomas & St. John
Get ready for the thrill with our offshore game fish like Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, and Wahoo! These fighters often bite suddenly and put up an intense battle. Marlin are famous for their marathon fights, especially around the full moon, while Tuna boast impressive strength. Wahoo, on the other hand, strike hard and can zoom away at speeds up to 50 miles an hour!
GAMEFISH | LOCATION | SEASON | BAIT/LURES |
|---|---|---|---|
ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN | STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom drop off, FADs | All year, best May-October | Lures, Ballyhoo, Belly strips, Mackerel |
WHITE MARLIN | STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom drop off, FADs | All year, best April-May | Lures, Ballyhoo, Bellystrips |
SAILFISH | STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom drop off | October-March | Lures, Ballyhoo, Bellystrips |
YELLOWFIN TUNA | STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom drop off and all shelf areas, FADs | August – February | Lures, Ballyhoo Feathers |
BLACKFIN TUNA | shelf areas on all islands, FADs | All Year | Lures, Feathers |
SKIPJACK TUNA | shelf areas on all islands, FADs | All Year | Lures, Ballyhoo |
DOLPHIN FISH (MAHI-MAHI) | STT North & South Drop, shelf areas on all islands, FADs | October-January (peak season) May, July | Lures, Ballyhoo, Flying Fish |
WAHOO | shelf areas on all islands, FADs | All year, best September-May | Lures, Ballyhoo |
Nearshore Fishing in St. Thomas & St. John
Inshore fishing is a beloved tradition in the Virgin Islands, popular among both locals and visitors. Target species like Barracuda, Bonefish, Kingfish, Mackerel, Snook, and Tarpon make for exciting catches. You can try various methods such as fly fishing, topwater bait, and trolling.
GAMEFISH | LOCATION | SEASON | BAIT/LURES |
|---|---|---|---|
BONITO (LITTLE TUNNY) | most inshore areas, drop-offs and around schools of bait fish | All year, best January-May | Fry, feathers |
BARRACUDA | reef & bank areas | All Year | Lures, spoons, ballyhoo |
HARDNOSE | most inshore areas and around schools of bait fish and FADs | April-September | Fry, small feathers |
BAR JACK | most inshore areas and around schools of bait fish | All Year | Fry, squid, ballyhoo, feathers |
CREVALLE JACK | STX 100 Fathom drop off, most inshore areas and around schools of bait fish | All Year | Fry, squid |
RAINBOW RUNNER | STT North and South Drops, reefs & banks, FADs | April – September | Fry, squid, ballyhoo, feathers |
YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER | near reefs & bank areas | All Year | Fry, cut bait |
KINGFISH | reefs, most mid-shelf areas and drop-offs | All year, best February-May | Ballyhoo, fry, skirts |
CERO | Near shore, reefs | All Year | Lures, feathers, fry, ballyhoo |
Shallow Water & Flats Fishing in St. Thomas & St. John
In the Virgin Islands, shallow water and flats fishing mainly targets Barracuda, Jacks, and Permit. Bonefish and Tarpon, also favored catches in these areas, are exclusively catch and release. Snook make an occasional appearance as well.
GAMEFISH | LOCATION | SEASON | BAIT/LURES | FLY FISHING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BONEFISH | near shore, shallow areas, sea grass & sand flats, bays, mangrove lagoons | All year, best late March- September | Live shrimp, small jigs often baited with shrimp or crab | Small flies tied to imitate shrimp, crabs |
PERMIT | shallow sea grass & sand flats, bays, lagoons, back reefs | All year, best April-October | Small live crabs, pieces of crab, small sea urchins | Crab patterns |
TARPON | mangrove lagoons, bays, harbors, deeper water adjacent to shallow flats, around offshore cays | All year, best March-October | Silver spoons, white jigs, live bait fish | Large streamers, various ‘tarpon’ flies |
BARRACUDA | around reefs, channels adjacent to shallow water, mangrove lagoons and bays | All Year | Live fish, bait fish imitations, silver spoons, feathers | Bait fish imitations, needlefish imitations |
JACKS | around reefs, channels adjacent to shallow water, mangrove lagoons and bays, back reef flats | All Year | Squid, shrimp, cut bait, small spoons, spinners, jigs | Small streamers, shrimp imitations |
SNOOK | mangrove lagoons, bays, harbors, along beaches with sharp drop-offs and submerged structures | All Year | Live shrimp, small fish, bait fish imitation lures, jigs | Bait fish imitations |
MAHOGANY SNAPPER | around reefs, channels, adjacent to shallow water | All Year | Batifish, squid, fry |
From 4-hour, shared charters to full-day, private adventures – We’ve got action-packed fishing charters for everyone!
Reviews from our Guests
Had an absolute blast! Trollin’ with Captain Jeff. Hands down the best fisherman on St. Thomas.
I’ve been sailing and fishing around the Caribbean for years and Jeff gave the experience of a lifetime. An absolute legend!
Charter Guest
TripAdvisor
Had an incredible deep sea fishing trip with Neptune Adventures. Their equipment was top-notch, and Captain KJ Terry was an absolute pro! He knows the waters like the back of his hand and helped us catch tons of fish. Highly recommend for anyone looking for an unforgettable fishing adventure in the US Virgin Islands.
Charter Guest
TripAdvisor