The Season Turns
There is a particular kind of morning you only get on the Andaman in November — the sky still dark purple behind the limestone karsts, the air carrying just enough edge to remind you that the monsoon has finally stepped aside. By the time the boats clear the harbour mouth the sea is glassy, the swell barely a whisper, and the sense that something good is building sits comfortably on every deck.
November is the month the Andaman shakes itself loose from the long southwest monsoon. Through October the sea was still churned and brown-edged at times, charters running only on the better windows, liveaboards holding back for the right forecast. By the opening week of November the transition is well underway, and by mid-month the northeast monsoon has delivered its gift: blue water pressing in from offshore, surface temps dropping a degree or two from their September peak, and the first proper sailfish of the season appearing on the teaser lines.
Weather and Water Conditions
The northeast monsoon establishes itself progressively through November, bringing gentle winds from the north-northeast and lowering the swell on the western coast dramatically compared to the October slop. Wind strength is typically light to moderate — rarely above 15 knots during established northeast conditions — and seas out to the Similan and Surin groups settle to 0.5–1 metre, occasionally glassy in the early mornings.
Water visibility improved markedly from the third week onward, with clear blue water reported in the 20-plus metre range at the offshore pinnacles. Surface temperatures hovered around 29–30°C through most of the month, which is warm enough to keep baitfish schools active and aggregated — the exact conditions that pull sailfish into the area. Thermoclines at depth were beginning to establish, which jigging crews noted when they found the fish stacked on the edge of structure.
Sailfish: The Bite is Building
November is not yet the full-peak sailfish month — that arrives in January and February — but the fish are arriving and the pattern is unmistakable. Reports from day charters working the offshore grounds between Phuket and Koh Lanta described increasing numbers of sails in the water column through the second half of the month, with multiple fish following teasers on the better days.
"The sails are here. You can feel it — the birds are working different patches every morning and the water has that blue-green tinge that always means business."
Koh Rok, historically one of the premier sailfish grounds on the Andaman, was reporting solid activity as the month closed. Captains running live bait under kites and on outriggers were connecting on most trips, with the better days producing multiple releases. The fish are generally smaller in November than the thick-shouldered sails that show up at peak, but the quality of the sport is already high and improving daily.
GT Popping and Jigging
The popping crowd had a strong month. Koh Bon, which sits far enough north that it comes into condition early, was producing GT action from early November with fish responding well to large cup-face and pencil poppers worked over the shallow reef plateaus. Reports from the Surin group suggested that GT numbers on the northern reefs were above the typical early-season average, with fish active through the entire tidal cycle on the better days.
Early-morning sessions on the incoming tide at the Koh Bon reef margins consistently produced the best popping action through November. If you are planning a liveaboard, prioritise dawn and dusk anchor positions over reef structure.
Jigging on the deeper pinnacles of the Similan group and around Koh Tachai produced dogtooth tuna alongside the GTs. Liveaboard captains noted that the dogtooth were responding well to slow-pitch presentations at depth, with the fish holding tight to the lower third of the structure in the clearer water conditions. The numbers were encouraging for the season ahead.
Liveaboards: The Doors Reopen
November is the month Andaman liveaboard operators dust off the boats and reopen for the season. Most operators run a shakedown schedule through the first half of the month before settling into full itineraries by mid-November. Early-season bookings tend to be taken by keen anglers who have been waiting since the monsoon closed things down, and there is a genuine sense of occasion in the marina when the boats head north again for the first time.
The standard northern itineraries — Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin — are all accessible in November given settled weather. Operators were reporting excellent conditions on most departures, with the improved water quality and stabilising fish populations making the early-season trips well worth the investment.
What to Expect in December
December is the Andaman at its finest. The sailfish bite sharpens considerably as sea temperatures cool further and the fish settle into their peak-season patterns. Liveaboard demand surges and berths across all operators fill up quickly. GT popping remains consistent and the jigging grounds near the northern pinnacles continue to produce. If you are planning a December trip, the booking window is now.
For day-charter anglers based in Phuket or Khao Lak, December offers the best guaranteed conditions of the year. The sea is calm, the visibility is exceptional, and the species variety — from sailfish on the troll to reef fish on light gear — is at its widest.
For operator listings and booking contacts, see our Khao Lak charter operators overview and liveaboard operators guide. Read our sailfish season guide for a full breakdown of timing across the year.
