Gulf of Thailand — November 2026 Fishing Report
November delivers the Gulf of Thailand fishing season at its finest. The northeast monsoon is fully operational, the sea state is organised and predictable, and the species mix that makes the Gulf one of Southeast Asia's most productive saltwater fishing destinations is present in November abundance. At Chumphon, sailfish are stacking on the Bank structure in their peak-season numbers — productive days producing double-figure encounters from capable charter boats with experienced crews. At Koh Tao, the GT fishing on the island's granite and coral structures is at its November maximum. Spanish mackerel are feeding aggressively from Pattaya to the Malaysian border. November in the Gulf is a serious fishing calendar month that deserves serious planning.
Water and Weather
The northeast monsoon's November establishment brings the Gulf's most comfortable fishing weather of the year. Wind from the northeast at 10–20 knots creates a consistent, manageable sea state of 1–2 metres across the Gulf's open water. The organised swell direction — coming from offshore, from the northeast — means the Gulf coast beaches and approaches face relatively protected conditions for boats launching from southern Gulf ports. Calm patches within the northeast swell pattern are common on most days.
Sea surface temperatures continue their seasonal decline to 27–28°C in November. This temperature is ideal for the sailfish, GT, and Spanish mackerel that dominate the November catch. The offshore water clarity at Chumphon and Koh Tao is excellent — 15–20 metres in the offshore zone, allowing precise visual fishing on structure.
What's Biting Now
Sailfish — The Chumphon Bank sailfish fishery is at November's peak. Indo-Pacific sailfish aggregate on the bank structure in numbers that produce consistent double-hookup opportunities for boats with live bait systems and rigged natural trolling setups. The conventional approach is to troll rigged garfish and ballyhoo on circle hooks at 6–8 knots until a sailfish is raised, then deploy live garfish under a balloon for the sustained free-swimming presentation. November sailfish average 25–40kg and fight with extraordinary aerial displays.
Giant trevally — Koh Tao's GT fishery reaches its November maximum. The rocky structures around the island's northern approach — Hin Wong Pinnacle, Shark Island, and the north-facing boulders of Koh Nang Yuan — produce consistent surface takes from fish averaging 8–20kg. The dawn surface window on these sites is one of the Gulf's most productive November experiences. Fish larger than 25kg are regularly encountered at the deeper outer structures.
Spanish mackerel — Available throughout the Gulf from Pattaya to Chumphon in November's peak numbers. Schools of narrow-barred mackerel follow the baitfish aggregations that build on the offshore reef structures through the month. High-speed chrome lure trolling at 8–10 knots; also available to jig anglers working metal lures at mid-water depth over reef tops. Excellent sport and excellent eating.
Wahoo — Increasingly available on the Gulf offshore grounds from November as the clear cool water extends further from the coast. High-speed trolling at 15 knots with skirted lures and rigged mackerel produces wahoo encounters particularly on the offshore troll runs between the Chumphon Bank pinnacles.
Yellowfin tuna — November yellowfin at Chumphon are reliably encountered on full-day offshore charter programs. The Bank's current and temperature structure attracts tuna feeding on the dense baitfish aggregations. Trolled skirted lures and fresh chunk baits produce most encounters. Fish averaging 10–25kg with larger specimens possible on productive days.
Barracuda — Present in large numbers at all Gulf reef structures. Large November barracuda (to 8kg) hit metal jigs and hard lures aggressively through the cooler water column.
Reef snapper and grouper — The bottom fishing at the Gulf's offshore reef structures reaches its November best. The clear, cool water activates bottom-feeding species. Red snapper, golden snapper, and mangrove jack respond to live bait presentations at anchor over the reef top structures.
What to Target This Month
Top pick: Chumphon sailfish on a 3-night dedicated charter. The Gulf's November sailfish peak justifies the effort to reach Chumphon. Three nights based in the town allows two full days on the Bank — enough to experience the sailfish fishing across different tidal and wind conditions. A productive double-hookup day at Chumphon, with the sailfish performing their acrobatic series 50 metres behind the boat, is one of the Gulf's defining experiences. Book with an established operator who has a quality live-bait system and experienced crew.
Second pick: Koh Tao dawn GT session on Hin Wong Pinnacle. Organise through one of Koh Tao's experienced small-boat operators who know the island's GT structures. A pre-dawn departure at 5 am, arriving at Hin Wong or the north-facing boulders as the sky lightens, delivers the November surface window in the best possible conditions. Heavy PE6 gear and large poppers. The island's relaxed atmosphere between sessions — excellent food, diving options, beautiful beaches — makes a 3-night Koh Tao GT trip one of the Gulf's most enjoyable November programs.
Third pick: Pattaya full-day offshore reef for mixed bag. The consistently accessible November option from Bangkok. Pattaya's charter fleet is professional and the offshore reef banks produce Spanish mackerel, barracuda, reef snapper, and trevally in predictable November conditions. A good choice for visiting anglers with limited time who want reliable Gulf sport fishing within a short drive of Bangkok.
What to Avoid
Avoid the Koh Samui side of the Gulf in November — while the rest of the Gulf benefits from the northeast monsoon's calm influence, Koh Samui and the upper Surat Thani coast face directly northeast and receive the strongest November wind and swell. The island's east coast beaches are rough in November. Anglers based on Koh Samui should focus on the island's western sheltered waters rather than the open-water eastern approaches. Avoid committing to multi-day offshore trips without current forecast consultation — while November is the Gulf's most reliable month, occasional strong northeast events bring 3–4 metre swell for 24–48 hours.
Chumphon's Sailfish Double-Hookup
Experienced Chumphon captains know that sailfish in November feed in groups — when you raise one fish on the teaser, there are typically 2–4 more following within 10 metres. The double-hookup protocol is everything: the moment the first fish takes the circle hook bait, the angler calls out and the second angler immediately deploys their live bait or rigged natural behind the boat. November double-hookups at Chumphon, with two airborne sailfish performing simultaneous tail-walks 30 metres off the stern, are among the most exhilarating experiences available from Thai waters.
Venue Spotlight
Chumphon Bank and Offshore Grounds — The Gulf's premier November sailfish address. The bank structure 20–30km offshore from Chumphon town concentrates baitfish and sailfish in November numbers that rival the best Indo-Pacific sailfish grounds anywhere in the region. The charter fleet based at Chumphon's Tha Tapao pier includes several operators with excellent reputations for sailfish-specific techniques. A November Chumphon trip produces average catches that compare favourably with the famous sailfish grounds of Phuket's offshore or even Kenya's Indian Ocean coast.
Koh Tao (Surat Thani Province) — The island's GT fishing comes into full focus in November. The small-boat charter operations that cater primarily to divers and snorkellers also run serious fishing programs for those who specifically request them. Hin Wong Pinnacle on the island's east side and the cluster of boulders north of Koh Nang Yuan are the primary GT addresses. A 3-night stay on Koh Tao fishing morning sessions with diving or island exploration in the afternoons makes for one of the Gulf's most diverse November programs.
Pattaya Deep-Sea Fishing — The most logistically straightforward Gulf fishing option from Bangkok. O'Brien International Sport Fishing and similar established Pattaya operators run professional offshore programs from well-equipped vessels with English-speaking crews. November conditions at Pattaya are excellent — the northeast swell is manageable and the offshore reef bank fishing is at its seasonal best for Spanish mackerel and mixed reef species.
Logistics in November
Chumphon is accessible by overnight train from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong station (8 hours, departing 8 pm) or by direct van service (6–7 hours). Koh Tao is reached by ferry from Chumphon (2 hours). Ko Samui Airport also offers connections to Koh Tao via high-speed catamaran. November Gulf accommodation at all destinations is at shoulder-season rates — the Christmas peak has not yet arrived, making November one of the best-value months for a Gulf fishing trip. Chumphon charter operators recommend minimum 3-week advance booking for November prime-date sailfish trips.
Looking Ahead to December
December continues the Gulf's peak at full intensity. Sailfish numbers at Chumphon reach their annual December maximum. GT at Koh Tao maintain November quality. The Christmas-New Year period brings significant visitor numbers to the Gulf coast, meaning accommodation and charter availability becomes tighter — book December trips now if they are on your planning horizon.
