There are various options available for Portland fishing charters. Variations exist as you move from one area to another. Generally, in Portland, charters are available for sports fishing, extended trips, shark fishing and Portland tuna.
The Portland fishing action happens all year round. Most fishing charter providers operate seven days a week while others operate all week long. Different season bring distinctive fish species, owing to their annual migration patterns, and therefore, these different types of fish determine the seasons in Portland.
To know the best season for booking, you have to know which activity you want to take part in, and whether at that particular time the fish species you want is available. However, most fishing charters follow fish seasons, thus it is impossible to go on a trip when it is out of season.
Available seasons based on species
Tuna
Tunas are available from end of February and early March, and they go off-season in August. The best time to catch them is the 4 months that are in the middle of this period. The fish weigh 8 to 150 kilos.
Whales
Whale watching happens from November to May. Portland waters are famous for blue whales, which do not shy away from boats.
King Fish
The Kingfish season runs from January through to April, while the best time to go game fishing is January through to July. For Mako Sharks and Thresha, the season starts in November and ends in July, just like that of the whales.
Snapper Fish
The best time to catch snapper fish is in September. There is an increase in their numbers just before they disappear to spawn.
For those without a definite time to book, you can always take any fishing charter trip, as King George Whiting is a species available all year round. The Yellow Tail King fish has a short window of February to March as depart from Portland.
You can also catch dolphins by chance when water temperatures are warm. Therefore, plan your trip in summer to increase your chances. Mind the following points:
Choose from mid to the end of a particular fish season
The best time to book fishing charters is from middle to end season. In early season, for a particular species, there are few charters available, as others still are serving different fish seasons. For example, Marko fishing charters are unavailable in October. Moreover, schools do not keep exact dates as they travel and early season can call for a very lengthy search.
Off-season trips take longer to catch fish
Fishing charters are usually available for a period of 4 to 8 hours a day. Include this duration when planning your trip. Charters go offshore up to 20km for short duration trips and 50km for game fishing, which has a longer duration. Before going for the trip, you must confirm your bookings to avoid disappointments. Sometime trips are cancelled because of bad whether and when boating conditions are imperfect.
Big fish seasons have the most demand
When big fish species are out of season, there are more fishing charters available. At this time, many people use boats because Yellowtails and Kingfish are within their reach. This reduces the demand for fishing charters.
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