Zanzibar Tanzania · Tanzania

Zanzibar North Channel fishing forecast

96 Good of 100

Zanzibar North Channel is a saltwater fishing spot in Zanzibar Tanzania, Tanzania. Anglers here target Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Giant Trevally. The most productive months are typically October, November, December, January, February, March.

Quick answer
Best monthsOctober, November, December, January
Top speciesIndo-Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna
Score now96/100
Local rulesTanzania
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Today’s verdict

Ranks #11 of 409 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

In line with this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most
Water temperature+25.0Current+18.0Chlorophyll+13.7
Pressure trend
Pressure data unavailable
Best window today
06:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas
Next solunar peak
minor 12:53

Current conditions

Sea surface temp27.2 °C
Wind18 km/h from S
Wave height0.7 m at 6 s
Current0.16 m/s toward NNW
Pressure1015 hPa
Depth2 m
Cloud cover100%
Chlorophyll0.23 mg/m³
Salinity35.4 PSU
Mixed-layer depth12 m
UV index0
Wind sea0.0 m at 1 s
Ground swell0.6 m at 6 s from E
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)0.16 → 0.08 m/s

The water is running true to season — within a few tenths of the October average of 27.0 °C for this location. The water is mixed to about 32.5 m, with the thermocline below that.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Zanzibar North Channel

Zanzibar North Channel currently scores 96 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 27.2 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +25.0
how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Current +18.0
moving water concentrates bait
Chlorophyll +13.7
plankton density — the base of the food chain
Waves +9.0
swell energy stirring the water column
Wind +8.0
surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Barometric pressure +3.3
falling pressure often triggers feeding

What’s biting now

The model expects today: yellowfin-tuna, sailfish, wahoo, giant-trevally, brassy-trevally, spanish-flag-snapper, chinaman-fish, golden-trevally

Bite windows

Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 90% lit
Solunar day rating
50 / 100

Best months for Zanzibar North Channel:

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-10-20, 97/100

28 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

About this spot

Water type
Channel

Channels concentrate moving water and strong tidal flow. The bite often picks up at slack water and through the first hour of the flood or ebb.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · offshore ground

What you can catch

Best months by species at Zanzibar North Channel

Indo-Pacific SailfishIstiophorus platypterus
WahooAcanthocybium solandri
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

Tanzania

Licensing:

  • saltwater-recreational — residents A sport fishing licence is required to fish for leisure in Tanzanian (mainland) waters under the Fisheries Regulations 2009. Sport fishing licences may be issued for a fortnight, one month or one year. "Sport fishing" is legally defined as fishing for leisure and not for sale — catch may not be sold. Inside a marine park (e.g. Mafia Island), additional Marine Parks and Reserves Unit (MPRU) entry/activity fees apply, and no fishing is permitted in a marine reserve without the Director's authorisation., non-residents Visiting anglers also need a sport fishing licence (fortnight / one month / one year) under the Fisheries Regulations 2009. A sport fishing VESSEL licence is 50.0 USD per vessel for citizens and non-citizens (higher fees apply for vessels linked to shore-based processing). Non-citizens applying for a sport fishing vessel licence must provide an introduction letter from the Local Government Authority, a passport copy and a work permit. Marine-park fees (MPRU) are payable separately when fishing inside a park.
  • charter — residents Charter / sport fishing vessels are licensed under the Fisheries Regulations 2009 (sport fishing vessel licence: 50.0 USD/vessel). Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) may be used for sport fishing, capturing live aquarium finfish, training and research purposes only. Deep-sea fishing beyond 12 nautical miles in the EEZ is licensed separately by the Deep Sea Fishing Authority (DSFA).

Check Zanzibar North Channel before you go

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Nearby spots

Explore 4 more fishing spots within 257 km of Zanzibar North Channel.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can you catch at Zanzibar North Channel?

Anglers at Zanzibar North Channel target Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna and Giant Trevally.

When is the best time to fish Zanzibar North Channel?

The most productive months at Zanzibar North Channel are typically October, November, December, January, February, March.

What is the fishing forecast for Zanzibar North Channel right now?

Zanzibar North Channel currently scores 96 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.

Is the thermocline set up at Zanzibar North Channel right now?

Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.

Fishing guides for this spot

Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.