Zanzibar Tanzania · Tanzania

Zanzibar North Channel fishing forecast

81 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 now81/100
Local rulesTanzania

Today’s verdict

Ranks #121 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

Trending up — 10 points above 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+17.5Waves+9.0
Pressure trend
Pressure data unavailable
Best window today
08:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas
Next solunar peak
major 07:19

Current conditions

Sea surface temp26.2 °C
Wind23 km/h from SSE
Wave height1.0 m at 6 s
Current0.51 m/s toward NNW
Pressure1020 hPa
Depth48 m
Cloud cover11%
Chlorophyll0.10 mg/m³
Salinity35.2 PSU
Mixed-layer depth27 m
UV index0
Precipitation (24h)0.1 mm
Wind sea0.2 m at 2 s
Ground swell0.9 m at 6 s from E
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)0.51 → 0.43 m/s

The water here is 0.5 °C cooler than the September average of 26.7 °C. Cooler-than-normal water slows the bite for warm-water species and holds cool-water species shallower for longer. The water is mixed to about 30.7 m, with the thermocline below that.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Zanzibar North Channel

Zanzibar North Channel currently scores 81 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 26.2 °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 +17.5
moving water concentrates bait
Waves +9.0
swell energy stirring the water column
Chlorophyll +6.3
plankton density — the base of the food chain
Wind +6.2
surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Thermocline +4.0
a defined layer stacks fish at one depth

What’s biting now

The model expects today: yellowfin-tuna, sailfish, wahoo, giant-trevally, brassy-trevally, dusky-kob, black-marlin, spanish-flag-snapper

Bite windows

Moon
Waning Crescent · 14% 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: 2026-08-19, 83/100

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

+14 points vs the same day last week

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.

Approximate bottom depth: 48 m

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · offshore-only

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 81 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.

Can you fish Zanzibar North Channel from shore?

Yes — Zanzibar North Channel is fishable from shore (offshore-only).

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.

How deep is the water at Zanzibar North Channel?

The scored point sits over roughly 48 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.

Fishing guides for this spot

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