Not only fishing, diving to see coral reefs, or zip-lining… Phu Quoc pearl island also offers another interesting experience which is night squid fishing. Although it has only emerged in recent years, night squid fishing has become an extremely attractive form of tourism for travelers on their Phu Quoc travel. If you still don’t know where and what’s interesting about night squid fishing in Phu Quoc, why not join Cuong to explore and experience night squid fishing right away!
Many travelers have commented that: If you go on a Phu Quoc trip without trying night squid fishing in Phu Quoc, you have only explored half of the pearl island. Most travelers choose to experience this night squid fishing when they come on a Phu Quoc tour. As dusk falls, fishermen prepare their boats to head out to sea one by one. At the bustling pier, tourists await the new night squid fishing trip. Below are the most detailed experiences for you to have a successful night squid fishing session, so let’s continue reading.
Where is night squid fishing in Phu Quoc?
If you are wondering where to go night squid fishing, don’t worry too much! Right in the center of Phu Quoc town or any of the islands in Phu Quoc, there are tours for night squid fishing for tourists to choose for their Phu Quoc travel. These tours usually start around 5:00 PM and end around 9-10 PM daily. The boat will pick you up at the port and then head out to sea for fishing. The night squid fishing tour in Phu Quoc will include transportation, sightseeing boat, squid fishing tools, life jackets, tour guides… Especially, each passenger can enjoy a free meal on the boat such as squid porridge, seafood noodles… even if you don’t catch any bait! Besides, if you don’t want to choose packaged Phu Quoc tours, you can also rent private boats, but the rental price is quite high! However, don’t spend too much time on squid fishing because the night scenery at sea is also wonderful for you to enjoy!
Ideal time for night squid fishing
Although squid fishing is a fun and popular experience among Phu Quoc tourists, it’s not always easy at any time! According to the experience shared by the fishermen in Phu Quoc with Cuong, the best time for squid fishing is during the dry season, from November to April next year. This is the time when the weather in Phu Quoc is usually very pleasant, with no storms so the sea waves are not too big, suitable for you to start your squid fishing trip. Also, you should pay attention to the timing of squid fishing. Most of the boats here depart around 5 pm, during the boat ride you will enjoy the sunset and around 6 pm when it gets dark, it will be easier for the squids to bite the bait.
Cuong has a small note for you, that is, you should not go squid fishing on full moon nights, especially on days with big waves because the swaying on the sea will make you seasick, dizzy, nauseous… affecting your health! Even better, on days when you see many small fishing boats of fishermen shining green – red lights towards the sea, there will surely be many squids that night. The second thing to note when squid fishing at night is that the later it gets, the more squids you will catch. In addition, squid fishing requires patience, it’s not like you will catch them right away. If you don’t like to be patient and sit in one place for a long time, you should choose a café, enjoying the night view of Phu Quoc is also very interesting.
Guide to effective squid fishing at night in Phu Quoc
Squid fishing at night in Phu Quoc may seem easy, but it requires skill and agility, so if you want to succeed, check out Cuong’s guide below!
Prepare squid bait
Most boats will provide you with squid fishing bait, but you should choose the bait wisely! Fake baits are usually in the form of shrimp and fish. If you see squid often diving at the bottom of the sea, you should choose shrimp bait because they are small in size and heavier. Conversely, when you see squid floating on the water surface, you can use fish-shaped bait because they are lightweight and float easily on the water surface. You should buy high-quality fishing bait produced in Japan, for example, the Yo-Zuri brand will be more effective and attract squid better. In addition to the delicately crafted squid fishing bait, there is also a reflective accessory layer to attract the attention of the squid school to come and eat the bait. If you buy cheap, low-quality bait from China that is not as sophisticated as Japanese bait, you will feel disappointed when fishing. Therefore, you need to be very careful when choosing bait. Shrimp bait is the most preferred bait for squid, while fish bait is also acceptable but not as sensitive.
Choosing the right squid fishing gear
After choosing a good bait, the next step is to find a suitable squid fishing rod. According to the experience of those who have fished before, they told Cuong that soft and flexible rods with a length of 2m to 3m should be chosen. Or you can use iso rods to be able to feel the squid’s bite. If you prefer a more traditional approach, you can use bamboo or wooden fishing rods.
Squid fishing technique
After preparing all the necessary equipment, the boat will take everyone to suitable spots to anchor and prepare for squid fishing. The boat is decorated with many colorful lights to attract the attention of the squid. The atmosphere on the boat is lively, everyone is ready to collect their catch.
For first-time visitors to Phu Quoc squid fishing, you need to take some time to get familiar with the process! First, practice casting the bait far away, then release the fishing line so that when the bait touches the seabed, you will feel the line tighten. At this point, you just need to reel in the line once and then occasionally jerk it strongly backward. Keep doing this until you feel a heavy sensation as if something is hooked, then reel in the line evenly with both hands. However, when pulling the line back, you need to be calm and skillful to avoid losing the squid! If you have been sitting for a long time without any squid biting the bait, don’t lose hope, just move to a different spot where there are more squid!
When a squid bites, you must lift the bait continuously to prevent it from getting stuck on the reel and to attract the squid closer to the bait. If you catch a squid, make sure to clean the meat and the ink sac of the squid before continuing to bait the next one! If you don’t clean the ink stuck on the bait, the squid will have a hard time biting it! With the squids caught, you can ask the boat owner to prepare and enjoy them right there. Enjoying fresh squid makes everyone feel delighted and satisfied.
How to participate in the Phu Quoc squid fishing activity?
As Cuong specializes in Phu Quoc tours, he knows a lot about this. Cuong will share the most suitable squid fishing tours for you. Currently, there are sunset squid fishing tours organized daily in Phu Quoc, so it’s very easy to sign up for a night squid fishing tour. If you are a small group, you can opt for a shared tour where the group will share transportation and boat with other groups, saving costs and providing an opportunity to socialize and make new friends. The price for a shared sunset squid fishing tour in Phu Quoc is 280,000 VND per person.
If you have a large group and prefer privacy, choose a private sunset squid fishing tour where the group will have private transportation, a private boat, and a private guide. The price for a private sunset squid fishing tour in Phu Quoc for the whole group is 800,000 VND per person. The more people in the group, the lower the cost will be.
Detailed review of the Phu Quoc squid fishing journey
Around 5 pm is the time when the boats take tourists out to sea to start the squid fishing trip. As night falls, the entire Phu Quoc island becomes quiet, but the sea becomes lively with many sparkling lights. Perhaps there is nothing more wonderful than immersing yourself in the vast sky and cool sea breeze. For many Phu Quoc tourists, squid fishing trips provide interesting experiences that help them practice their patience.
The feeling of going squid fishing still lingers in Cuong’s mind, truly if you are traveling to Phu Quoc, you must experience this activity, it will definitely make your Phu Quoc trip more enjoyable and unique.
5:50 pm: The boat moves to the anchoring position to start the night squid fishing activity. The boat turns off the engine, and the lights are turned on. The guide prepares the fishing equipment and then instructs the group on how to fish for squid. It seemed simple when he explained, but Cuong was a bit “slow” or something, struggling for a while before figuring out how to use the equipment, how to cast the line. You also have to be very careful, or you might accidentally throw the rod into the sea. But remember, the fishing equipment here is not the long fishing rod you usually see, it’s a plastic tube with a cross mark inside the core for you to hold. The outside is wrapped with fishing line. At the end of the fishing line is a hook with many bent barbs. Below that hook is the bait. The bait is a plastic fake shrimp (fake bait).
Cuong has learned the technique of squid fishing, and would like to share it with you for reference:
- First, you need to cast the bait far out, the farther the better, but be careful not to let the bait and the fishing rod fly into the sea.
- Second, reel in the line in a circle and then jerk it strongly backward every 3 seconds. Keep doing this regularly. If you feel a heavy weight when pulling, like hooking onto something, then slowly and steadily roll the line back until the squid is out of the water. This part requires utmost calmness to avoid losing the catch.
- Third, you must be patient and persistent. Squid fishing at night doesn’t mean the squids will bite all the time. If after about 20-30 minutes you haven’t had any bites, it’s best to change your fishing spot.
Cuong diligently cast the rod and jerked it many times, but still no squid took the bait. Looking around, everyone was focused, enthusiastically casting and jerking. Probably for many in the group, this was their first time experiencing this activity, so they were very excited!
At 6:45 PM: A “shocking” event occurred. Cuong called it “shocking” because since the fishing started until then, the whole boat had been silent, but at that moment, the boat suddenly became lively because… someone caught a squid. You would think everyone rushed out to congratulate or see the squid, but in fact, no one cared about the squid itself, they quickly borrowed the squid to take a picture as a souvenir. One by one, people took pictures with the “squid star” of the night. And Cuong was no exception. The joy was overwhelming.
After that, as more people caught squids, Cuong didn’t pay much attention anymore because many were fishing at the back of the boat. But in general, according to the tour guide, the percentage of tourists catching squids is around 10-20%, while the majority are the guides and boat drivers who catch them. It’s understandable, everything requires luck, technique, and experience. If someone catches a squid on their first try, that’s super impressive.
7:30 PM: The group has a light dinner on the boat. Although it’s called light, it’s quite fulfilling, and for Cuong, it exceeds expectations. The dinner includes porridge, squid, and stir-fried noodles with meat. The squid here is prepared by the tour and not caught, so rest assured that there will be squid to eat even if you don’t catch any. Of course, if you do catch some, the dinner will be even more lavish. And if you want, you can bring the squid you catch back with you. Additionally, if you want to eat other seafood such as snails, oysters, squid… you can order separately. As for drinks, similar to other island tours, soft drinks are 20k, beer 30k…
8:00 PM: After dinner, those who want to continue squid fishing can do so, while those who prefer to relax by watching the sea, stars, or just unwind can go up to the second floor and lie on the deck chairs. There are around ten deck chairs where you can relax. It’s wonderful to relax on the boat deck at night and enjoy the panoramic view of Phu Quoc.
8:10 PM: The boat starts to head back to the port.
8:30 PM: The boat returns to the port, and the tour ends. After that, Cuong returns to the hotel, rests for a bit, and then goes to the night market for food (my hotel is near the night market).
Read more: Detailed Review of 16 Phu Quoc Travel Destinations
What other special activities are there on a night squid fishing trip in Phu Quoc?
1. Admire the beautiful and peaceful night sea of Phu Quoc
Of course, you may have photos of the beach on sunny days or beautiful sunsets, but you may be missing the beautiful nighttime sea view in Phu Quoc. Therefore, a night squid fishing trip in Phu Quoc during your trip is considered an ideal opportunity for you to enjoy the peaceful scenery here with the gentle breeze blowing, which is truly wonderful! Especially on clear nights with the moon high up, the night sky over Phu Quoc becomes even more beautiful with many twinkling stars adding a touch of romantic beauty and tranquility. Visiting the kingdom of the sea and exploring Phu Quoc, you will surely have many places to go, many beautiful scenes to discover, but swaying on the night sea and going squid fishing is definitely the most unique and enjoyable experience here to witness!
2. Enjoying the Fresh Harvest
You have every right to enjoy what comes after hours of hard work at sea to compensate for the “emptiness” of your stomach with delicious and savory dishes, such as squid dishes that can be self-prepared or taken away, or cooked by the boat owner, like grilled squid, stir-fried squid… Just the thought of it makes everyone crave and want to experience it right away. For those who do not want to cook on the boat, taking the food home in a bag is also a suitable option!
3. Experience a few hours as a fisherman
When snorkeling gives you the feeling of being a true diver, night squid fishing in Phu Quoc is an unforgettable experience for those moments of trying to be a fisherman and experiencing it. Besides, you will learn more about sea knowledge, such as how to hunt squid, how to bait, learn to be patient, observe and listen to the signs of a night sea sky!
4. Catch fresh squid by yourself and buy them at a cheap price when night squid fishing in Phu Quoc
Usually, a night squid fishing tour will cost around 400k per person, and of course, there will be no additional fees or limits on the number of squids you catch. The important thing is that all the squids you catch will be yours to handle and take home to cook as you wish.Meanwhile, the price of fresh or dried squids is relatively expensive and limited by weight. If you are a fan of squid dishes and want to experience interesting things on your trip to Phu Quoc, then you must give it a try!
5. Organize a small night camping with grilled squid dishes
What do you think about a camping trip right on the beach, chatting together or enjoying the results with a squid dish. Rent a portable stove or bring a grill and enjoy grilled squid at night is truly a wonderful experience when traveling to Phu Quoc. However, Phu Quoc beach is quite windy at night, so be sure to bring a grill for grilling squid, it will be much better, avoiding the wind blowing which can make grilling squid take longer or more time-consuming!
6. Enjoying interesting specialties on the boat
Apart from squid dishes, if you go on a night squid fishing tour in Phu Quoc or have the fishermen take you on a boat for grilling, you can also rest assured that you will enjoy delicious and sumptuous meals right on the boat. The dishes are diverse, mainly seafood dishes, with added razor clam porridge, fish hotpot, or various dishes made from cuttlefish. If you want to taste a bit of the sea flavor at night, Cuong finds that dining on the boat while admiring the sea is still one of the great experiences.
7. Learn more about sea navigation and squid fishing
It must be said that besides the delicious food and beautiful night sea views, and the success of catching fresh and tasty squid at a cheap price, you can also learn a lot of experiences from fishermen when going to sea in general and squid fishing in Phu Quoc at night in particular. Thanks to that, Cuong has learned some essential knowledge such as more wind or bigger waves will bring more squid, and the farther you throw the bait, the better. However, be careful not to lose the fishing rod and remember to get into the sea! Also, going squid fishing in Phu Quoc at night helps you develop patience and the ability to observe things around you!
8. Watching the sunset over the sea
In fact, for those who choose to go squid fishing at night independently with the boat owner, they may not have the opportunity to admire the beauty of the sea at sunset. However, most squid fishing tours will start their journey in the late afternoon around 5 pm to start earlier, and of course, this is a perfect time for you to fully enjoy the sunset over the sea until the last rays of the sun slowly fade below the horizon.
Read more: 10 Tips for Cheap 3-Day-2-Night Phu Quoc Tour
Notes for Night Squid Fishing in Phu Quoc
A corner of the sea seems to be sparkling in the night enveloping the entire island, and it is not an exaggeration when people often call it the “pearl island” because the island is not only sparkling and charming during the day but also more enchanting and mesmerizing when explored at night. Night squid fishing can be said to be an activity not to be missed in Phu Quoc tours. To experience this activity, tourists must go on a squid fishing boat to the fishing grounds. Many tourists who have never been on a squid fishing boat before are surely concerned about safety or health issues. So, to address some of these concerns, Cuong will share with you what to keep in mind when going squid fishing at night in Phu Quoc.
Pay attention to the weather
Focusing on the weather factor is also something you shouldn’t overlook when traveling to Phu Quoc. On rainy or stormy days with big waves, going squid fishing at night in Phu Quoc is really not suitable at all, if not to say quite dangerous. However, unlike fishing trips, when the weather is calm, it’s more likely that squids will appear on days with rough seas. Nevertheless, you can follow the experience of local fishermen to decide whether to go or not!
Choosing a squid fishing spot at night
Choosing a squid fishing spot at night for your journey is one of the essential things you should know. Besides the popular squid fishing spots that Cuong mentioned above, you can also consider other places such as Ham Ninh fishing village in Phu Quoc, Hon Mong Tay, or Hon Thom, which are also great choices.
Preventing seasickness
Squid fishing is a popular form of entertainment in Phu Quoc. Usually, people go squid fishing at dusk, most commonly around 5 pm, and the squid fishing boats will depart and return after a few hours. However, note that for tourists who want to join and experience night squid fishing trips in Phu Quoc, make sure you don’t get seasick because when the boat is anchored, the waves hitting the boat’s hull can be quite uncomfortable. Furthermore, the time spent on a squid fishing boat is longer than on a fishing boat, so to ensure your health, you should take seasickness medication before boarding or bring ginger tea or fresh ginger to chew on to avoid seasickness.
The most dizzying moment is not when the boat is moving, but when the boat stops to catch squid. The boat will be rocked by the waves, making it easy for you to get seasick. Therefore, don’t just sit still watching others fishing, but try to fish yourself or move around, talk to different people to avoid getting seasick.
Wear an extra jacket to prevent catching a cold
If during the day the average temperature of Phu Quoc is 28 degrees Celsius, then in the evening the temperature will definitely drop even lower, not to mention when participating in night squid fishing activities, you will have to sit directly facing the slightly cold sea breeze blowing in, so to ensure your trip lasts and your health is maintained, wearing jackets or scarves will help you avoid these issues. Not only keeping your body warm and preventing colds, these jackets also help stabilize your body, increase resistance against seasickness.
You should eat hot squid porridge on the boat
Many people mistakenly believe that not eating will prevent seasickness or that you have to eat until full to avoid feeling seasick. That is a misconception, you should eat something to line your stomach but not overeat, avoid foods that may reflux into the esophagus. You should eat light foods, dry foods like bread, buns, sweet potatoes… and avoid foods with water, high fat content, or carbonated drinks, stimulants, fruits containing acid like oranges, grapefruits which can cause discomfort and especially save your stomach to enjoy a hot bowl of squid porridge on the boat, right?
Listen to the experience from the fishermen who go to sea
When starting the experience of night squid fishing in Phu Quoc, you should focus on catching fresh squids from the ocean. Many experienced sea-goers advise that when moving on the boat, it’s best to feel the rhythm of the waves, walk with the waves, meaning when the wave goes down, you lift your first step. You should only look far towards the horizon, avoid looking down at the flowing water or objects near the boat.
Persistence is key
Don’t think that squid fishing is “easy to eat”, perseverance, skills, experience, and luck are what you need on your journey.
Suggested Night Squid Fishing Tour in Phu Quoc
The Phu Quoc squid fishing tour is an attractive experience for tourists at night. Experience the night squid fishing tour in Phu Quoc to see the hard and diligent life of fishermen.
When night falls, the whole Phu Quoc island becomes quiet, but offshore, the life of fishermen is still bustling with sparkling lights like a vibrant city, that is the time to experience moments of relaxation and fun with the crew with the activities of the Phu Quoc night squid fishing tour. There is nothing like catching squid hunting under the sea or picking up swordfish, blue bone fish floating on the sea with your own hands. The catch, whether squid or swordfish, will be served right on the boat. The night squid fishing tour will depart in the evening, you can refer to the morning Phu Quoc tours as follows:
Daily Shared Night Squid Fishing Tour Itinerary in Phu Quoc
(Estimated time from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily)
Night squid fishing tour – sunset watching is considered an important activity not to be missed in the Phu Quoc tourism itinerary. With the night squid fishing tour, you will have moments of laughter with the catch you caught yourself and chat with experienced fishermen to learn more about the life of the people on Phu Quoc island.
At 5:00 PM, the tour bus will pick up guests to transfer to Duong Dong port. Here, guests will board the squid fishing boat and head out to the squid fishing grounds. Why is it called a squid fishing tour at night to watch the sunset? Because besides experiencing the extremely interesting squid fishing activity, guests also have the opportunity to admire one of the most valuable scenes when visiting Phu Quoc tourism. That is the moment of sunset. Phu Quoc is a place where guests can fully enjoy the view of the setting and rising sun in one place. The sunset on the sea of Phu Quoc is like putting on a new color with a red brick hue – dyed with contemplation. From Duong Dong port to the squid fishing grounds, guests can take the opportunity to capture the peaceful but romantic scenery of the Phu Quoc sunset.
After the squid fishing boat reaches the fishing grounds, each guest on the Phu Quoc tour will be provided with squid fishing equipment and a life jacket. The tour guide on the boat, who has many years of experience, will guide guests on how to bait the squid to catch squid and large squids. Another attractive thing in that night squid fishing tour is that guests will enjoy a romantic dinner on the boat with their own catch under the sparkling lights and the sound of crispy laughter, excited after an experience. Under the talented hands of the chefs on the boat, guests will enjoy crispy fried squid, grilled squid, steamed squid, pineapple stir-fried squid, … All irresistible dishes.
7:00 PM: Guests will have a light dinner on the boat, enjoying dishes such as:
Grilled or steamed squid
Stir-fried noodles with meat
Squid porridge
Dessert fruits
9:00 PM: The boat will take guests back to Duong Dong port, the bus will take guests back to the hotel, ending the night squid fishing tour in Phu Quoc.
So that’s the end of an exploration trip to the sea as the sun sets, the night squid fishing trip in Phu Quoc is sure to promise many interesting things that you shouldn’t miss!
If you have the opportunity to visit Phu Quoc tourism, you should try the feeling of night squid fishing on this sea, it will surely make you feel satisfied, all worries, stress will quickly melt into the sea, bringing freshness to you. So why hesitate, quickly book yourself a full package Phu Quoc tour or a night squid fishing tour on the sea to directly explore and enjoy these memorable moments! Hopefully, the night squid fishing experience in Phu Quoc that Cuong suggests will provide you with useful information. Also, don’t forget to like and subscribe to Cuong’s travel channel for more useful travel experiences!
