Bali Fishing Report: Trevally, Tuna, and Dawn Tide Action on the Reefs

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Bali fishing rundown. Around Bali today the weather’s been classic dry-season stuff: light to moderate east–southeast trades, seas a bit choppy outside the reefs but very fishable, with air temps hovering in the high 20s to low 30s and only passing cloud. Sunrise was just after six in the morning, sunset just before six in the evening, giving a good long window to work dawn and dusk. Tides around the island have been running medium to big, with a solid morning incoming and a draining afternoon low. That flood tide at first light really kicked the baitfish up along the reef edges and river mouths, and the start of the afternoon push has been the other productive bite window. Inshore, the boys jigging and casting off Serangan and along the Sanur reef saw decent action on trevallies and reefies. Small GTs and bigeye trevally have been nailing metal jigs and stickbaits worked fast over 10–20 meters, while the live-bait guys drifting scad and small mackerel picked up a few solid snapper and grouper. Best lures have been 20–40 gram chrome jigs, white or sardine-pattern casting jigs, and mid-size sinking stickbaits in blue-silver. For bait, nothing beats fresh shrimp, squid strips, and live ikan kembung. Offshore, the game boats running out from Benoa and Padang Bai reported yellowfin and skipjack tuna pushing bait along the drop-offs, with the odd mahi-mahi mixed in. Troll small skirted lures in pink, purple, and blue-silver, or diving minnows around 12–18 cm. When you see birds working, switch to casting stickbaits or poppers into the bust-ups – fast, erratic retrieves have been key. A few boats also pulled in wahoo on darker skirts and high-speed minnows run a bit deeper. Up on the northeast coast, around Amed and Tulamben, the shore casters and light-jig guys found steady sport on reef fish at first light. Micro jigs in 7–15 grams, natural colors with a bit of flash, have been producing emperors, small groupers, and the odd mangrove jack lurking near structure. Fresh cut bait fished on the bottom there will always find you something for the grill. Night anglers around Jimbaran and Kedonganan reported mixed bags of small snapper, emperor, and catfish from the beach and rocks, mostly on fresh prawn and squid. If you’re fishing after dark, bring lighter tackle, long leaders, and be ready for that slower but steady pick. If you’re planning a session, aim for: - Dawn incoming tide on the east side – Sanur and Serangan reefs for trevally, snapper, and the chance of a pelagic cruising in. - Early afternoon start of the push off Nusa Dua or outside Tanjung Benoa for trolling tuna and mahi, then switch to jigging once you mark fish. A couple of hot spots to circle on your mental map: - The outer reef off Serangan–Sanur: classic ground for GTs, bigeye trevally, and mixed reef fish on jigs and stickbaits. - The bluewater edge off Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa: great line to work skirts and minnows for yellowfin, skipjack, mahi, and wahoo when the tide and current line up. Keep your tackle on the lighter side inshore for more fun, and bump up to 40–60 lb leaders when you’re around reef edges or chasing pelagics offshore. As always in Bali, fresh bait and well-presented lures outfish fancy gear – move, read the water, and match what the fish are chasing. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn