Night squid fishing in Phu Quoc costs $15–25 per person for a 3–4 hour evening trip, usually running 6 PM–10 PM, with boats leaving Ham Ninh pier or An Thoi harbor around 5:30–6:00 PM. It is genuinely beginner-friendly — simple hand lines, all equipment provided, no experience or license needed — but keep expectations honest: squid are much harder to catch than regular fish, so treat the grilled catch as a bonus, not a guarantee.
What Night Squid Fishing in Phu Quoc Actually Involves
You board a traditional wooden boat just before dark, ride 15–30 minutes to a spot the crew knows, and wait for the main event: banks of green underwater lights snapping on across the black water. The green light pulls plankton toward the surface; small fish follow the plankton; squid follow the small fish. Within 20–30 minutes the lit patch of sea below the boat can be shimmering with life.
The fishing itself is deliberately simple. There are no rods — you use a spool of line with a small weighted lure, drop it a few meters down into the light, and jerk it upward in short rhythmic pulls. When a squid grabs on, it grips the lure with its tentacles and you reel hand-over-hand. Yes, ink is part of the deal; the crew will show you how to lift a squid over the rail without decorating your shirt, and they handle the messy parts for you.
Everything is provided: lines, lures, lights, life jackets, and usually snacks with beer or soft drinks. Because the whole trip runs only 3–4 hours and stays in sheltered island waters, it works as an easy evening activity rather than a full-day commitment — you are typically back on shore by 9:30–10:00 PM.
How Much Night Squid Fishing Costs in Phu Quoc
Group tours cluster in the $15–25 per person range, and online prices undercut it: Trip.com shows shared tours from US$14.21 per person, and Traveloka lists a 4-hour night squid fishing tour from 288,889 VND (roughly $11–12). At the other end of the scale, a TripAdvisor-listed private boat experience runs about $159 per adult for 4 hours — worth it only if you want the entire boat to your own group.
| Option | Price | Duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traveloka shared tour | from 288,889 VND (~$11–12) | 4 hours | Budget travelers, solo |
| Trip.com shared tour | from US$14.21 | 3–4 hours | Budget travelers |
| Standard local group tour | $15–25 | 3–4 hours | Couples, families |
| Sunset cruise + squid combo (Trip.com) | US$18.81 | Evening | Photographers, first night on the island |
| Private wooden boat (TripAdvisor) | ~$159 per adult | 4 hours | Groups wanting the boat to themselves |
Check what the price includes before you pay: at minimum you should get the boat, crew, all fishing gear, and life jackets. The grilled catch, drinks, and hotel transfers are sometimes extra — a $15 tour plus a $5 transfer can still be the best-value evening on the island, but you want no surprises at the pier.
Where Boats Leave From and What Time to Arrive
Two departure points handle most trips. Ham Ninh pier, on the island's east coast, is the classic jumping-off point — an old wooden pier about 30–40 minutes by scooter from Duong Dong. An Thoi harbor, at the southern tip, serves travelers staying near the southern beaches and the An Thoi archipelago, and from May to October some boats also depart directly from Bai Sao beach.
Timing matters more than people expect. Standard boarding is 5:30–6:00 PM so the boat reaches the fishing grounds as the light dies; the Viator option starts earlier, at 5:00 PM, with hotel pickup and drop-off in Duong Dong, which is convenient if you would rather not ride dark roads back to your room. One seasonal note from GetYourGuide: from May to October, departures from Bai Sao or An Thoi mean no sunset view from the boat, because the sun drops behind the island rather than into open water.
The Night, Hour by Hour
Here is how a typical 4-hour trip (17:00–21:30) actually unfolds:
17:00–17:45 — Pickup and boarding. Hotel pickup in Duong Dong or your own ride to the pier, life jackets handed out, and a short cruise along the coast as the sky turns orange.
18:00–19:00 — Anchoring and lights on. The crew parks over a known squid spot and floods the water with green light. This is the conversation window: plankton gathers, small fish arrive, and the first shapes appear in the glow below.
19:00–20:30 — Jigging time. Everyone lines the rails with hand lines. The rhythm is drop, twitch, twitch, lift, repeat. When a squid strikes you feel a sudden heavy tug — this is where the crew earns their tip, coaching your pull and landing the catch.
20:30–21:30 — Grill and ride home. Most boats cook the catch on board — flash-grilled squid with chili salt is the standard reward — or the tour ends at a beach restaurant that grills your squid alongside rice, drinks, and side dishes. You are back at your hotel by 9:30–10:00 PM.
Will You Actually Catch Squid? An Honest Answer
Set expectations correctly and you will love the night; set them wrong and you may feel shortchanged. GetYourGuide puts it plainly: squid fishing is much more difficult than regular fishing, and you should not expect to catch a lot every time. Squid are curious but picky, they often follow the lure without striking, and a whole boat can go an hour between hookups on a slow night.
A realistic picture: on a good evening, most guests land one to three squid each and the on-board grill is busy; on a mediocre night the boat totals a handful of squid and the crew quietly supplements from their own haul so the barbecue still happens. Sizes are modest — these are light-attracted squid, mostly palm-sized, occasionally a fat cuttlefish. If your dream is a trophy, book the private boat and multiple nights; if your dream is grilled squid that was swimming 40 minutes ago, this tour delivers.
That difficulty is also the charm. Kids and first-timers get a genuine technique to learn, the crew's excitement when someone hooks up is contagious, and nobody boards expecting a guarantee. Go for the atmosphere — green lights on black water, a moving deck, cold drinks — and every squid is a bonus.
Best Time of Year for Night Squid Fishing
Tours run year-round — Phu Quoc's calm Gulf of Thailand waters allow night fishing in every month. The two real caveats are weather and departure logistics. September and October bring the island's heaviest storms, and trips are cancelled when the sea turns rough, so build flexibility into those months and confirm with the operator the morning of. The calm stretch from roughly November to March is the most reliable window: flatter seas, clearer evenings, and comfortable temperatures on an open deck. Rain in other months is usually a short tropical shower rather than an all-night event, and boats still go out between them.
The second caveat is where you board. From May to October, boats may depart from Bai Sao or An Thoi in the south, and GetYourGuide flags that these departures do not include a sunset view. If sunset over water is on your checklist, either book the sunset-cruise combo (US$18.81 on Trip.com) or confirm the departure point and viewing direction with your operator before paying.
Who Night Squid Fishing Suits — and Who Should Skip It
Great fit
- Families with kids aged roughly 6 and up — short trip, simple technique, huge novelty factor
- Couples who want a low-effort evening that is not another beach bar
- Food-first travelers who care more about the grilled catch than the count
- Photographers chasing the green-light-on-black-water shot
Less suited to
- Serious anglers who want constant action — squid fishing is slow and difficult by design
- Anyone who needs a guaranteed catch to enjoy an activity
- Strongly seasick-prone travelers: you are anchored, but the deck moves and jigging while queasy is miserable
- People with limited mobility — boarding is via ladder or stepping between boats, rails are low, and deck lighting is minimal
One honest note for non-swimmers: life jackets are provided and the boat stays anchored in sheltered water, but you will be standing on an open wooden deck at night. If that alone sounds stressful, a sunset cruise or an onshore seafood night may be the better spend.
Pairing Squid Fishing With Other Phu Quoc Water Activities
Night squid fishing slots neatly into a bigger water-activity plan. The cheapest upgrade is the combo: Trip.com lists a sunset cruise and night squid fishing tour at US$18.81 per person, which sidesteps the "no sunset view" issue on some southern departures and turns the evening into a two-for-one. If you are celebrating, the private 4-hour boat at around $159 per adult effectively becomes your floating seafood dinner party.
Balance the night with the day: Phu Quoc's scuba diving is famously beginner-friendly. Discovery dives require no license, go to a maximum depth of about 6 meters, and run with professional instructors; the An Thoi archipelago sites are shallow — roughly 5–12 meters — with warm, clear water for most of the year. A morning dive around An Thoi plus a night squid trip makes a full "underwater day," and the same southern harbor serves both, so the logistics stay simple.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does night squid fishing in Phu Quoc cost?
Expect $15–25 per person for a shared group tour. Online platforms go lower — Trip.com lists tours from US$14.21 and Traveloka from 288,889 VND — while a private 4-hour wooden boat experience runs about $159 per adult. Always check whether transfers, drinks, and the grilled catch are included before booking.
Do I need experience or a fishing license?
No. The trip is total-beginner friendly: you use a simple hand line with a lure, the crew demonstrates the jigging motion, and they help land and handle the squid. No license is required, all equipment is provided, and many first-timers hook their first squid within the first hour after the lights go on.
What time do night squid fishing tours run?
Most trips last 3–4 hours. The common window is 6 PM–10 PM, with boats departing Ham Ninh pier or An Thoi harbor around 5:30–6:00 PM. Traveloka lists a 17:00–21:30 schedule, and the Viator option starts at 5:00 PM with pickup and drop-off in Duong Dong.
Is night squid fishing harder than regular fishing?
Yes — GetYourGuide notes it is much more difficult than regular fishing, and catches vary night to night. The green lights concentrate squid around the boat, which improves your odds, but on slow nights a whole boat may land only a few squid. Crews often add their own catch so the on-board grill still happens.
What happens to the squid we catch?
They usually become dinner. Many tours cook the catch on board — flash-grilled squid with chili salt is the classic — while other tours finish at a partner beach restaurant that grills your squid alongside rice, drinks, and side dishes. Confirm at booking whether the meal is included or paid separately at the restaurant.
When is night squid fishing cancelled?
Trips run year-round, but September and October bring Phu Quoc's heaviest storms, and operators cancel when seas are rough for safety. If you visit in those months, book with free cancellation and confirm on the morning of the trip; from November to March, calm seas make cancellations rare.
Is it suitable for children and non-swimmers?
Generally yes for children from about age 6 — the hand lines are easy, the trip is short, and crews are attentive. Non-swimmers can join wearing the provided life jackets since the boat stays anchored in sheltered water, but remember you are on an open deck at night with low rails, so supervise kids constantly.
Where do the boats depart from?
Most departures leave from Ham Ninh pier on the east coast or An Thoi harbor in the south between 5:30 and 6:00 PM. From May to October, some boats depart from Bai Sao beach instead, and the Viator tour includes Duong Dong hotel pickup. Choose the pier closest to your hotel to shorten the evening ride.
Staying on Phu Quoc and want the evening sorted end to end? Sabrina Rental can book your night squid fishing trip, deliver a motorbike to your hotel for the ride to Ham Ninh pier, and point you to the best post-fishing seafood on the island.
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