{
  "destination": "thailand",
  "name": "Thailand",
  "question": "Do I need a fishing licence on a yacht charter in Thailand?",
  "answer": "We found no recreational licence for rod fishing in Thailand, but fishing of any kind is banned inside marine national parks such as Similan, Surin, Phi Phi, Ao Phang Nga and Ang Thong, according to the National Park Act 2019 as summarised in search results (we could not open the official text). A secondary source says almost all the coastal waters popular with yachts are inside parks, so fish only outside park boundaries, for example around Racha Yai and Racha Noi south of Phuket (secondary source), and do not carry rigged fishing gear inside a park.",
  "canonical_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/thailand/",
  "markdown_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/thailand.md",
  "destination_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/thailand/",
  "best_time_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/thailand/",
  "api_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/api/fishing/thailand.json",
  "book_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=thailand&pos=api",
  "checked": "2026-10-28",
  "licence": {
    "needed": "no",
    "summary": "No licence found; fishing banned in marine national parks",
    "cost_summary": "None found",
    "issuer": "No recreational licence. Marine parks are run by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).",
    "price": {
      "text": "No licence found for rod fishing (Fisheries Act B.E. 2558 licenses gear and commercial fishing)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "validity": {
      "text": "n/a",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "notes": [
      {
        "text": "Fishing is banned in marine national parks.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "National Park Act B.E. 2562 (2019): s.19(3) bans taking or harming wild animals (up to 5 years' prison and/or a THB 500,000 fine); s.19(7) bans bringing fishing or hunting gear into a park (up to THB 10,000).",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Source: DNP unofficial English translation via a search summary; the PDF download timed out.",
        "status": "unconfirmed"
      },
      {
        "text": "A secondary source says a fine of up to 500 baht per person on board.",
        "status": "secondary"
      },
      {
        "text": "Similan needs an advance yacht permit from park HQ at Thap Lamu.",
        "status": "official"
      }
    ],
    "source": {
      "id": "fish_thailand_3",
      "name": "FAOLEX (FAO legal database)",
      "title": "Fisheries Act B.E. 2558 (FAOLEX)",
      "url": "https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tha159734.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official text hosted by a third party.",
      "tier": "official-copy"
    }
  },
  "catch_limits_summary": "Not verified; no fishing in parks",
  "limits": [
    {
      "text": "No fishing of any kind in marine national parks (Similan, Surin, Phi Phi / Hat Noppharat Thara, Ao Phang Nga, Ang Thong, etc.)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Daily catch limits and sizes: not verified",
      "status": "not_verified"
    }
  ],
  "spearfishing": [
    {
      "text": "We could not confirm spearfishing rules for Thailand.",
      "status": "not_verified"
    }
  ],
  "protected_areas": [
    {
      "text": "Mu Ko Similan NP (islands 1–3: no anchoring, landing, snorkelling or diving)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Mu Ko Surin NP",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi NP",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Ao Phang Nga NP",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Mu Ko Ang Thong NP",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Mu Ko Chumphon NP",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Note (secondary source): almost all Thai coastal waters popular with yachts fall inside parks",
      "status": "secondary"
    }
  ],
  "species": [
    {
      "common_name": "Giant trevally",
      "scientific_name": "Caranx ignobilis",
      "method": "popping, jigging",
      "best_months": "year-round; peak Jun–Jul",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_thailand_6",
        "name": "ERKAK (fishing guide)",
        "title": "ERKAK Phuket fishing",
        "url": "https://erkak.com/en/guides/phuket-fishing-legal-spots-seasons/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "09 March 2015",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_caranx_ignobilis",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Caranx ignobilis species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Caranx-ignobilis.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Sailfish",
      "scientific_name": "Istiophorus platypterus",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": "Dec–Mar peak",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_thailand_6",
        "name": "ERKAK (fishing guide)",
        "title": "ERKAK Phuket fishing",
        "url": "https://erkak.com/en/guides/phuket-fishing-legal-spots-seasons/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "VU",
        "category": "Vulnerable",
        "assessed": "01 May 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_istiophorus_platypterus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Istiophorus platypterus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Istiophorus-platypterus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel",
      "scientific_name": "Scomberomorus commerson",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": "Oct–Apr (peak Nov–Jan)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_thailand_6",
        "name": "ERKAK (fishing guide)",
        "title": "ERKAK Phuket fishing",
        "url": "https://erkak.com/en/guides/phuket-fishing-legal-spots-seasons/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "NT",
        "category": "Near Threatened",
        "assessed": "10 November 2022",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_scomberomorus_commerson",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Scomberomorus commerson species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Scomberomorus-commerson.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Kawakawa",
      "scientific_name": "Euthynnus affinis",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "01 March 2022",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_euthynnus_affinis",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Euthynnus affinis species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Euthynnus-affinis.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Great barracuda",
      "scientific_name": "Sphyraena barracuda",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "29 January 2013",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_sphyraena_barracuda",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Sphyraena barracuda species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sphyraena-barracuda.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Mangrove red snapper",
      "scientific_name": "Lutjanus argentimaculatus",
      "method": "bottom fishing",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "04 March 2015",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_lutjanus_argentimaculatus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Lutjanus argentimaculatus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lutjanus-argentimaculatus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Rainbow runner",
      "scientific_name": "Elagatis bipinnulata",
      "method": "jigging/trolling",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "21 August 2012",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_elagatis_bipinnulata",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Elagatis bipinnulata species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Elagatis-bipinnulata.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    }
  ],
  "spots": [
    {
      "name": "Racha Yai / Racha Noi (south of Phuket)",
      "why": "outside park boundaries; GT, mackerel, wahoo, dorado",
      "source": "secondary: thai-fishing.com, erkak.com",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Phang Nga Bay east of Phuket (outside NP)",
      "why": "queenfish",
      "source": "secondary: thaiangler.com",
      "status": "secondary"
    }
  ],
  "charter_guest_rules": "No licence, but do not fish or carry rigged gear inside marine national parks. Fines apply per person on board, according to a secondary source. Get the Similan yacht permit in advance.",
  "not_verified": [
    "Daily catch limits and sizes: not verified",
    "Best months for Kawakawa, Great barracuda, Mangrove red snapper, Rainbow runner"
  ],
  "status_legend": {
    "official": "Read in an official source (government, statutory body or the legal text).",
    "secondary": "From a non-government source (guide, club, operator or news); not official.",
    "unconfirmed": "An official rule we could only read in a search summary, because we could not open the official text.",
    "not_verified": "We could not confirm it.",
    "note": "status is our reading of the dataset's own wording: \"secondary\" = non-government source; \"unconfirmed\" = official rule read only in a search summary; \"not_verified\" = a gap."
  },
  "caveat": "Rules change. Check with the authority or the charter company before fishing. Our summaries (answer, summary, cost_summary, catch_limits_summary) are written from the labelled facts.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "fish_thailand_1",
      "name": "Thai Marine Guide",
      "title": "Thai Marine Guide – restricted areas",
      "url": "https://thaimarineguide.com/info/restricted-areas/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_thailand_2",
      "name": "Thai Department of National Parks (DNP)",
      "title": "DNP – National Park Act 2019 unofficial translation",
      "url": "https://catalog.dnp.go.th/dataset/d482c80d-f4f7-4e95-8e90-8465c6fcd6cb/resource/ee3385b3-d089-4b64-8c00-b230c7cabe9f/download/eng.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_thailand_3",
      "name": "FAOLEX (FAO legal database)",
      "title": "Fisheries Act B.E. 2558 (FAOLEX)",
      "url": "https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tha159734.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official text hosted by a third party.",
      "tier": "official-copy"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_thailand_4",
      "name": "Nation Thailand (news)",
      "title": "Nation Thailand – Similan fines",
      "url": "https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/30365161",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_thailand_5",
      "name": "ThaiAngler (fishing guide)",
      "title": "ThaiAngler – tourist licence",
      "url": "https://thaiangler.com/guides/do-tourists-need-fishing-license-thailand",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_thailand_6",
      "name": "ERKAK (fishing guide)",
      "title": "ERKAK Phuket fishing",
      "url": "https://erkak.com/en/guides/phuket-fishing-legal-spots-seasons/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_caranx_ignobilis",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Caranx ignobilis species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Caranx-ignobilis.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_istiophorus_platypterus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Istiophorus platypterus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Istiophorus-platypterus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_scomberomorus_commerson",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Scomberomorus commerson species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Scomberomorus-commerson.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_euthynnus_affinis",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Euthynnus affinis species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Euthynnus-affinis.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_sphyraena_barracuda",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Sphyraena barracuda species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sphyraena-barracuda.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_lutjanus_argentimaculatus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Lutjanus argentimaculatus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lutjanus-argentimaculatus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_elagatis_bipinnulata",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Elagatis bipinnulata species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Elagatis-bipinnulata.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    }
  ],
  "attribution": "Cite \"Catamaran Index\" with a link to the canonical_url of the page the figure comes from, and name the original source listed with it.",
  "affiliate_note": "book_url links go through /go/samboat, an affiliate link: Catamaran Index may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to the traveller. It never changes the data."
}