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Simpson Bay Fishing Charters | Deep Sea & Inshore Fishing - Book Now!
Saltwater Pros

Sint Maarten · Sint Maarten Coast

SIMPSON BAY
FISHING CHARTERS

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10+
Verified Captains
4.7★
Avg Rating
4
Fishing Types
9+
Species
Simpson Bay, SX
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About

Simpson Bay Fishing

Simpson Bay is Sint Maarten's marina district, home to a large fleet of sport fishing boats and the island's most experienced captains. The Simpson Bay Lagoon provides calm-water departure for offshore trips targeting marlin, wahoo, and tuna. The area is also a nightlife hub with excellent restaurants and bars along the strip.

Travel Info

Getting to Simpson Bay

Whether arriving by cruise ship or flying in for vacation, here's what you need to know.

By Air

Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)

Booking Tips

Simpson Bay is just 5 minutes from SXM airport and 15 minutes from the Philipsburg cruise terminal. Most charter boats are based at Simpson Bay Marina or Isle de Sol Marina. Book 1-2 weeks ahead during high season. The bridge opens on schedule for boats to exit the lagoon — your captain will plan around bridge times.

Sunscreen SPF 50+, polarized sunglasses, hat, light rain jacket, motion sickness medication if needed, camera, cash for tips (15-20% customary)

DIY Fishing

Shore Fishing Guide — Simpson Bay

Want to fish on your own? Here are the best shore, pier, and bank fishing spots.

Simpson Bay Lagoon Bridge

Pier Fishing

The bridge connecting the airport road to the causeway creates a tidal chokepoint where tarpon and snook ambush baitfish during bridge openings. Cast during tidal flow changes for the best action.

Target: Tarpon, Snook, Jacks

Kim Sha Beach

Shore Fishing

The calm waters of Kim Sha Beach on the lagoon side offer easy wading and casting. Blue runners and bar jacks feed along the sandy bottom, and barracuda cruise the deeper pockets near the marina channel.

Target: Jacks, Barracuda, Needlefish

Airport Beach (Maho)

Shore Fishing

The famous beach under the SXM airport flight path also offers decent shore fishing. The rocky ends of the beach hold snapper, and jacks hunt baitfish in the surf zone. Fish early before the crowds arrive.

Target: Jacks, Barracuda, Snapper

Simpson Bay Marina Docks

Pier Fishing

Walk the marina docks in the evening and cast light jigs under the dock lights. Mangrove snapper and grunts congregate around the illuminated pilings, and barracuda lurk in the shadows beyond the light.

Target: Snapper, Grunts, Barracuda

Best Baits

Live pilchards, small jigs, topwater plugs, cut squid, soft plastic shrimp

Tactics

Simpson Bay Lagoon is a massive body of calm water perfect for light-tackle fishing. The lagoon bridge openings create feeding frenzies — time your fishing around bridge schedules. Use 10-15 lb spinning gear for most situations. Night fishing under marina lights is productive for snapper and barracuda.

Regulations

Sint Maarten requires no fishing license for recreational shore fishing. Spearfishing requires a permit. Respect marina rules and avoid casting near boat traffic. No fishing in designated marine reserves.

Fishing Calendar

What's Biting in Simpson Bay?

See which species are available each month, color-coded by activity level.

Color Key
Peak Good Fair Off Season
Species Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Amberjack
Nearshore
 G G P P P P P G G G G G
Barracuda
Nearshore
 G G G G G G G G G G G G
Blue Marlin
Deep Sea Fishing
 G G G G G P P P P P G G
Caribbean Red Snapper
Bottom Fishing
 P P P G G G G G G P P P
Lionfish
Bottom Fishing
 G G G G G G G G G G G G
Mahi Mahi
Deep Sea Fishing
 P P P P P G G G G G G P
Wahoo
Deep Sea Fishing
 P P P G G G G G G G P P
Yellowfin Tuna
Deep Sea Fishing
 P P P P P P G G G G G G
Tarpon
Inshore
 - - - G G P P P P G F -
Species Glossary

Simpson Bay Fish Species

9+ species organized by fishing type. Click any species to learn more.

View Full Species Guide

Inshore Species

Fish the bays, flats, and passes close to shore.

Tarpon

Peak: Jun, Jul, Aug

Nearshore Species

Target reefs, wrecks, and structure within a few miles of land.

Amberjack

Peak: Mar, Apr, May

Barracuda

Peak: Year-round

Deep Sea Fishing Species

Head to deep water for big game and bottom species.

Blue Marlin

Peak: Jun, Jul, Aug

Mahi Mahi

Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar

Wahoo

Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar

Yellowfin Tuna

Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar

Bottom Fishing Species

Caribbean Red Snapper

Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar

Lionfish

Peak: Year-round
Charter Guide

Fishing Charter Types in Simpson Bay

Understanding the different charter types will help you book the perfect trip for your group.

INSHORE

Fish the bays, flats, and passes close to shore. Target redfish, speckled trout, flounder and more in calm, protected waters.

View Inshore Charters

NEARSHORE

Fish the reefs, wrecks, and structure 1-9 miles offshore. Target snapper, grouper, cobia and more over natural and artificial reefs.

View Nearshore Charters

DEEP SEA FISHING

Deep sea fishing 20+ miles out. Chase tuna, marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo and other pelagic gamefish in blue water.

View Deep Sea Fishing Charters

TROLLING

Cover water by dragging lures or bait behind a moving boat to target pelagic species.

View Trolling Charters

BOTTOM FISHING

Drop baits to the ocean floor to target snapper, grouper, and other reef dwellers.

View Bottom Fishing Charters

FLY FISHING

Sight-cast with fly rods on the flats for redfish, trout, and tarpon.

View Fly Fishing Charters

SURF FISHING

Fish from the beach or wade into the surf to target pompano, whiting, and redfish.

View Surf Fishing Charters

KAYAK FISHING

Paddle out for a more intimate fishing experience on bays and nearshore waters.

View Kayak Fishing Charters
Fishing Tips & Guides

Simpson Bay Fishing Blog

Local insights, seasonal reports, and expert tips for fishing in Simpson Bay.

View All Articles
Guest Reviews

Simpson Bay Fishing Reviews

5 based on 3 reviews

Amazing inshore tarpon in Simpson Bay Lagoon

Fished inside Simpson Bay Lagoon using live pilchards and found juvenile tarpon rolling near the mangroves. We jumped 8 tarpon between 15 and 40 pounds on light spinning tackle. The lagoon also produced some nice snook and jacks. Perfect calm-water fishing for families and beginners.

C
Captain Nicole
June 2025
Inshore
Tarpon Snook Jack Crevalle

Yellowfin tuna exploded on poppers

Found a school of yellowfin tuna crashing bait about 15 miles south of Simpson Bay. We threw big poppers and stickbaits into the boils and hooked up instantly. Landed four yellowfin between 40 and 70 pounds on spinning gear. The topwater tuna action around St. Maarten is insane when conditions line up.

C
Captain Theo
February 2026
Deep Sea
Yellowfin Tuna Skipjack Tuna

Wahoo were stacked up off Simpson Bay

Left out of Simpson Bay bridge at dawn and ran to the FAD about 12 miles offshore. The wahoo were absolutely stacked around the buoy. We high-speed trolled and landed seven wahoo between 25 and 50 pounds in just a few hours. Simpson Bay has easy access to some of the best wahoo fishing in the Caribbean.

C
Captain Remy
November 2025
Deep Sea
Wahoo Barracuda
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