How to Enjoy a Fishing Trip to Maldives – Captivating Ocean Excursions

The stunning Maldives draws innumerable holidaymakers each year with its idyllic scenery, balmy tropical climate, and delightfully laidback ambiance. It will also be a wonderful environment for anglers, as an abundance of interesting kinds of fish can be found in its waters. If you happen to be a fishing enthusiast, you will be enthralled by a fishing trip to the Maldives, as described below.

Img by: Christian Jensen via Flickr, CC BY 2.0

Aim for the giant trevally and tuna

You will find that many kinds of exotic fish can be found in the waters of the Maldives. Although anglers will encounter fish of all sizes, colours and shapes, there are some prized varieties that fishing enthusiasts will most hope to snare. Many anglers will be captivated by the opportunity to catch trevally, particularly giant trevally, which can be found here. There are visitors to the Maldives whose primary objective is to catch one of these remarkable fish. In the local waters, you will be able to catch giant trevallies throughout the year, with the largest specimens to be found near the reefs.

On the other hand, fishing for tuna is also a popular choice for anglers in the Maldives. In fact, catching tuna is also an important aspect of the local commercial fishing industry. Recreational fishing for tuna can be done using traditional methods which will draw the interest of anglers who make their way to these islands.

Try to catch other kinds of fish

However, there will also be many other kinds of fish in the Maldivian waters that will draw the interest of the avid angler. There is no doubt that the reefs are one of the primary attractions, home to many appealing kinds of other fish for the angler. When it comes to reef fishing, one will have the opportunity to snare groupers, sweetlip emperors, red emperors, squirrelfish, jobfish, jacks and so on.

Meanwhile, if it is big game fishing that takes your fancy, you will encounter a variety of sought-after pelagic fish such as wahoo, tuna, mahi-mahi, marlin and sailfish just to name a few. A choice of accommodation to consider from where you will be able to go big game fishing and engage in other Maldives watersports too would be the pleasingly located SAii Lagoon Maldives. On your fishing adventures, you may even encounter unusual creatures like bluefin, golden trevally, bonefish, barracuda, coral trout and more.

Select your fishing experience

In the Maldives, you will have the opportunity to engage in several different ways of fishing. Charter boat fishing would be a great choice for the fishing enthusiast, providing several options when it comes to the actual vessels; you will have a choice ranging from lavish yachts to a traditional Maldivian dhoni. Shore fishing would also be an interesting choice for the enthusiast but this form of fishing is only allowed on a few inhabited and some completely uninhabited islands. Another not-to-be-missed experience would be night fishing for nocturnal varieties of fish.

Keep note of the important facts

Since fishing happens to be a fundamental aspect of the economy and culture of the Maldives, strict regulations are implemented to promote the conservation of the marine environment. You will not be permitted to fish at reefs with the status of a ‘reserve’ and this will include those at many resorts. Also prohibited will be fishing at the coral reefs and sandbars which form the islands. Additionally, fishing with nets is prohibited over the reefs whilst spearfishing is totally banned. You may also not fish for sharks and usually, you may only snare giant trevally on a catch-and-release basis. To maintain the marine species in the Maldives, it would be good practice to return any fish that you catch and don’t plan to eat back to the waters.