Mauritius

Mauritius is one of fishing’s paradise islands. Interestingly enough, not many anglers are aware of what it has to offer. Home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Le Morne Brabant mountain, it’s a wonder both on land and at sea. Anyone who’s serious about Billfishing should make it their goal to check out Mauritius fishing charters at least once. After all, the local Blue Marlin record stands at an impressive 1430 lbs. If you're after a true fishing holiday challenge, you need look no further than this harmonious African island.

The quick answer to this question would be - all over. The long answer below will show you some of the absolute best fishing locations to cover during your stay.

The Le Morne Brabant peninsula is that spot where most local fishing legends happen. It’s where the majority of Grander Marlin catches take place, and anglers almost rever it. The great thing about fishing both here and in the rest of the island is that you can reach prime fishing spots for big game within minutes. A luxury not many places can brag about, and the local bragging rights are well-earned.

If your interest lies in going after Tuna, then Le Morne is also the place for you. In fact, Le Morne holds the 50 and 80 lbs lince-class world records for Dogtooth Tuna. That’s not enough for you? Add to that some fantastic fishing for Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

The northwest part of the island belongs to the so-called Pamplemousses District, named after the French word for grapefruit. Home to the breathtaking SSR Botanical Garden, it’s also where you’ll find the second largest concentration of charter boats. Whereas the southern tip of the island is Marlin territory, other gamefish gravitate northwards too.

The Grand Baie area is where you head out from in search of the likes of Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Barracuda, and a wide variety of Sharks to top it off. The best Wahoo action is definitely anywhere from September through January, while Mahi Mahi fishing is great year-round. In the true spirit of deep sea fishing record-breaking, we can hardly forget to mention that a 400 lbs Blue Shark caught here holds the current IGFA world record.

Last, but definitely not least, is the Flacq District on the eastern coast of the island. This is a balanced fishery that offers a little bit of everything found elsewhere in Mauritius. There’s always something to go after, whether it’s Tuna, Bonito, Sharks, Mahi Mahi or Marlin. If you’re especially lucky, you might even end up with a Swordfish on your line.

Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of tourists on the local docks. They’re probably going to visit Île aux Cerfs, an island nestled in the largest Mauritian lagoon. This privately-owned island draws in a lot of locals as well thanks to the multitude of water sports available to visitors.

As you would expect for big game fishing of this caliber, the local charter captains tend to use large and very well-equipped sportfishing boats. For the most part, they will be using baits like Bonito and Skipjack Tuna, but expect some of them to use lures as well. These fish are big and aggressive (especially Marlin) which means heavy tackle is pretty much the norm.

Of course, there are those professional anglers who consider that to be a challenge. They will use lighter equipment precisely because of the skill required, and hats off to them. Believe it or not, there are also flyrods made to tackle Billfish, so be sure to ask around if you’re looking to truly up your fly game.

The truly wonderful thing about fishing in Mauritius is that you don’t have to spend hours getting to where the fish are. If you’re on a full day trip, you can really expect to be fishing during the entire day, instead of spending a big chunk of it just getting there.

Rates offered by the local fishing charters will vary a lot depending on the quality of boat and trip length. This can be anywhere between $60 and $150 per hour, so choose wisely. The crew usually keeps the catch from any given trip, but they will often be happy to give you one for the dinner table if you want. Keep in mind that spearfishing is prohibited on the island, so just stick with good old rods and reels.

Mauritius is one of those places where there’s always something new to see and do. Anglers are busy at work trying to break new records, and tourists are scrambling to see it all before they have to go back home. If you’re looking to enrich yourself with new experiences, and get some world-class angling done while you’re at it, there’s no better place to be.