Big Game Fishing
With over 99 percent of the total area of the Maldives consisting of water, the country has some of the best fishing grounds in the world. The fish stock of the Maldives includes over a thousand species, some of which are indigenous to the Maldives.
The methods of fishing vary depending on the type of fish and the time of the day. Night fishing for groupers, snappers, emperors, jacks, squirrel fish, barracuda and other reef fish is the most popular. The catch is barbequed on the beach and guests can enjoy their own catch.
Morning fishing begins at dawn. These fishing trips, in the early hours of the morning by dhoni inside the atoll or just outside the atoll are for little tuna, dolphin fish, rainbow runner, jack, trevally and barracuda. These too sometimes become as engaging as big game fishing.
The methods of fishing vary depending on the type of fish and the time of the day. Night fishing for groupers, snappers, emperors, jacks, squirrel fish, barracuda and other reef fish is the most popular. The catch is barbequed on the beach and guests can enjoy their own catch.
Traditionally, Maldivians, as masters of the sea, used small dhonis and trawled outside the atoll for big game such as sailfish, swordfish, marlin, wahoo, barracuda, yellowfin tuna and other game. However, modern speedboats equipped for western style big game fishing are also available now for hire in many resorts.
The Maldives practice a strong conservation policy and the use of harpoon guns and hunting of marine mammals such as whales and dolphins and large fishes like the whale shark is strictly prohibited.
All resorts provide facilities for big game fishing. You don’t have to be an expert in fishing as the boat crews are very adapt at the art of fishing and will help you to land a good catch.
