Christmas and New Year fall right in the middle of the best big game season in Mauritius, so a fishing trip over the holidays makes sense. The catch is that you are not the only one who thinks so: the island is at its busiest, the good boats fill up early, a few crews take the public holidays off, and it is cyclone season. Book a morning trip a few weeks ahead, avoid 25 December and 1 January unless the captain confirms, and put the trip early in your stay so a weather day can be moved.
This guide is for families and groups spending the holidays on the island who want one good day at sea in the plan, not a scramble for whatever boat is left on the 27th.
Why the holidays are a good time to fish here
Late December and early January are the southern summer. The water is warm, bait gathers offshore and the pelagic fish follow it. Our Mauritius fishing seasons guide puts the marlin season from November to April, with the strongest bite usually between December and March, and giant trevally active on the reefs from October to March. That overlap is why many anglers plan their whole holiday for this window.
What that means on the water:
- Blue water trips trolling for blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and mahi mahi have their best odds of the year.
- Reef trips with poppers or jigs for trevally are in season too, and suit anglers who want more casting and less waiting.
- Mixed days for a family, a few hours of trolling with a swim or a lagoon stop, work well in the summer heat.
None of this makes a fish certain. It makes the holiday weeks one of the better times to try.
The weather you should plan around
Summer in Mauritius is hot and humid, with more rain than the dry winter months, and short heavy showers in the afternoon are common. The south-east trade wind is usually lighter than in winter, so on many mornings the sea outside the reef is kinder than it is in July.
The other side of summer is the cyclone season, which runs roughly from November to April. Most holiday weeks pass without one, but when a storm forms in the south-west Indian Ocean the authorities issue warnings, boats stay in port, and the sea can stay rough for a day or two after the wind drops. You cannot plan around a cyclone a month ahead. You can plan around the chance of one:
- Book early in your stay. A trip on day two or three leaves room to move it if the captain calls it off. A trip on your last morning does not.
- Ask how the captain handles weather. Find out before you pay whether a cancelled day is moved or refunded.
- Go in the morning. Boats leave around dawn because the sea is usually calmest before the breeze and the afternoon showers build. Our piece on the best time of day for a fishing trip in Mauritius explains why.
Which days the boats run
Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and 2 January are public holidays in Mauritius. Some crews fish on those days because demand is high, others take the day off with their families, and the answer can differ from boat to boat. Do not assume.
The days in between, 26 to 31 December, are usually the busiest on the water, because every hotel is full and every group has the same idea. If you want a particular boat in that week, ask about your date as soon as your holiday is fixed.
Two practical points for the holiday week:
- New Year’s Eve is a late night for everyone, crew included. A trip on 31 December is easier to enjoy than one at dawn on 1 January.
- Hotel excursion desks book out too. Booking directly with a captain means you know which boat, which crew and which port you are getting, instead of being added to whatever the desk has left.
Choosing the right trip for a holiday group
Holiday groups are rarely all keen anglers. There may be a grandparent who wants a quiet day, a teenager who wants a big fish and a partner who would rather snorkel. Choose the boat for the group you actually have.
For a family or mixed group
Fishing on Ivan from Trou-aux-Biches is a 36 foot boat for up to 6, with a toilet, an ice box and a fighting chair. Trips run from 4 to 9 hours, food and drinks are on board and children are welcome, which is a lot of what a holiday group needs. A shorter morning trip leaves the afternoon for the beach. If you are bringing children, our guide to a fishing trip in Mauritius with kids covers ages, shade and what to pack.
For half fishing, half day at sea
Last Cast from Mont Choisy takes 2 to 4 and offers trolling, jigging and popping, with the option to add snorkelling, dolphin watching or a catch and cook barbecue. That makes it a good choice when only part of the group wants to fish.
For the angler who wants a marlin
Full Day Trip, Big Game Fishing from Grand Baie is for up to 5 anglers, with Tiagra reels and a custom wooden fighting chair. In the peak of the marlin season a full day gives the best chance at a real fight, but it is a long day for anyone who is not keen.
For a small group on a smaller boat
Pyramide from Trou-aux-Biches takes up to 4 on a 26 foot boat with outriggers, a fighting chair and a live bait pump, fishing nearshore or offshore. The listing states that guests and crew each keep one fish under 10 kg, which is worth knowing if you hoped to cook your catch for a holiday dinner. Our article on who keeps the fish explains the local practice on other boats.
Most of the island’s boats are on the north-west coast, with seven at Trou-aux-Biches and more around Grand Baie. You can see every boat, with its port, on the Mauritius charters page.
A fishing trip as a holiday present
A morning at sea is a good present for the angler in the family, and the holidays are when people think of it. If you plan to surprise someone, two tips:
- Agree the date with the captain first, then tell the person. A surprise trip on a date the boat cannot do is no surprise at all.
- Check they are happy on a boat. If seasickness is a worry, read our seasickness guide for Mauritius, choose a bigger boat and a shorter trip, and keep the plan flexible.
Questions to ask before you book
Send these through the listing chat before you pay:
- Do you fish on 25 December, 1 January and 2 January?
- What has been biting in the last few weeks, and what would you target for us?
- Is the boat private for our group, and how many can it take?
- What is on board: shade, toilet, drinks, lunch?
- What happens if a cyclone warning or rough sea stops the trip?
- What happens to the fish we catch?
A captain who answers these clearly, and tells you honestly what the chances are that week, is the one to book.
Before you book: a short checklist
- Fix your trip date in the first half of your stay.
- Ask the captain about the public holidays before choosing a date.
- Book as soon as your flights and hotel are set, especially for 26 to 31 December.
- Choose a morning start and a trip length that suits the least keen person on board.
- Confirm the weather policy in writing in the listing chat.
The bottom line
The Christmas and New Year weeks are a strong time to fish in Mauritius: marlin season is at its peak, the reefs are busy with trevally and the summer sea is often calmer than in winter. The risks are a full calendar, a few boats resting on the public holidays and the chance of a cyclone warning. Book early, fish early in the day and early in your stay, and ask the captain the holiday questions before you pay. Then enjoy the morning at sea, whatever comes up on the line.
Cover: "Follow the birds to catch the fish!" by jennifrog, CC BY 2.0, edited (colour, retouching).
Leave a Reply