A fishing trip in Mauritius works well for a couple, as long as you book the boat for the two of you and pick the trip to suit the partner who fishes less. Most charter boats here take four to six guests, and when only two people book, the whole boat is yours: book it as a private trip, choose a half day in the lagoon or a short offshore morning if one of you is new to it, and tell the captain up front that it is your honeymoon and what the non-angler wants from the day.
This guide is for couples on honeymoon or an anniversary trip who want one morning at sea that both of you enjoy, not a long day where one person fights fish and the other counts the hours.
Why a private boat makes sense for two
Charter boats in Mauritius are small. Pyramide, a 26 foot boat out of Trou-aux-Biches, takes up to four guests. Fishing on Ivan, a 36 foot boat from the same beach, takes up to six. Last Cast in Grand Baie, a Baymaster 215, builds its trips around groups of two to four. With a crew of a skipper and a mate, two guests get the rods, the fighting chair and the crew’s attention to themselves.
That matters on a honeymoon for a simple reason: you choose the pace. If one of you wants to sit in the shade for an hour, nobody else on board minds. If the bites stop and you would rather head back, or stop for a swim, you can ask. On a shared boat with strangers that is not your call.
When you request the trip on Reelzy, say it is for two and ask the captain to confirm the trip is private. Some boats list a fixed number of seats; others take the whole booking as one group. The message thread on the listing is the place to settle it before you pay.
Lagoon or deep sea: pick for the less keen angler
Mauritius gives you two very different days on the water, and the choice decides whether both of you come back smiling.
The lagoon. The reef around the island holds calm, shallow water inside it. On the south east coast near Mahebourg sits the largest lagoon on the island. The small game trip from Mahebourg fishes it with light tackle: casting, light trolling and bottom fishing, with gear and drinks included. The water is flatter, the boat stays close to the coast, and the fish are smaller but frequent. For a partner who has never fished, or who gets seasick, this is the safer choice.
Offshore. Beyond the reef the bottom drops away fast, and the boats troll for marlin, tuna, dorado and wahoo. This is the big game fishing Mauritius is known for, and it can mean a fish that takes half an hour to bring in. It also means open sea swell. If one of you is keen and the other is not, a half day offshore is usually the most the less keen person wants. Our guide to seasickness on a fishing trip in Mauritius covers how to prepare.
A middle way: several crews mix both. Fishing on Ivan lists bottom fishing, trolling, drift fishing, jigging and popping, and its trips run from four to nine hours, so you can ask for a shorter trip that starts nearshore and goes out only if the sea is kind.
What to ask if only one of you fishes
Most honeymoon trips have one angler and one passenger. A few questions to the captain make the day work for the passenger too:
- Is there a toilet on board? On a small open boat there often is not. Fishing on Ivan lists a toilet, an ice box and a fighting chair. On a four or five hour trip this question matters more than any other for many couples.
- Is there shade? A morning on the water near the tropics burns faster than you expect. Ask whether the boat has a canopy or a T-top, and bring sun cover anyway.
- Can we stop for a swim or snorkel? Last Cast offers snorkeling, dolphin watching and island picnics as add-ons, which turns a fishing trip into a day out for both of you.
- Can the passenger try a rod? Most crews are happy to hand a rod to a beginner when a fish is on. Say so in advance so the mate knows.
- What happens to the fish? On Fishing on Ivan you share the catch with the crew. Policies differ between boats, so ask first. Our guide on who keeps the fish on a Mauritius charter explains the local custom.
Morning, full day or sunset
Morning is the default. Many boats leave early and are back by midday. Baywatch at Trou-aux-Biches starts at 6 in the morning and returns around noon. Early mornings are usually calmer and cooler, and you still have the afternoon for the beach or the spa.
Sunset trips suit couples who want the view as much as the fishing. Last Cast lists sunset trips alongside half and full days. Fishing time is shorter, so think of it as a scenic outing with lines in the water.
A full day is for the keen angler. It gives time to reach the deeper grounds and work them properly. For a honeymoon, a full day is a lot to ask of a partner who does not fish, unless you add a beach or island stop.
Catch and cook: the honeymoon dinner
One option couples like is cooking what you catch. Last Cast offers catch and cook or a barbecue on an island on request. If you would rather eat at your hotel, ask the restaurant before the trip whether it will cook a fish you bring in. Either way, settle with the captain how much of the catch you will take: by local custom the catch belongs to the boat, and most crews give guests a fish or a share for dinner, filleted on the way in.
Where to sail from
Most couples stay on the north or west coast, and the boats follow. Trou-aux-Biches has the most boats on Reelzy, with seven crews on the beach, and suits hotels from Mont Choisy to Pointe aux Piments. Grand Baie is close to the north coast resorts and Cap Malheureux. If you are staying in the south east near the airport, Blue Bay or Mahebourg, the lagoon trips from Mahebourg save you a long transfer.
When to go
Big game fishing in Mauritius peaks from October to April, the warm months, when marlin, dorado and wahoo are offshore. That is also when most honeymooners arrive. The cooler months from June to August bring stronger trade winds and rougher water outside the reef, which makes the lagoon the better bet for a couple. Our guide to fishing seasons in Mauritius goes month by month. Whatever the month, put the trip early in your stay, so a day lost to wind can move to another date.
Before you book
- Decide who the trip is for. If one of you does not fish, choose the lagoon or a half day offshore.
- Message the captain: two guests, private trip, honeymoon, and what the non-angler wants (swim, snorkel, photos, a turn on the rod).
- Ask about a toilet, shade and the departure time, and where to meet on the beach.
- Agree what happens to the catch, especially if you want to eat it.
- Book a few days ahead and keep a spare date in case the wind picks up.
Ready to go?
For a private trip built for two to four people with snorkel and picnic add-ons, look at Last Cast in Grand Baie. For a bigger boat with a toilet on board, Fishing on Ivan at Trou-aux-Biches. For a small crew run by two brothers, Pyramide. For a calm lagoon morning, the light tackle trip from Mahebourg. Or browse every boat on the Mauritius charters page.
Cover: "Beautiful sunrise" by TimOve, CC BY 2.0, edited (colour, retouching).
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