If your captain cancels a Mauritius fishing trip because the wind or swell makes it unsafe, you get back everything you paid online, or you move the trip to another day at no extra cost. The captain makes the call, usually the evening before or at the jetty in the morning, and the choice between refund and new date is yours. The one thing to avoid: if the captain asks you to cancel because of the weather, do not press the cancel button yourself. Tell Reelzy support first, so your deposit is protected.
The short answer
On Reelzy, a weather cancellation is not a guest cancellation. The cancellation policy on the listing (Flexible, Moderate or Strict) only applies when you change your mind. When the captain calls the trip off for safety, none of those deadlines apply and you are refunded in full or rebooked, as set out in our cancellation policies.
That is the rule. The rest of this guide is about how it plays out on a real windy morning in Mauritius, and how to plan your holiday so a lost day does not mean a lost trip.
Who decides, and when
The captain decides. Nobody else knows the boat, the pass through the reef and the sea outside it as well, and on Reelzy the weather call is at the captain’s discretion. You will not be asked to go out in conditions the crew is not happy with, and you should not try to talk them into it.
In practice there are two moments when the call is made:
- The evening before. Most captains watch the forecast and the wind on the afternoon before a trip. If it looks bad, they message you in the Reelzy chat to say the trip is off, or to suggest a different plan.
- At the jetty. Sometimes the forecast is borderline and the captain wants to see the sea at first light. Be ready at the agreed time; you may be told to wait half an hour, or that the trip will stay inside the lagoon.
This is why a message the evening before is worth sending even when the weather looks fine. Ask what the wind will do, whether the offshore run is still on and what time to be at the boat.
What actually stops boats in Mauritius
Three things cancel or change fishing trips here.
The south-east trade wind. It blows most of the year and hardest in the southern winter, roughly June to September. It hits the east and south-east coasts head on and is broken by the island on the north-west and west. A breezy day can mean a rough ride outside the reef from Mahebourg while boats from Trou-aux-Biches still go. Our guide to fishing in Mauritius in winter explains which coast stays calm.
Swell beyond the reef. The lagoon can be flat while the sea outside is not. When the Mauritius Meteorological Services warn that the sea is rough beyond the reefs, the offshore part of a trip is often the first thing to go.
Cyclones. The cyclone season runs from about November to mid-May. When the Mauritius Meteorological Services issue a cyclone warning, the public is advised not to go to sea, and boats are secured or taken out of the water. Most weeks of the summer have no cyclone at all, but if one is near, expect every boat on the island to stay in for a few days.
The afternoon. Even on good days the wind builds from late morning. That is why many captains prefer an early start, such as Flying Kiss in Pointe aux Piments, which leaves at 5:30 and is back at noon. An afternoon trip is more likely to be shortened or moved. Our piece on the best time of day for a fishing trip in Mauritius goes into the reasons.
Refund or reschedule: what you get
| What happened | What you get |
|---|---|
| The captain cancels because conditions are unsafe | A full refund of everything paid online, or a new date at no extra cost |
| The captain cancels for any other reason | A full refund of everything paid online |
| The captain asks you to cancel because of the weather | Tell Reelzy support in the chat within 24 hours instead of cancelling, so your deposit is protected |
| You decide to cancel yourself (weather looks fine to the captain) | The listing’s own policy applies: Flexible, Moderate or Strict |
| Delivery fees (for example equipment drop-off) | Always refunded if the trip does not go ahead |
The last two rows are the ones guests get wrong. If the captain is happy to go and you would rather not, that is your cancellation, and the deadline on the listing counts. If you are nervous about the sea, say so the evening before; a good captain will often offer the lagoon or a shorter trip rather than a cancellation.
A plan B on the water
A cancellation is not the only option. Many Mauritius boats can switch to sheltered water when the offshore run is off:
- From the south-east, the Small Game Fishing trip in Mahebourg fishes inside the island’s biggest lagoon with light tackle, which usually stays fishable when the sea outside is rough. The GT popping trip from the same base says plainly that offshore fishing is subject to the weather.
- From the north-west, Fishing on Ivan runs trips of 4 to 9 hours for up to 6 anglers and lists its targets as depending on the time of year and the weather, so the captain can shape the day around the conditions.
If you would rather wait for the big game day you came for, take the new date instead. Both choices are fine; just tell the captain which one you want.
How to plan so weather cannot ruin the trip
- Book the trip early in your holiday. If you fish on day two of ten, a cancelled morning can move to day four or day six. If you book the last morning before your flight, there is nowhere to move it.
- Keep one spare morning free. Do not fill every day with tours. A free morning is what makes rescheduling painless.
- Pick a sheltered base in the windy months. From June to September, Trou-aux-Biches, with seven boats on Reelzy, and the rest of the north-west coast are the calmest place to start from.
- Read the cancellation policy before you book. It shows on every listing. On Reelzy’s Mauritius boats today you will find all three: Flexible (full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead), Moderate (full refund 5 days or more ahead) and Strict (half refunded 7 days or more ahead). It matters only if you cancel, but it still tells you how much freedom you have if your plans change.
- Keep everything in the Reelzy chat. Weather messages, agreed new dates and the captain’s request to cancel are your record if anything needs sorting out.
On the morning itself
- Check the chat before you leave the hotel. A late change is sent there.
- If you arrive and the captain says no, ask whether they are cancelling or suggesting you cancel. If it is the second, write to Reelzy support in the chat straight away.
- If the trip goes out but is cut short because the weather turns, talk to the captain on the day and tell Reelzy support within 24 hours of the trip start if you are not happy with how it was handled. Reelzy mediates between guest and captain.
- If anyone in your group is prone to seasickness and the captain says it will be lumpy, our guide to seasickness on a Mauritius fishing trip is worth five minutes.
Questions to ask before you book
- What wind or swell would make you cancel or stay in the lagoon?
- When will you tell me: the evening before, or at the jetty?
- If the offshore run is off, what is the plan B?
- How far ahead can we move the trip if the weather is bad?
A captain who answers these clearly is a captain who will look after you on a windy morning. You can ask all four through the chat on any listing before you book.
Ready to plan your trip?
Look at the boats on the sheltered side first: fishing charters in Trou-aux-Biches and across Mauritius. If you are staying in the south-east, the Mahebourg charters and their lagoon trips are the safe bet in the windy months. Book early in your stay, keep a spare morning, and let the captain make the weather call.
FAQ
Do I get my money back if my fishing trip in Mauritius is cancelled for bad weather? Yes. If the captain cancels because conditions are unsafe, you get a full refund of everything paid online, or you can move the trip to a new date at no extra cost.
Who decides if the weather is too bad to go fishing? The captain. The decision is at the captain’s discretion, usually the evening before or at the jetty in the morning.
What if the captain asks me to cancel because of the weather? Do not cancel the booking yourself. Tell Reelzy support in the chat within 24 hours, so your deposit is protected.
Which months are windiest for fishing in Mauritius? The south-east trade wind is strongest in the southern winter, roughly June to September. The cyclone season runs from about November to mid-May, but most summer weeks have no cyclone.
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