Most guides to Mauritius list deep sea fishing as a must, next to the catamaran cruise and the dolphins. That is marketing, not an answer. The honest answer: a deep sea trip in Mauritius is worth it if you enjoy a long morning on the open ocean for its own sake and treat a big fish as a possible bonus, not a promise. It is not worth it for someone who gets seasick easily, who wants a guaranteed catch, or who would rather be in the lagoon by ten. The deep water starts close to the reef here, so you spend your time fishing rather than travelling, and few holiday islands give you that.
This guide is for visitors deciding whether to give a day of their holiday to it, and if so, which kind of trip to book.
What you are actually paying for
A deep sea trip is not a fishing lesson in a calm bay. You cross the lagoon, go out through a pass in the reef and are soon in blue water, where the crew trolls lures behind the boat for pelagic fish: marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi mahi, bonito and, nearer the reef, trevally. Most of the day is spent moving slowly over the sea with the lines out, watching for birds and waiting for a reel to scream.
What you get for your day:
- Time on the open ocean with a crew who know where the fish have been this week.
- Heavy tackle and the chance of a big fish. On a boat with a fighting chair you can fight a marlin or a big tuna, which is something most anglers never do at home.
- A view of the island from outside the reef, with the mountains behind the coast, which you will not get from the beach.
- Local knowledge. A good captain will tell you about the season, the fish and the island in a way no tour operator does.
What you do not get is a guarantee. Nobody can promise a marlin on a given morning, and an honest captain will tell you so before you book.
Who it is worth it for
Anglers who have never fished blue water. If you fish at home from a pier or a small boat, a morning trolling off Mauritius is a different sport: bigger fish, heavier gear, a crew that rigs and clears the lines for you. Even a day with one wahoo or a few bonito is a real day of fishing.
People who love being at sea. If the idea of five hours on a boat with the island on the horizon sounds good with or without a fish, you will enjoy it. That attitude is the best predictor of a good day.
A group that wants a shared adventure. Two to six friends or family members on a private boat, taking turns on the rod, is the classic way to do it. The waiting is part of the fun when you are with your own people.
Someone who wants one big fight. Marlin season, roughly November to April, is when the chance of a real fight is highest. Our Mauritius fishing seasons guide sets out what is around in each month.
Who should think twice
Anyone prone to seasickness. Outside the reef there is ocean swell even on a calm day, and a small boat trolling slowly moves with it. Read our seasickness guide for Mauritius first: a bigger boat, an early start and the right tablets taken the night before make a big difference, but some people are simply happier in the lagoon.
Visitors who only want to see fish caught. If the point is a photo with a fish and you have no patience for waiting, a shorter trip closer in, with bottom fishing or jigging, gives more bites and less ocean.
Young children on a long day. Many boats welcome kids, but five hours or more of trolling is long for a small child. A morning trip and a boat with shade and a toilet suit a family better; see our guide to a fishing trip in Mauritius with kids.
Anyone expecting to take the catch home. Customs differ from boat to boat, and on many charters the crew keeps most of the fish. Our article on who keeps the fish explains the local practice, so you are not surprised on the jetty.
How to make it worth it
The same day can be great or flat depending on a few choices you make before you book.
Pick the right length
A short trip of three or four hours is a pleasant outing, but blue water fish need time to find. If you want a fair chance at a big fish, book a longer trip. If you mainly want a taste of it, a morning trip back by lunch is enough and leaves the afternoon for the beach.
Pick the right boat for your group
Two to four keen anglers fit a small fast boat. A family or a mixed group of five or more is better on a larger boat with a toilet and shade. Some examples from the north-west coast:
- Full Day Trip, Big Game Fishing from Grand Baie, for up to 5 anglers, with Tiagra reels and a custom wooden fighting chair. This is the trip for someone who wants to give big game fishing a real chance.
- Fishing on Ivan from Trou-aux-Biches: a 36 foot boat for up to 6 with a toilet, an ice box and a fighting chair, trips of 4 to 9 hours, food and drinks on board and children welcome. A good fit for families and mixed groups.
- Last Cast from Mont Choisy, for 2 to 4, with trolling, jigging and popping, and the option to add snorkelling, dolphin watching or a catch and cook barbecue. Good when half the group wants to fish and the other half wants a day at sea.
- Pyramide from Trou-aux-Biches, for up to 4 on a 26 foot boat with outriggers, a fighting chair and a live bait pump, nearshore or offshore. The listing states that guests and crew each keep one fish under 10 kg.
You can see every boat on the island, with its port, on the Mauritius charters page.
Go early and keep a spare day
Boats leave around dawn because the sea is usually calmest before the breeze builds; our piece on the best time of day for a fishing trip in Mauritius explains why. Book your trip early in your holiday, so that if the captain calls it off for weather there is still another morning free.
Choose the coast by the season
The north-west, around Grand Baie and Trou-aux-Biches, is sheltered from the south-east trade wind, which matters most in the southern winter, June to August. Our guide to fishing in Mauritius in winter covers that season in detail.
Questions to ask before you book
Send these through the listing before you pay:
- What are you catching at the moment, and what would you target for us?
- How long is the trip, and how much of it is spent fishing?
- Is the boat private for our group or shared?
- What is on board: shade, toilet, drinks, lunch?
- What happens to the fish we catch?
- What happens if the sea is too rough on our date?
A captain who answers clearly, and who tells you honestly what the chances are this week, is the one to book.
The bottom line
Deep sea fishing in Mauritius is worth it for the right person: someone who likes the sea, is patient, and books a trip long enough to give the fish a chance. It is a poor fit for someone who gets seasick, wants a sure catch or wants to keep the fish. If you are in the first group, pick a boat that fits your group, go early, keep a spare day, and ask the captain what is biting. Then enjoy the morning, whatever comes up on the line.
Cover: "Deep Sea Fishing Trip 2007 110" by sampitech, CC BY 2.0, edited (colour, retouching).
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