Fishing Charters in Grand Baie

Fishing from Grand Baie

Grand Baie is a wide, sheltered bay on the north coast of Mauritius and the liveliest town on that side of the island. Most visitors staying in the north are within a short drive of it, which makes it the easiest place up there to meet a boat. The lagoon inside the reef is calm, and once a boat clears the pass the ground drops away towards deep water and the small islands off the northern tip.

Both boats listed here are small sportfishing boats run as private charters, so the whole boat is yours and the groups stay small:

• Last Cast is a Baymaster 215 run by Captain Belon and his first mate Pravin, for two to four anglers. It offers half day, full day and sunset trips, and can add snorkelling, dolphin watching, an island picnic or a catch and cook barbecue on request. Trolling, jigging and popping gear is on board.
• The Wan runs a nine hour full day for up to five, with Shimano Tiagra 30 and 50 reels and a custom fighting chair, or stand up fishing if you prefer. Children are welcome, and the crew speaks French and English.

What you can catch

Between them the two boats target dorado, yellowfin, skipjack and dogtooth tuna, blue and black marlin, amberjack, great barracuda, trevally, grouper and green jobfish. Offshore the day is mostly trolling for the pelagics; over the banks and rough ground the crews switch to jigging, live bait or bottom fishing for amberjack, grouper and jobfish.

As on the rest of the island, marlin and dorado are at their best in the warm months, roughly November to March, and wahoo in the cooler months. The month by month table is on the Mauritius charters page, and the reasoning is in our Mauritius fishing seasons guide.

Before you book

• Small boats, small groups. Four or five is the limit here. A bigger group, or one that wants more deck space, has more choice at Trou aux Biches, a short drive down the west coast.
• Ask about the catch. Both boats list the crew as keeping the catch, which is common on the island. If you want a fish for dinner, agree it before you leave the dock; the usual arrangements are in who keeps the fish on a Mauritius charter.
• Mixing fishing with the islands. If half the group would rather swim, Last Cast can build a day around snorkelling and a picnic as well as fishing. Say so when you book.
• Pack for the sun. Tackle and bait are on the boat. Sun cover, water and a seasickness tablet are on you: see what to bring on a fishing charter in Mauritius.