Blue Marlin Fishing Charters in Mauritius

How a marlin day works here

Mauritius is ringed by a coral reef, and beyond it the bottom falls away fast into the open Indian Ocean. That is why blue marlin can be targeted on a morning trip: the boats clear the reef pass and are fishing deep water within minutes. Most of the day is trolling lures, or live bait when the crew finds it, along drop offs and wherever birds and bait show. The same spread catches dorado, yellowfin tuna and wahoo, so a day without a marlin is rarely a day without fish.

Be ready for the pace of it. Marlin fishing is hours of watching the lures for one or two bites, and the crew handles the rods until a fish is on. When one is, you take the rod in a fighting chair or stand up with a harness, and the fight can last a long time.

Which boat for blue marlin

Most of the island's marlin boats work the sheltered north-west coast, with the biggest group in Trou-aux-Biches. A few that say something specific about how they fish:

• Full Day Trip, Big Game Fishing from Grand Baie runs nine hours on Tiagra 30 and 50 reels, with a custom made fighting chair or stand up fishing if you prefer, and catch and release welcome.
• Big Game Fishing in Rivière Noire, on the west coast, goes out with two specialist skippers who help or teach the method, and targets blue and black marlin, sailfish and big tuna.
• Fishing on Ivan in Trou-aux-Biches is a 36 foot boat with a fighting chair and a toilet, and shapes trips of 4 to 9 hours around what you ask for.
• La Rochelle in Trou-aux-Biches has a crew that has fished the French big game championship.
• Pyramide, skippered by Mike Seblin and his brother Hansley, is a restored 26 foot Pro 2000 with twin engines for a quick run to the grounds, with pickup and drop off included.
• Flying Kiss in Pointe aux Piments leaves at 5:30 and is back around midday, with a toilet and a shower on board for bigger groups.

When to come

Blue marlin are a warm season fish in Mauritius. The best months are roughly November to February, the action can carry on into March and April, and from about May to September, the cooler months, they are rarely the target. Black marlin follow a similar calendar, a little later. Morning trips are the norm because the sea is calmest before the trade wind builds; our guide to the best time of day for a fishing trip in Mauritius explains why, and the month by month table for every species is in the Mauritius fishing seasons guide.

What to ask before you book

• Release or keep? On many Mauritius boats the catch stays with the crew. If you want a marlin released, say so before you book and ask whether the crew tags or photographs fish in the water. Our guide on who keeps the fish on a Mauritius charter explains the usual arrangements.
• Half day or full day? More hours on the troll means more chances at a bite. A half day suits a first try; for a serious marlin attempt, book the longest trip you can.
• Chair or stand up? Ask what the boat uses, especially if anyone in the group wants to fight the fish themselves.
• Prone to seasickness? Offshore water moves more than the lagoon. Read our seasickness guide before a long day out.