Trolling Fishing Charters in Mauritius

How a trolling trip works

Once the boat clears the lagoon and the reef, the crew sets out a spread of lures, some from the stern and some from outriggers, the long poles that hold lines wide of the wake so they do not tangle. The boat then works the edge where the shallow reef shelf falls away into deep blue water, where the pelagic fish hunt. Nobody holds a rod while you troll. When a fish takes a lure the reel screams, the captain slows or turns the boat, and one angler takes the rod, either standing up with a harness or from a fighting chair.

It is the right choice when you want a chance at a big fish and do not mind waiting for it. If you would rather keep casting or feel every bite, look at popping or jigging instead, which several of the same crews switch to when the offshore bite is quiet.

What you can catch

Trolling covers the open water species of Mauritius. Blue marlin is the fish most people come for, with the best months from November to February. Dorado and sailfish peak in the same summer window, yellowfin tuna run from October to May, and wahoo are at their best from June to September, so the winter months still give a fast fish to troll for. Skipjack and bonito often fill the gaps between bigger strikes.

Boats that troll from the north and west coast

• Pyramide in Trou-aux-Biches is rigged for it: outriggers, a center rigger, a fighting chair, a live bait pump and an ice box on a restored 26 foot boat with twin engines. Skipper Mike Seblin and his brother Hansley target marlin, tuna, spearfish, wahoo and bluefin trevally, include gear and licences, and you and the crew each keep one fish under 10 kilograms. Children are welcome.
• Full Day Trip, Big Game Fishing in Grand Baie fishes Tiagra 30 and 50 reels on medium tackle. You choose whether to fight the fish stand up or from the boat's custom made fighting chair.
• Flying Kiss leaves Pointe aux Piments at 5:30 in the morning and is back by noon, chasing dorado, tuna and marlin, and takes larger groups than most boats here.
• La Rochelle Fishing Charters in Trou-aux-Biches is run by a crew that has fished the French big game championship, and Baywatch runs a morning trip from the same village, out at 6 and back around midday.

The full list of boats that offer trolling is below. For the ports themselves, see the Trou-aux-Biches and Grand Baie pages.

Half day or full day

Most trolling trips here are morning trips: out at first light, when the fish feed and the sea is calmer, and back around midday. A morning is enough for dorado, tuna and wahoo. A full day gives more hours over the drop-off, which matters most when you are set on a marlin, because the strikes are few and can come at any hour. In June to August the south east trade winds are stronger and more days are lost to rough seas, so keep a spare day in your plans then.

What to ask before you book

• Which fish are we trolling for on my dates? The captain knows what has been showing that week and will set the spread for it.
• Chair or stand up? Ask whether the boat has a fighting chair if you would rather sit for a long fight.
• Who keeps the fish? Each boat has its own rule. Our guide on who keeps the fish explains the usual arrangements.
• What happens if the weather turns? Ask how a cancelled or shortened trip is handled before you pay.