Fall, 2009

The Original Online Magazine Dedicated Exclusively to the International Angler

Consisting of 2,000 tiny coral islands stretching 800 km through the Indian Ocean just south of India/Sri Lanka, none more than two meters above sea level yet surrounded by very deep water, the Maldives are rich in gamefish of many varieties.

Water temperatures never fall below 28 C, so marlin and sailfish occur year round. Maldives is particularly rich in wahoo and several members of the tuna family; big yellowfin are most plentiful early in the year.

But if gamefishing is your wish, choose your resort island carefully. There are only a handful of good boats in the Maldives, and distances between the islands make it difficult for boats based at one resort to collect clients from another.

A relaxed Islamic society with a total population of 200,000, Maldives offers 70 islands devoted solely to resorts. Virtually unknown to the outside world before the development of an international airport in the seventies, Maldives is now recognized as one of the world's foremost Scuba diving destinations.

BANDOS ISLAND

MALDIVES

Bandos Island is located in north Male' Atoll, only six km from the airport (15 min ride by speedboat). Bandos is an up-market resort with luxury accommodation and a selection of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. They have a sports complex with well equipped gym, sauna and steam room, aerobics room, billiards, squash, indoor badminton, tennis and an outdoor fresh water swimming pool. The island is popular for big game fishing and scuba diving, and has a fully equipped dive center. They offer snorkeling safaris to surrounding islands and regular island hopping excursions. Also available are windsurfing, water skiing, cat sailing, parasailing.

All rooms are air conditioned with fresh hot & cold water, IDD telephone, minibar and patio facing the beach. The suites have a separate living area, with en-suite bathroom with full size bath. Bandos also has Conference facilities, with a fully equipped business center, to cater for conferences of up to 450 persons.

COSTS

Seven night packages start at R4,990 pps, depending on departure date.

Price includes return flights on SAA, boat transfer to island, shared accommodation with breakfasts and dinners daily and a CNS shirt. Bar bill, lunches, SA and Maldives dep tax are excluded.

The SAA flights depart Jhb close to midnight on Friday evening, arriving at Male' airport shortly after noon on Saturday. (Maldives are 3 hrs ahead of SA time). The return flight departs Male' on Sat. afternoon and arrives back in Jhb Sat. evening.

FISHING AT BANDOS

Fishing is from an 11 meter Australian sportfisher with twin 200hp Volvo Penta engines. All fishing tackle is provided. Prowler carries a range of Shimano and Penn International tackle from 20lb to 80lb. Prowler is skippered and owned by William Morall, a former Kenyan and will take 4 anglers and a couple of non-anglers.

An eight hour day starting at 0600 and ending at 1400 is $735 for the boat including cold drinks and a meal. Half day hires (5 hrs) are also possible. Pre-booking of boats is essential and is done and paid for through World Angler. Should you wish to extend your fishing day once on the island, this can be done at approx. $75 per hour and this additional cost is to be settled directly with William.

Price are subject to change without notice. $ Currency Exchange $

E-Mail us about this destination: info@worldangler.com