Fall, 2009

The Original Online Magazine Dedicated Exclusively to the International Angler

 The "biggest little island in the world," Mauritius is only some 60 km long by 40 km wide, yet it is home to 1.2 million people, mostly of Asian descent, whose constant refrain is: "No problem!" And they mean it. In Mauritius, there really is no problem.

The interior of Mauritius is a combination of high peaks, sugar cane fields, small but busy towns. This entire Green Island is surrounded by lovely beaches protected by a coral reef, and boasts many excellent resorts.

Fishing is primarily from Grand Bay in the North, and Black River in the South, where the continental drop-off to very deep water is only a few minutes from shore.

Though Mauritius holds the world dogtooth tuna record, and also has good runs of large dorado and yellowfin tuna, particularly in March/April, the island is best known for its exceptional blue marlin, several fish in excess of 1, 000 lb. being taken every year between September and March.

The largest Mauritian blue marlin is 1, 450lb; black marlin are also present, but seldom exceed 500 lb.

MAURITIAN MARLIN

Costs of the package can be affected by the fluctuating Rand, but it's still excellent value at R6,296 for anglers (with four days fishing on the famous Flipper boats, in teams of four), and R4,080 for non-anglers. That also covers functions, nightly entertainment, entry into an informal tournament with many prizes, and the prize giving dinner.

The Black River/Le Morne area, on the southwestern tip of Mauritius, is the main marlin area because the continental drop-off is very close to shore. But it's also the least developed part of the island, which isn't so good for those who want to be where the nightlife, prime beaches, shops and restaurants are.

The northwest tip of the island around GRAND BAIE is more developed, with many activities to keep families occupied. Here the shallows extend further out before dropping off the continental shelf, making for a greater variety of general gamefish than one finds in the south -- though Grand Baie also produces its share of big marlin.

We have a wide range of hotel and self-catering accommodation around Grand Baie, where our fishing clients are looked after by the SPORTFISHER operation of Benoit d'Unienville and his South African wife, Karen. One of the island's most experienced anglers, Benoit not only built his own fleet of seven identical 13 metre boats, but also many of the other gamefishing boats on the island.

Mauritius remains South Africa's top holiday destination, and after several years in the doldrums the tiny island's world-renowned marlin fishery is staging a major comeback.

REWARDING RODRIGUES

Mauritius may be small, but it's big compared to 18 x 8 km RODRIGUES, which is a part of Mauritius but lies 560 km further east. With a population of just 35,000, Rodrigues is only now experiencing its first wave of tourism. Requiring an additional Air Mauritius flight from the main island to get there, Rodrigues is inevitably more costly than Mauritius.

The reward of Rodrigues is that it remains a sleepy Indian Ocean island with none of the bustle of Mauritius and only one-40th of the population. We recommend either the new COTTON BAY HOTEL or the MAROUK EBONY, which has possibly the best view on the island.

There is one deep-sea fishing operation, with two boats of 10 and 11 metres, priced at R3 000 each for a nine hour fishing day. The inshore reefs are virtually unexploited and should offer fantastic flyfishing -- but I've yet to find anybody on Rogrigues who understands what "flyfishing" means. I have, however, been assured that providing a small craft suitable for inshore fishing would be "no problem."

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