Mauritius

[PanamaJack]

I wondered whether anyone had been to Mauritius recently?

Just had a report back from one on our German Club members who was complaining about long lining activity in the area. On one day there were ELEVEN commercial boats working in the area they were fishing. Needless to say they had a pretty poor trip a few small Marlin - the best would have struggled to make 200lbs - and a 95lb Yellowfin.

Would certainly appreciate any feedback.
Dave

[sumo]

I was in Mauritius over christmas, can't say i saw any commercial activity (but I only went out once in the 4 weeks i was out there!) I go to mauritius every couple of years (my dad's mauritian) and over the last decade the general size of marlin seems have dropped dramatically. Its only recently that many of the sportsfishing operators have started catch and release. I did do a lot of fishing for giant trevally though and these fish are thriving around the coast! really good fun using large surface poppers and there's some big ones too. Lost about 5 fish in the 40-50kg bracket in one session!

[PanamaJack]

Hi Sumo
I believe the long liners were working to the North West of the island. But I also had another report, from a Club member, just last week, of nothing. He did though say that, the week before they were there the fleet had had 26.

You're absolutely right to identify that the 'Catch & Release' philosophy has taken 'a long time coming' to some of the skippers. I'm aware of all the arguments about the fish being eaten and it supplementing the crews' income. But, from the operators' perspective, it's very short sighted.

Sure tourists are always happy to, and want to pose alongside a big fish. However killing Marlin indiscriminately has a real effect on genuine game anglers and acts as a deterrent. I know that German member I mentioned has had some great fish over the years fishing Mauritius, including one 'grander' Marlin. But he's certainly re-thinking plans for next year.

I was fascinated to hear about you targeting the Giant Trevallies though - great fish on casting and spin gear, and great surface strikes. Were you fishing from a boat? It's just that I'm aware there's a guide, on the south of the island, who targets them from the shore.
Dave

[sumo]

Sounds like your talking about dominque thevneau, he was the guy we went out with when hooked several of the big trevallys. On the afternoon we fished with him he took us out in a boat to various "breaks" in the reef where there was enough depth for the fish to ambush the lures from below. I do believe there are points on the reef where he will take more experienced anglers (after all this isn't everyday angling!!) where its possible to stand on the reef and cast. He's a superb guide and i'd recommend him to anybody (although if your not in the best shape like myself you should spend some time in the gym beforehand!). It took a while to get used to casting big lures with a big beach caster from a boat i can tell you!
I'll see if i can post a photo to show you the sort of tackle we were using. I also fished for the gt's at the north of the island where my parents house is but this was further offshore with livebaits. There seem to be more flying fish up north and now and then you'd see big gt's come up and take them mid-flight!

[PanamaJack]

Hi Sumo
That's the guide I've similarly heard good things about. Thanks for your recommendation.

For anyone else wanting to give that style of fishing a try this is Dominique's web site - http://www.fishingandhuntingsafaris.com/. And for anyone who's not really certain of what a Giant Trevally looks like here's one from the neighbouring island of Rodriques. It's the second image, the first is a Dog tooth Tuna. The url's - http://www.caranx.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2302.
Dave

[sumo]

I've attached a photo of the gear dom uses, might have to zoom in a bit as i had to reduce the size of the photo.

[PanamaJack]

Many Thanks. Those GTs REALLY do PULL! Do have any images of the type of poppers you were using? Or perhaps can you remember their manufacturer?

[sumo]

I don't have any images of the poppers we used, they were certainly the same size as the one in this picture though. White ones bought all the succes on the afternoon too.I vaguely remember seeing some yo-zuri's in dom's tackle box though, i can't remember seeing plug type lures of this size before.

http://www.hotbite.com.au/images/library/Fishing_Reports/Ryans-GT-report.gif

[PanamaJack]

Hi Sumo
I'm fairly certain it's a Yo-Zuri 'Surface Bull GT'. If it is they weigh 3 1/2oz and create loads of surface disturbance.
Dave

[nypy]

I am plannig a trip to mauritius next february or mars, does anyone have good tips ? or contacts?
I'll like try big game fishing few days there (first time) exept norway, planning to be there 2 weeks , from 28.2 or 7.3

[PanamaJack]

I am plannig a trip to mauritius next february or mars, does anyone have good tips ? or contacts?
I'll like try big game fishing few days there (first time) exept norway, planning to be there 2 weeks , from 28.2 or 7.3

Hi Nypy
Apart from the obvious – not having to fish in foul weather gear – you’ll find most of the fish will fight much harder than those you catch (with the possible exclusion of Coalfish and the Sea Trout) in Finland or Norway. They’ll run long distances and some - especially Marlin, Sailfish, Mako Sharks and Dorado – will jump.

First serious point though. In Mauritius you’ll reasonably close to the Equator so the sun will be very high in the sky and reflects off the water. It’s very easy to get sun burned especially during the middle of the day. So ensure that you use high factor sun creams and on areas like lips, ear lobes, nose and under your eyes – areas that are particularly sensitive sun block (say factor 40). It’s also worth being very careful of areas like upper arms, the backs of your neck and knees and front of your ankles. In fact some people, me amongst them, wear specialised trousers and long sleeved shirts to off extra protection from the sun – stuff like Tarponwear.

Staying with that point though, it’s worth as well wearing a peaked cap and good quality polarising sun glasses. As well as protecting your eyes the polarising lenses will help you in spotting fish sub surface.

As well try drinking lots of water. You can dehydrate very quickly in that strong sun.

I really can help you in terms of suggestions as to boats – I’ve never personally fished there. Perhaps someone else could comment? But boats appear to be reasonably priced ranging from say 300 to 600 euros – and the 600 would be for a near 18 metre boat. And most would be in harbours close to the major tourist areas in the south-west of the island.

There is a specialist Mauritian forum on this url - http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g293816-i9265-Mauritius.html. It might be worth registering and asking for recommendations on that site?


All of the boats will have specialised game tackle on board for Marlin, Tuna and Sharks – 80 and 130lb class tackle. They’ll also have 50lb class tackle that they use for the smaller gamefish species Sailfish (some of these will be over 100lbs in weight), Dorado and Wahoo. They’ll also use that to catch the livebaits – Skipjack Tuna that can exceed 30lbs in weight! (The preferred bait size though would be fish in the 5 to 10lb range.)

However by all means take some of your lighter tackle with you. You could have fun with say a heavy (short) spin rod and a fly rod – 10 to 12 weight. Bottom fishing from a boat though, other than around near shore reefs, is effectively out – the island’s volcanic and depths plummet very quickly. (That said you may want to consider fishing inshore with Dominique for the Giant Trevally. It would be worth contacting him direct, through his web site - http://www.fishingandhuntingsafaris.com/index.asp - for tackle suggestions.)

Finally late February/early March should be prime time for Blue Marlin and Yellowfin Tuna.

If you have any further, specific questions though Nypy please post again. And last point make sure that you post a report with pictures once you’re back.

Enjoy the Christmas/New Year break.
Dave

[marktheshark]

Hullo nypy
I went to Mauritius in 2004, in March, and it proved to be a huge disappointment. Not the fishing itself, although that wasn't great, but the overall experience. IMHO, if you're going out on a boat I would get someone who's fished out there recently, and successfully, to recommend a good skipper and try to book him. I took three charters there, including one of the Moana boats out of the world-famous Riviere Noire fishing club ... and caught precisely nothing.
What was most frustrating was that there were clearly fish there; the first charter was off the southeast of the island, beyond Le Morne, where the sea was literally alive with baitfish, porpoise and tuna. Our skipper was hopeless and we spent the afternoon dragging around Rapalas and scaring everything. I later met some English guys who'd booked a skipper from the beach in front of Les Pavillions hotel who'd known what to do: he'd used small Eddystone-type sandeels with weights on, and he'd let them sink in front of the shoals, then speed the boat up. The tuna hit the lures on the up; they took yellowfin to 40lb and were broken by far bigger fish.
The marlin charter (very expensive) on the Moana boat came up with one dorado, which the crew made a complete bollix of gaffing, thereby making it the first instance of catch-and-release known in the island; and an inshore trip over the reefs produced nothing too. The closest I got to a Mauritian marlin was at the wet-fish counter of Sainsburys before I left, which probably explains why the fishing there is so poor these days. On the day from Riviere Noire the other boats caught only dorado, small tuna and a solitary spearfish of about 25lb. The skipper told me they get marlin about one day in three during peak season ... that's a fleet of more than 20 boats working daily.
I fished from the shore a lot too, both on the west and east coasts. So does everyone else; I snorkel a lot and the pressure on the fishery really shows from the lack of any large predatory fish inshore, and the shyness of the smaller ones. If you catch small rougets (red mullet) for livebaits, you can catch trevallies to about 5lb, and there is a grey snapper called, I think, berri, that grows to about 3lb that fights hard on light tackle. In some of the rocky pools on the east coast, and where hotels have got sunbathing pontoons, it's possible to fly-fish for those two, plus needlefish and sennet, but it was pretty hard work for not many small fish, all trevallies. Evening was best. I had no luck spinning. At Le Morne the inshore water inside the reef goes quite deep, but the further north you go, towards Wolmar, the shallower and more populated it becomes, and therefore the less likely you will be to find decent fish from the shore.
To summarise, there are fish there; it's just hard work finding them and you'll save yourself time and trouble by getting as much personal advice from people in the know before you go. I'm sure that I only scratched the surface; the more you find out before, the better your fishing will be!
All the best
Mark

[nypy]

thank's Dave and Mark very much

i've booked a trip now, and try my best.
marks report worries me little, hopely i'll find a good skipper there.
i am living in northwest side of island, i've registered 2 forums now, but it looks hard to find there a good skipper, there is more experts for weddings, so if it looks empty, i'll try to find something from nightclubs : )

still taking any information from mauritius

[marktheshark]

Crickey mate, I didn't mean to ruin your trip before you've set off! As I said, the fish were there - it was just a matter of meeting the right skippers. One thing I didn't say was that I did a lot of beach fishing there and it was a truly beautiful, spectacular place to fish, regardless of what was around. Go with an open mind and enjoy whatever comes.
Mark

[nypy]

Crickey mate, I didn't mean to ruin your trip before you've set off! As I said, the fish were there - it was just a matter of meeting the right skippers. One thing I didn't say was that I did a lot of beach fishing there and it was a truly beautiful, spectacular place to fish, regardless of what was around. Go with an open mind and enjoy whatever comes.
Mark


don't worry Mark, it's good to know both sides of fishing there, it's bad if you are expecting too much:)
and this is not first time fishing (only in mauritius) so i know, that you can't go anywhere all time and just take big fishes, and ofcourse, i'll like nightclubs too:)
but seriously, i'll try hard and joy the country

[KIM 31]

Hi Nypy
We were married at the Les Pavillons Hotel and had three weeks honeymoon there.
It was fanatastic place and the fishing was even better.
If you contact the hotel and ask them for "Dans" phone number, he is the local fisherman I think that Mark referred to.
I had 6 trips fishing with him and every one was great fun.
If you do contact him ask him to take you kingfish fishing they are not huge, about 4-5 lbs but fight like demons.
THe other good thing about Dan he likes to start fishing early ,most mornings he picked me up at 5am , so I was back just after lunch which kept the wife happy.
Hope this helps and have a great trip.
Kim

[marktheshark]

Hi Fat *******
You're right about Les Pavillions ... very relaxed feel, a good hotel in a glorious setting. The (crap) skipper I booked was via the hotel; and skipper I should have booked operated off the beach (or that's where he was touting for business) just to the north of Les Pavs. I didn't get his name, but he was the one getting the tuna, and the (English) guys he took out told me it was on small rubber lures like sandeels.
They said he'd get the boat in front of the baitfish shoal and let the lures sink, then as the fish approached, put the boat in gear to make them shoot upwards; the tuna always hit on the rise, and even though the lures were 4-6 inches, there were 100lb-plus tuna hitting them. They lost a lot of the bigger fish - just too strong for their gear.
PS: you got in SIX fishing trips on honeymoon? Lucky, lucky man!
Mark

[nypy]

well, only 10 days to trip, i've booked 42 foot boat 5 days and plannig to try shore fishing 2 days more, hopely my girlfriend notice me after the trip : )
she promised to come at least one day with me and fish too, hopely she don't get bigger fishes than me........

[PanamaJack]

Hi Nypy
Hope you have a good one. As you're ware with fishing literally anything can and does happen and 3 weeks ago a German friend of mine caught a 1200lb plus Marlin fishing from Rodrigues. Now that's not a 'million miles' from Mauritius.
Every success.
Best wishes
Dave

[nypy]

hi all
thanks for all information, only week waiting at home : )
i've notice rodrigues, it's possible to fly there and spend day or 2 there for fishing, i've heard, that someone got there 200 lbs gt too, so it's under very seriously thinking.
have anyone tried rapala x-rap 30 mag or big jiggs (400g/25cm) for tuna or other fishes there on somewhere in warm waters?

nypy

[PanamaJack]

i've notice rodrigues, it's possible to fly there and spend day or 2 there for fishing, i've heard, that someone got there 200 lbs gt too, so it's under very seriously thinking.
have anyone tried rapala x-rap 30 mag or big jiggs (400g/25cm) for tuna or other fishes there on somewhere in warm waters?


Hi Nypy
This has the potential of turning into an expensive trip! I hope you have an understanding girlfriend.

There's a thread regarding Rodrigues on this thread - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51112.

And the links to the Caranx (the scientific genus for the Jack family) web site should help in terms of tackle selection. Certainly jigs work, especially for the Dogtooth Tuna, although they tend to use the slightly lighter Shimano butterfly lures, and work them faster than we would in our colder waters. In terms of the GTs big surface poppers are particularly effective.

Make sure you report back on how the fishing goes.
Every success.
Dave

[nypy]

hi Dave
i've read that topic, and tried to learn all about it.
i was registered in caranx, but there is some problems wiht my login, my sign isn't working anymore, don't know why.
i wrote to adminstration, but they didn't answer, haven't done anything wrong there.
how deep waters gt:s live?
i am planning to take very much photos and videos there (4 cameras) so i'll send report here too

thanks again Dave

[nypy]

and i have new girlfriend, now is going training period........... :)

[PanamaJack]

Um...I really can't explain why you're having difficulties logging on to the Caranx.net web site. There's a 'cookie' on my PC that 'remembers' my user name and password so I log in automatically.

This is the url of the thread in question for Mauritius that you were refering to - http://www.caranx.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2921. You should be able just to click on that. It would then be interesting to see whether the system displays your user name NYPY, or views you as a guest.

Just in case though you or others have difficulty accessing it here's the original post.


Overall situation
Mauritius can be fished all year long but the best weather/fishing conditions (wind, water temperature, etc.) can be had between October to April. Target species are the mighty Geant Trevally (up to 100 lbs and more!), blue spotted trevally, thazard, barracuda, yellow-fin tuna and many more.
Fishing can be done within the lagoons or outside the barrier reef on the many rocky outcrops and reef passes. Strong currents, great surf and many baitfishes ensure great fishing adventures.

Material
I brought my fly fishing arsenal with me (8 – 10 – 12 weight rods & reels), floating & intermediate fly lines plenty of backing and my usual set of flashy profiles, clousers, gurgler, etc. all tied on Owner Aki hooks (this is a must if you want to target GT).
Deciding to give 120g poppers a try, Dominique provided me with all the necessary casting rods and reels (Shimano Aspire XH & Saltiga 4500 with 80lbs braid as well as his mighty 4m rods with Penn 345 reels along his large range of lures all equipped with Owners hooks.

The fishing
Thanks to the new addition of a 2nd boat by Dominique, I was able to fish both the east end of the island and the beautiful west end of the Morne. Each area has a different character and always provides a good solution depending on the wind conditions. To my wife’s delight, they picked us up directly at the hotel’s beach, when she decided to join us.

We’ve had a bit of everything, slow days and high days. The highlights have been an incredible take on a popper followed by a 20’ fight where we lost a big fish (estimated a 80 to 100lbs) on the coral despite the bite-off of 360lbs…! 2 nice 10-15 pounders blue-spotted trevallies on a fly out of an incredible sandy island (called flamingo island, a 10 meters wide x 30 meters flat sand dune out in the sea), a 7kg yellow-fin tuna on popper and I lost a huge GT while passing my rod to a friend during the fight! Also we saw the largest GT I ever seen coming to the boat, Dominique estimated it at 200lbs! Smaller trevallies, barracudas, vacquas, etc. made up for the rest.

The fishing itself outside of the reef is not for the faint hearted. When the wind picks up, waves can be truly big (with incredible colors) and action is tough on the body. Fly-fishing along the reefs is a truly unique experience, being so close to the crashing waves, you will get wet and you need to stay cool when the trevally takes you in the backing!

Conclusion
Mauritius is a great destination to combine both great fishing while having a great vacation time with the kids. Additionally, prices are relatively cheap when compared to similar destinations. Dominique is working really hard to get you on good fish and his knowledge (15 years fishing in Mauritius) is as good as his fishing skills. Looking at the guest book, many big GT’s from 60 to 110lbs are caught on regular basis (2-3 per week). But if you truly want to catch these fish, you need to be in top shape. Fly fishing is simply incredible. Give it a try and come back with a smile! I’ll be back!


And then his response to your enquiry about the location of Flamingo Island.


Regarding flamingo sland, it is located on the south east of the island, won't be shown on a map, it's like a sand dune lost in the sea. Very, very nice location, you need a boat to get there. Ask Dominique (fishing and hunting safaris) and he'll bring you there.

Regarding hotels...well there is a wide range!!! It mostly depends on your budget, as always. I think it truly depends on what you want to do out there and when you're going:

East coast: during winter (nov-feb) this side is supposed to be nice but very touristy (never been there, a bit to expensive for my budget) and the wind ok. During our summer, prevailing easterly winds might ruin the fun.

South-east coast: I like the Preskyl as the best rooms are located right on the beach, looking at reviews the food is so-so (as many of the hotels anyway). I've stayed 2 nights at the Blue Lagoon hotel and hated it and will go again this summer at the Shandrani. Good location for fishing from the shore and excellent snorkeling at Blue Bay. The south east is great for reef fishing (did 4 days with Dominique and had a blast).

South coast: did go at the Telfair when they just opened 3 years ago and got great deals (no longer the case). Not much to do around and you need to taxi to go anywhere. Good for shore fishing thanks to the strong currents at the beach but this makes it dangerous for kids and harduous for swimming/snorkel.

West coast: best location during summer (june-sept) as you're out of the winds. I stayed there on a budget last time in Tamarin at the Tamarin Hotel, cheap, clean and good food, sea is not as good as around the Morne but: in the Morne area and most of the other west locations where hotels are next to each other you are facing a constant stream of speed boats and swimming is within designated area. But the lagoon around le morne for fly fishing /popping is stunning qua scenery and fishing is excellent. You need a boat to get to the right spots. Had my best memories ever when fly fishing with Dom.

Northern-West area: never been there, looking at the number of hotels / habitants, seems to crowded to me.....!

North area: looks great you're out of everything

Plenty of things to do and great fishing for the adventurous! I like it!!!


As to the Rodrigues thread on that forum - http://www.caranx.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2300 - it's absolutely huge, currently running to 7 pages! Lots of images. But as to your question most of the fishing is casting from the ocean side towards the reef - this was one observation on technique.


Popping: at the reef. Two days the fish was a little bit slow. The other day was very agressive, and landed many. Most remakable: GT around 80 lb. We missed more big fish, but we are happy. I even didn't lose a popper. I used a PE8 japanese braided line and a thick 200 lb leader with the unbeatable Midknot. All trebles were barbless and we even could recover one popper the day after.

They certainly use huge poppers for that very specialised style of fishing. And one of the images really demonstrates the need for 'through rigging' with wire. That said the one in question has just been completely ripped apart!

Looking forward to your report.

Have a GOOD one!
Dave

[nypy]

thanks again Dave
i can read them, but when i'll try to login, this text is coming:

¡Atención!
Debes tener una cuenta antes de poder identificarte.
Si no la tienes, puedes registrarte mediante el enlace "Registrarse" de la parte superior de la pantalla

¡He olvidado mi contraseña! Click Aquí!

don't know, what it is in english.......or finnish :)

and there is not my name there, i am only a visitor

this is second time it happend, both times i'd wrote to admin, but now i didn't get any answer.

[PanamaJack]

Hi Nypy
Resorting to the Babelfish translation software accessed through the altavista.com home page it seems to mean -


Attention! You must have an account before being able to post. If you do not, you can register by means of the connection "Be registered" at the top of the screen. If you have forgotten your password! Click Here!

I think somewhere you've got to log on.
Dave

[nypy]

hi Dave
thx for translation
i have a account there and activated it by e-mail.
i've tried several times to log in there, when open first time the site and when tried to write there, but allways same text.
clearly they don't want me there, because they don't answer my e-mail (2 )

well, it's not only forum in europe.....or world :)

[PanamaJack]

A German friend just sent me through a link - http://www.bluewaterfishing.eu/ - regarding his recent trip to Mauritius. The English report - most of the rest is in German - is a tad hidden! You need to click on the menu option - Reiseberichte - and then scroll down, close to the bottom of that list.

They had issues with the larger game boat they'd booked and some of the time they were going out in relatively small open boats powered by outboards. However they seemed to have some reasonable fish especially the Giant Trevally caught close inshore, at the south of the island.

What was disappointing to see though were their comments about 'anglers' taking in very small Marlin to have their photographs taken.

[nypy]

thx, great photos

[nypy]

hi all

thx for all information.

well, how i'll start, perhaps better say first, that i will go there again, why?.......because there is big fishes and i didn't get any those big up.
but, but, it was near and there was many finnish fishers and part of them got some nice fishes (over 100kg) up too.
and bigger one cut 3 lines in one time and one rush, wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i found a great boat and company there , top shot in grand bay, thx serge.
they are going to organize a big game fishing tournament in january 2008, and i am there then.
there is opening a new site in april about it.
you will heard more about it later.



we got little too much wind and waves in first week, so we have to sit and only look to sea 3 days.....and take some biers, but sacond week we was there almost every day........and take some biers too.
well, we got yellowfin tuna, mackerel, bonito, blue marlin, dorado, spearfish, etc .
6 days fishing and only my ears was burn.

ps

how i can attach here some photos from my laptop?

[PanamaJack]

ps

how i can attach here some photos from my laptop?

Hi Nypy
It certainly sounds as if you had an excellent holiday and experienced some of its potential.

In terms of adding photographs there’re two threads on the site that are particularly useful.

Firstly you could upload your images onto one of the free web hosting services, like Photobucket. There’re very detailed instructions, with illustrations, on this thread - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23786. Once you've added the images to the Net just post the urls back on this thread.

Alternatively you can re-size (downwards) your images and post them as attachments on a post to this thread, using a piece of ‘freeware’ such as Infranview. Details are on this thread - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17510. In terms of limits for attachments you’re restricted to 97.7Kb (640/480) as JPGs and 19.5Kb (620/280) as GIF files.
Kindest regards
Dave

[PanamaJack]

Um.....a bit of a sad indictment on what's currently happening offshore from Mauritius. This is a note I've just received from one of our Club members resident on the island.


My fishing in last 12 months in Mauritius has been very poor, despite lots of trips. The fishing has sadly been decimated by longliners and the few Marlin around are few and far between, as are other species. Top boats, once catching @ 120 marlin per year, are down in the 20's and 30's, and that fishing 200 days of the year or more. I managed just one small Blue - circa 120lb, in Jan. No major run of Yellowfin this year. In these circs, I am now planning to travel out from Mauritius to go fishing.

I'll have to start weekending in Rodrigues


From other updates I've had though the inshore fishing, particularly for the Giant Trevallies, appears to be good.

[PanamaJack]

One of our Club's German members had initially planned to fish Kenya but, with the situation, cancelled. Could get booked into the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and finally decided to return to Mauritius.

Um ... you'll see from his report - http://www.bluewaterfishing.eu/e_start.html - select Trip Reports (Updated) then Mauritius 2008 - that he wished he hadn't bothered. The longliners were working within 10 kilometres of the shoreline and, you'll see from the report, one of the boat's he'd fished had had just five Marlin in two months. And that's meant to be prime season!

(Another Club member resident on the island similarly reported that the Marlin fishing was desperately slow.)

Stephan was not overly impressed with the inshore popper or jig fishing either.

Another friend who fished inshore in January similarly found the GTs noticable by their absence. But he did report catch numbers of big Houndfish.
Dave