With or without a boat, whether you try fly fishing, bait casting, spearfishing, or head for the deep seas, Fiji offers a variety of catch.
In the deep, outer reef passages are black marlin, blue marlin and sailfish, occasional striped marlin and broadbill.
The waters around Vatulele and Beqa islands off the Coral Coast have yielded large marlin and other species, some just under record size. July and August are ideal for big wahoo (up to 150 Ib).
In a single day, anglers have caught 12 wahoo weighing 90 to 96 Ib, four dolfini (20-50 Ib), a 50 lb barracuda and a I00 lb shark. Smaller game angling for jack crevalle (saga), barracuda (ogo), king mackerel (walu), yellow fin tuna (yatu) and dolfini can be enjoyed all year round on the Coral Coast.
A lot of good bait casting and spinning is available without a boat. A stroll along the shallow flats, estuaries and mangrove streams can harvest a good crop of barracuda, sea breem, salmon cod, mangrove snapper and jack from 2 to 12 Ib.
Freshwater streams and rivers on the main islands are light tackle grounds. Ika droka, the wily jungle perch, are taken up to five lb. Hand line fishing, nite line fishing, light tackle fishing, trolling and big game fishing are all popular at most of the Fiji resorts. You can also try your luck at spearfishing with the natives along the coral reefs at low tide.
Fiji has some great spots for game fishing and a number of excellent fishing charters. The deep channels around the rich reefs of Beqa in the Southern Islands are one of the best spots for wahoo, marlin, yellow fin tuna and dolphin fish. The area is assessable by staying on the tiny island of Nagigia right in the Southern Islands at Nagigia Resort which offers deep sea fishing or from the south coast of Viti Levu, the main island, where several day charters are available at Pacific Harbor (home of the country’s game fishing tournament in August) or at Waidroka Bay.
Another excellent area for game fishing is around the southern Mamanuca Group. This popular holiday destination is geared up for tourism and some of the resorts offer their own sports fishing boats including Tokoriki Island Resort. There are several larger game fishing charters operating from Denarau Marina, just outside of Nadi on Viti Levu (just 15 minutes by boat to the Mamanucas) and from Musket Cove Resort in the heart of the Mamanuca Group.
Game Fishing Seasons and Average weights:
Fish Season Av. Weight
Marlin All months (best Nov-Feb) 400-800 lb.
Wahoo May-Sep 50-100 lb.
Dolphin Fish (Mahimahi) Dec-Jan and Jun-Aug
Yellow Fin Tuna All months (best=May-Sep)
Walu All months
Fish Season
Fishing in FIJI is favoured all year round. There is simply great fishing for everyone! All methods of game fishing are available in Fiji – choice of group to instruct captain/crew. Overnight charter too is also available where the whole family can fish and catch a great catch of edible fish.
Dry Season: May – November.
Wet Season: December – April.
Best Wahoo Season: May – August.
Best Billfish Season: March-April, July-August, October-November.
Best Tanguige Season: Feb-April, July-August, October-November.
Best Tuna Season: April – July.
Sailfish occur through the year – possibly best in August.
