Big game fishing in the Seychelles: species, spots and seasons from a catamaran

The Seychelles rank among the world’s best destinations for big game fishing. Their deep waters concentrate marlin, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, mahi-mahi and wahoo in abundance. From the cockpit of a catamaran cruising around Mahe, a deep-sea fishing outing fits naturally into a sailing itinerary.

Which species can you catch in the deep waters of the Seychelles?

The Seychelles are home to some of the most prized species in world sport fishing: blue and black marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna (albacore), dogtooth tuna, mahi-mahi and wahoo. These pelagic species concentrate in areas of steep drop-off, where the continental shelf plunges towards the depths of the Indian Ocean.

The blue marlin and black marlin represent the ultimate trophy in sport fishing across the archipelago. Present year-round, they reach up to 250 kg and peak in numbers between September and November. The fight is long, intense, and requires an experienced skipper as well as robust tackle.

The sailfish stands out for its fan-shaped dorsal fin and its spectacular leaps during the fight. A trolling species par excellence, it is particularly active from October to April. Yellowfin tuna (albacore) is present year-round: its explosive strike and powerful fight make it an ideal species for a first encounter with big game fishing.

Dogtooth tuna frequents the reefs and deep drop-offs. Feared for its resistance, it is mainly targeted with vertical jigging. Mahi-mahi, colourful and fast, is accessible to beginners and delivers lively fights near the surface. The wahoo, one of the fastest fish in tropical seas with a speed that can exceed 70 km/h, is hunted with fast trolling in warm waters. Finally, the barracuda occupies coastal zones and reefs for a combative fight on light tackle.

Where are the best big game fishing spots around Mahe?

The best zones lie along the edges of the Mahe plateau, where the coral seabed drops sharply into the depths of the Indian Ocean. The east and south coasts of Mahe offer the most accessible drop-offs from a catamaran based at Mahe.

The Mahe plateau is a large, shallow coral plateau surrounding the inner islands. It is along its edges, where the seabed falls away abruptly, that pelagic species concentrate. The east coast of Mahe allows you to reach these drop-offs in 20 to 30 minutes of sailing from the harbour, which makes it the ideal departure point for a half-day deep-sea outing.

Silhouette Island and Frégate Island enjoy a solid reputation among sport anglers thanks to their deep waters in the immediate vicinity. Further north, the waters around Bird Island attract a wide variety of pelagics depending on the season. These destinations fit naturally into a sailing itinerary from Mahe, which makes them perfectly accessible from a catamaran on a cruise.

For multi-day trips, the Amirantes islands (outer islands) are considered the best spots in the archipelago for intensive sport fishing. Far from the main island group, they offer pristine fishing and remarkable concentrations of fish - but reaching them requires several days of sailing.

What is the best season to go big game fishing in the Seychelles?

The high season for big game fishing in the Seychelles runs from October to April, when the sea is calm under the north-west monsoon and the large pelagics move closer to shore to feed. The May to September period remains fishable on the sheltered drop-offs, but sea conditions are more demanding for trolling.

From October to April, the sea calms, the thermoclines rise and the pelagics are particularly active at the surface. This is the ideal period for trolling: marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna and mahi-mahi appear in optimal fishing conditions. Between November and March, the north-west monsoon brings light winds, exceptional visibility and an often flat sea. Spotting flocks of diving seabirds becomes child’s play for identifying the areas where the fish are active.

The marlin peaks in numbers between September and November, thus overlapping the two best windows of sea conditions. Yellowfin tuna is present year-round with no marked seasonality, which makes it a species of choice for any sailing period.

From May to September (south-east monsoon), the currents are stronger and the sea can be choppy on the south face of Mahe. Deep-sea trolling becomes less comfortable. On the other hand, vertical jigging and bottom fishing remain practicable in the shelter of the islands, particularly to target dogtooth tuna and giant trevally on the drop-offs.

Which fishing techniques can you use in the deep waters of the Seychelles?

Four techniques dominate big game fishing in the Seychelles: trolling for surface pelagics, vertical jigging for bottom predators, popping for spectacular surface strikes, and live-bait fishing for marlin and sailfish.

Trolling is the most widely used technique from a cruising catamaran. Baits or lures are trailed behind the boat at a constant speed, targeting marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi. It is an accessible method even for the uninitiated when a skipper is on board to set the speed and depths.

Vertical jigging involves dropping heavy jigs onto the drop-offs at great depth to target dogtooth tuna, giant trevally and amberjacks. An active and physically demanding technique, it offers intense fights with powerful fish. Popping uses surface lures cast and worked to provoke surface strikes - spectacular, especially with giant trevally. Live-bait fishing presents a live bait at a precise depth, a technique that is remarkably effective for marlin and sailfish.

Target species	Recommended technique	Best season
Blue / black marlin	Trolling, live bait	Sept-Nov (peak) + year-round
Sailfish	Trolling	Oct-April
Yellowfin tuna	Trolling, jigging	Year-round
Dogtooth tuna	Vertical jigging	May-Sept
Mahi-mahi	Light trolling	Oct-April
Wahoo	Fast trolling	Oct-April
Giant trevally	Popping, jigging	Year-round
Barracuda	Light line, lure	Year-round

What regulations apply to sport fishing in the Seychelles?

Recreational fishing in the Seychelles does not require an individual permit for outings supervised by a professional. However, fishing is strictly prohibited in the national marine parks - including the St. Anne Marine National Park around Mahe - and catch and release is the standard imposed for certain protected species.

The legal framework is set by the Fisheries Act 2014, managed by the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA). For an outing at sea supervised by a professional charter, the permit is included in the service: no individual procedure is required before boarding.

Release practices are precisely defined:

• Bonefish: catch and release mandatory, without exception.
• Giant trevally (GT): catch and release strongly recommended to preserve populations.
• Marlin and sailfish: catch and release strongly encouraged, the standard among serious professional operators.
• Sharks and rays: protected by specific provisions, any capture is prohibited.

The national marine parks (St. Anne Marine National Park foremost) are zones formally closed to fishing. Before any outing, the skipper identifies the accessible zones according to the regulations in force. The use of barbless hooks is recommended for species to be released, in order to reduce stress and injury at the moment of the fight.

Net fishing and spearfishing with breathing apparatus are formally prohibited in Seychelles waters.

How can you include a fishing outing in a catamaran cruise in the Seychelles?

From a catamaran cruising around Mahe, a morning of big game fishing takes some preparation: the best zones lie along the edges of the plateau, 20 to 30 minutes from the harbour, and call for the right tackle. The most natural solution is to make it a stop in your sailing itinerary.

Setting off from the anchorage, well before the sun is high, the skipper heads for the eastern drop-offs of Mahe. The first trolling lures go into the water as soon as you leave the plateau. A session of two to three hours is often enough to hook yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi or wahoo before returning to the anchorage for breakfast.

For those who do not want to interrupt their itinerary, light trolling from a catamaran under way is a simple option: a rod fitted with a surface lure trails behind the boat during the crossing to Silhouette or Praslin. The fight with an unexpected mahi-mahi halfway along the route is among the most vivid memories of a catamaran cruise.

To seriously target marlin or yellowfin tuna in the deep waters, a dedicated half-day remains preferable. It fits easily into a sailing programme with a stopover the night before near the eastern drop-offs of Mahe. The skipper knows the active zones according to the season and weather windows, and guides the choice of spots while taking the regulated zones into account.

To organise your sailing week around Mahe including a fishing outing, explore our catamaran cruises in the Seychelles or our full Seychelles offer. If sport fishing by catamaran also appeals to you in the Mediterranean, fishing in the Strait of Bonifacio from our catamarans in Corsica offers a very different setting and set of regulations, for another maritime experience.

Frequently asked questions about big game fishing in the Seychelles

Can you go fishing in the Seychelles?

Yes, sport fishing is permitted and widely practised in the Seychelles, particularly big game fishing in the deep waters. Outings supervised by professionals depart regularly from Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Fishing is, however, prohibited in the national marine parks and protected maritime zones. For species such as bonefish, catch and release is mandatory. The best period runs from October to April, when the sea is at its calmest.

What type of fishing do you do in the Seychelles?

Big game fishing in the deep waters is the premier discipline in the Seychelles: trolling for marlin, sailfish and yellowfin tuna; vertical jigging for dogtooth tuna and giant trevally on the drop-offs; surface popping for spectacular strikes. Bottom fishing and fly fishing on the flats of the outer atolls also attract experienced sport anglers in search of bonefish or giant trevally.

What is the best period for deep-sea fishing in the Seychelles?

The high season runs from October to April, with a calm sea and pelagics active near the surface. The peak for marlin falls between September and November. Yellowfin tuna is present year-round. The May to September period (south-east monsoon) remains fishable on the drop-offs in the shelter of the islands, but sea conditions are more difficult for trolling in the deep waters.