Phuket Fishing, Thailand

Sportfishing and Big Game Fishing

Everyone knows that Phuket offers some of the world's best beaches, diving and nightlife. What you might not know is that Phuket also offers world-class sportfishing and angling. Blue and black marlin, sailfish, dog-tooth tuna, giant trevally, jacks and even swordfish have been caught in Phuket and its surrounding waters, and the fishing community's firm catch-and-release policy helps ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to test themselves against these magnificent animals. Phuket's charter companies know all the best spots and will get where you want to be in comfort and style.Sportfishing
As Phuket's gamefishing industry is still in its infancy, there is an abundance of gamefish to be found in the region. Mangrove estuaries and shallow island reefs are home to numerous species of light tackle gamefish including sea bass, barracuda, giant trevally, queenfish and mangrove jack. Farther out in the deeper waters of the Andaman Sea roam a multitude of blue water, pelagic species like black marlin and sailfish, as well as king mackerel and tiger sharks.

As is the case with all marine activities, Phuket offers an incredible wealth of big game fishing opportunities. The Racha Islands, just off of Phuket, offer year round fishing within easy reach of the island, perfect for day trips. For those looking for a little more adventure, there's always the Similans.
Most famous as a dive destination, the Similan Islands see an awful lot of big fish action in the blue depths away from the coral reef and for those who really want to get away, there are the Andaman Islands off the coast of India. Wild and unspoiled, these primeval islands are almost untouched by commercial and sport fishermen alike and offer a once in a lifetime chance to do battle with some of the classic fighters.
Racha Islands
The proverbial hop, skip and jump from Phuket will bring you to the lovely Racha Islands. Also known as the Raya Islands, these two small spits of land are almost entirely untouched by human hands.
The smaller of the two, Racha Noi, has no human settlement of any kind except for the Muslim fishermen who beach their boats and eat lunch here. Racha Yai, just to the north, has very limited development and only one resort. The lack of human pressure makes the Racha Islands an excellent venue for sportfishing and great catches are had here all year round.
The cast of charcters at Racha is a big as an Adnrew Lloyd Webber musical. Billfish, Black Marlin and Sailfish all congregate here, often in huge numbers. Several varieties of tuna are commonly reeled in such as yellowfin, dog-tooth, skipjack, and longfin. During the monsoon season, most boats fish the leeward eastern side of the island and here wahoos are the star players, with barracuda and tenngiri filling in gamely as suuporting actors.
Koh Rok
Located about 80 km (50 miles) southeast of Phuket, this tiny island is named for a small furry creature that inhabits it. The island features some lovely beaches and is also home to monitor lizards. The real attraction for the sport fisherman, however are the multitudes of sailfish that can be found here.
During the late afternoon and early evening the action heats up and free jumpers can be seen in amazing amounts. Multiple hook-ups are the norm here and anyone who wants to bag a sailfish would do well to put this on their itenerary. A short cruise south lands you at Hin Daeng, which is a fantastic dive site that also provides some excellent fishing oppotunities.