Pierre, Alain, Christophe & Fabrice (France)

It is more difficult to move from MANTRA to BLACK MARLIN than the opposite! Out of the airport around 11.00 AM and off to the Eastern Bank at 04.00PM for 70 hours. Sunset fishing takes place on a spot Eastern Rodrigues where only one 35 kg doggy and a few horse eye jacks are caught. We take advantage of the night to reach the Eastern Bank where yellowfin tunas’ activity is quite good. Damper is that they don’t hook up! The saying “jumping tunas, teasing tunas” is justified. For once, live bonitos baiting is not worth it. Considering this surface activity, we persist in trolling, looking for marlin and big tuna for 2 days long. As we insisted, about 15 tunas hooked on (between 15 and 48 kg for the biggest).

doggy on livebaiting – Rod Fishing Club – Rodrigues Island – Mauritius – Indian Ocean

On the 3^rd day, there’s a switch in tactics: wake up at 04.00 AM and action at 4.30 AM. At 07.00 fishing was done: nice yellowfin tunas, wahoos and dorados. A marlin estimated 250 kg unhooked. The way back through Marlins’ Boulevard gave nothing. However, just in front of Port Mathurin, in high deeps, a very big marlin came to follow our lures, even despising a bonito. It left as quietly as it came. At sunset, bottom fishing is in full swing: trevallies, cutthroat emperors, jobfish… as well as a nice GT, released.

If our friends had not brought much tackle, they did bring a nice variety of Poitou’s specialities, which was nicely shared with the crews.

As we said it just before, “from every drawback… there are advantages”. They got a double whammy: combining the quality of fishing and comfort of MANTRA and fishing density aboard BLACK MARLIN, almost forgetting that… starting was not so good on arrival!

yellowfin tuna on trolling – Rod Fishing Club – Ile Rodrigues – Maurice – Océan Indien

GT released on jigging – Rod Fishing Club – Ile Rodrigues – Maurice – Océan Indien

spangled emperor – Rod Fishing Club – Ile Rodrigues – Maurice – Océan Indien