| FISHING
THE ANDAMAN SEA
Pearl of the
Andaman. The jewel in Thailand's crown. Whatever you want to call
Phuket, you should also check out the fishing. Fishing in Phuket
with its blue skies, crystal clear seas, continental drop-offs,
and the opportunity to catch a 300lb plus Marlin or have a sailfish
bonanza is precisely what is on offer.
Home to an amazing
diversity of game fish, Phuket is a delight for both novice and
professionals alike. On its day, Phuket is comparable with the best
destinations in the world. Home to Marlin, Sailfish, Mahi mahi,
Wahoo, Barracuda and Tuna, to name but a few, the Andaman Sea is
a fisherman's playground. Phuket also has a number of well-equipped
tackle shops in Phuket City and Chalong.
Fishing
Seasons
Different times of the year prove better than others for catching
certain species of fish. For example, the tourist high season in
Phuket (November - April) is a good time to fish for sailfish, Giant
Trevally, many of the Tuna family and King Mackeral. A popular spot
for day-trips is the Racha Island group. As the South West Monsoon
arrives, so do the Mahi mahi and wahoo. However, the difference
in the seasons is not as distinct as this, with sailfish, and many
other species, being caught throughout the year. One very important
occasion on Phuket's fishing calendar occurs in November each year.
The Phuket International Sportsfishing Classic is held on the Island
(see Calendar of Festivals &
Events). Lasting about 4 days, entrants come from all over the
world, including teams from England and America, with boats coming
from as far-a-field as Hong Kong and Singapore. This event has helped
put Phuket on the fishing map, establishing it as a destination
on the Regional tournament circuit.
Day
Fishing Hot Spots
There are a number of favoured fishing spots in Phuket, however,
the success depends on the time of year you go and the fishing techniques
used. Below are a couple of the popular spots to go fishing in a
days range from Phuket.
Racha
Islands
The Racha Island group is located south of Phuket and consists of
two idyllic islands surrounded by crystal clear waters. Racha Yai
and Racha Noi are ideal for both those wishing to explore the beach,
and those wishing to fish. Racha Yai is located 16km south of Phuket
with Racha Noi a few kilometres farther. The body of water between
the two islands hold almost every kind of fish that can be found
in the Pacific.
Continental
Drop-Off
Situated south-west of Phuket, the continental drop-off can only
be reached in a day by fast modern vessels. The drop-off has been
formed as a result of plate tectonic shifts. At this point, the
earths crust does not join at the same level, resulting gin a huge
drop-off where the waters drop to depths of hundreds of metres.
These depths are home to Marlin. September to December is a good
time for Black Marlin.
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