This is Laamu Atoll, the southern edge of the Maldives and one of the most consistent popper and jig destinations in the Indian Ocean. Clear blue water. Pearl-white beaches. And a multi-species saltwater playground packed with potential.
These rich waters hold over a thousand species. One cast might bring a bruising GT. The next, a Yellowfin, Dogtooth, or Skipjack. Throw in Billfish, Barracuda, Groupers, and Snappers, and you’ll be casting into some of the most explosive fishing anywhere.
Guided by the expert team at Mac Strike, with over 15 years of specialist experience, every session is tuned to the tides. Whether jigging drop-offs or firing topwater lures across reef edges, you’ll switch up zones, species, and tactics to match the bite. High-end rods, reels, and lures are available to hire.
From reef edges to deep drops, it’s constant action in remote waters few anglers ever reach. And when the day’s done, you’ll anchor inside the atoll for fresh meals and a peaceful night’s sleep on board. You’ll stay aboard a comfortable liveaboard vessel designed for extended time on the water. Private cabins, shaded deck space, and chef-prepared meals offer everything you need to rest between sessions. No roads. No transfers. Just you, the fish, and the Maldivian wilderness.
Sportquest handle every detail. You focus on the fish.
If you want year-round variety, liveaboard comfort, and topwater chaos in the Maldives, Laamu Atoll is your next big trip.
The season runs from All year.
Season: All Year Round
Peak: All Year Round
Weight: 10lb to 100lb
Average Weight: 40lb
Season: All Year Round
Peak: All Year Round
Weight: 30lb to 200lb
Average Weight: 60lb
Season: All Year Round
Peak: All Year Round
Weight: 20lb to 100lb
Average Weight: 30lb
Season: December to May
Peak: December to May
Weight: 40lb to 150lb
Average Weight: 65lb
Season: All Year Round
Peak: All Year Round
Weight: 5lb to 50lb
Average Weight: 15lb
Season: All Year Round
Peak: All Year Round
Weight: 5lb to 50lb
Average Weight: 15lb
Season: All Year Round
Peak: All Year Round
Weight: 5lb to 50lb
Average Weight: 10lb
Depart Any international airport - Arrive Male
Depart Any international airport - Arrive Male
Depart: TBA
Arrive: Velana International Airport
General Note
General Note
Please note: Depending on your chosen international airport, an overnight flight and/or hotel stay may be required, which may affect your departure and return dates. Your itinerary will be finalised once travel arrangements are confirmed.
Independent flight/travel arrangements can be accommodated, though our flight-inclusive packages are recommended to ensure seamless integration into your holiday plans.
Transfer from Male Airport to the Maldives Liveaboard
Transfer from Male Airport to the Maldives Liveaboard
Once you arrive in Malé and have collected your luggage, you’ll be met at the airport by a representative from our partners. They will transfer you to your liveaboard, located just a short ten-minute journey from the airport. Once onboard, you’ll be free to relax, settle in, and start preparing your tackle for your first day of fishing.
Maldives Liveaboard
Overnight Accommodation
Maldives Liveaboard in a Single Room on a Full board basis
General Note
General Note
Early morning the liveaboard will up-anchor and leave Malé steaming to Vaavu Atol, where some of the best fishing gets found. The Atol is around forty miles away, and the boat has a cruising speed of around eight to nine knots. As soon as you arrive the sport boats will greet you and take you out for your first fishing day.
Fishing
Fishing
On your first two fishing days, you’ll experience the fantastic mixed fishing available in the Maldives. The rich and varied waters of the Indian Ocean, where these coral islands sit, are home to over 1,100 fish species, including some of the world’s most prestigious species like Marlin, Tuna, Sailfish, Wahoo, and Giant Trevally, to name just a few. All of which grow to truly epic proportions.
Maldives Liveaboard
Overnight Accommodation
Maldives Liveaboard in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Fishing
Fishing
On fishing days three and four and throughout your fishing week, you’ll depart with your guides to wet a line around the famous Vaavu Atolls, where there are fewer boats and better fishing. One of the best things about having a liveaboard as your base is you can reach locations that land-based operations cannot. Popper and jig fishing are the preferred methods for targeting the array of species.
Maldives Liveaboard
Overnight Accommodation
Maldives Liveaboard in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Fishing
Fishing
On your last two fishing days, if there’s a species of fish you haven’t caught that you’d like to, chat with your guides, and they will do their best to make it happen. Their passion is fishing, and they are experts at reading the tides, weather and conditions and know when and where they should be depending on the species you want to catch and the time of year. All the crew are English-speaking and equipped to cater for anglers of all experience levels.
Maldives Liveaboard
Overnight Accommodation
Maldives Liveaboard in a Single Room on a Full board basis
General Note
General Note
Early in the morning, the liveaboard will begin its journey from Vaavu Atol and travel back to Malé. This is a journey of around forty miles and the boat has a cruising speed of around eight to nine knots.
Once you arrive you’ll be free to relax and pack your bags ready for your journey home.
Maldives Liveaboard
Overnight Accommodation
Maldives Liveaboard in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Transfer from the Maldives Liveaboard to Male Airport
Transfer from the Maldives Liveaboard to Male Airport
In the morning, after breakfast, you will be transferred back to Malé Airport, ready for your journey home. The transfer time is approximately 10 minutes.
Depart Male - Arrive Any international airport
Depart Male - Arrive Any international airport
Depart: Velana International Airport
Arrive: TBA
General Note
General Note
Please note: Depending on your chosen international airport, an overnight flight and/or hotel stay may be required, which may affect your departure and return dates. Your itinerary will be finalised once travel arrangements are confirmed.
Independent flight/travel arrangements can be accommodated, though our flight-inclusive packages are recommended to ensure seamless integration into your holiday plans.
Prices are shown per person and are based on single rooms and four anglers per boat, unless otherwise specified. All prices are accurate at the time of publication but may vary slightly depending on factors such as travel dates, booking time, airline pricing, or fuel surcharges set by the operators.
Flights are always priced at the most competitive rates available at the time of enquiry to ensure you receive the best possible value when booking.
Proudly an ATOL bonded company, our trips are complete packages, including all flights, transfers, accommodation, and fantastic fishing and shooting experiences.
| Travel Available Between These Dates | Days | Price | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/05/2026 | 30/06/2026 | 9 | £5,392 | Enquire |
| 01/07/2026 | 31/07/2026 | 9 | £5,503 | Enquire |
| 01/08/2026 | 31/08/2026 | 9 | £5,445 | Enquire |
| 01/09/2026 | 30/11/2026 | 9 | £5,392 | Enquire |
| 01/12/2026 | 31/12/2026 | 9 | £5,658 | Enquire |
| 01/01/2027 | 31/01/2027 | 9 | £5,763 | Enquire |
| 01/02/2027 | 28/02/2027 | 9 | £5,870 | Enquire |
| 01/03/2027 | 31/03/2027 | 9 | £6,401 | Enquire |
| 01/04/2027 | 30/04/2027 | 9 | £6,189 | Enquire |
| 01/05/2027 | 30/06/2027 | 9 | £5,604 | Enquire |
| 01/07/2027 | 31/07/2027 | 9 | £5,714 | Enquire |
| 01/08/2027 | 31/08/2027 | 9 | £5,657 | Enquire |
| 01/09/2027 | 30/11/2027 | 9 | £5,604 | Enquire |
| 01/12/2027 | 31/12/2027 | 9 | £5,870 | Enquire |
| 01/01/2028 | 31/01/2028 | 9 | £5,985 | Enquire |
| 01/02/2028 | 29/02/2028 | 9 | £6,092 | Enquire |
| 01/03/2028 | 31/03/2028 | 9 | £6,624 | Enquire |
| 01/04/2028 | 30/04/2028 | 9 | £6,411 | Enquire |
| 01/05/2028 | 30/06/2028 | 9 | £5,826 | Enquire |
| 01/07/2028 | 31/07/2028 | 9 | £5,936 | Enquire |
| 01/08/2028 | 31/08/2028 | 9 | £5,879 | Enquire |
| 01/09/2028 | 30/11/2028 | 9 | £5,826 | Enquire |
| 01/12/2028 | 31/12/2028 | 9 | £6,092 | Enquire |
If your preferred week or travel dates do not appear in the calendar above, please get in touch. Many lodges release availability in stages, and some dates depend on tides, seasons, guide schedules, or short-notice changes. By speaking with us directly, you will receive the most up to date availability and clear guidance on securing the strongest options before popular weeks fill.
Enquire now and we will check live availability for the dates you are considering.
Our ATOL protection, means you have financial security on your booking.
All our destinations are thoroughly researched by our team of experts.
We have worked hard to be able to provide you with the best prices possible.
We offer complete holiday packages, making booking a holiday simple.
Our Maldives Liveaboard trip utilises a locally built vessel constructed in 2021 and features a stunning handcrafted wooden interior, which gives it a refreshingly majestic look, bringing out a true uniqueness.
The leading deck houses four comfortable twin rooms, which can be used as singles or doubles, complete with ensuite showers and air-conditioning.
The sundeck, furnished with sundeck chairs and sunbeds, is ideal for sun lovers and has a seated area with a table where you can enjoy your meals. Each night the boat will anchor inside the Atoll to ensure the most peaceful night’s sleep possible.
The crew onboard includes a private chef to give you the best culinary experience whilst on the water. Three fresh meals are served daily, including fresh fish caught during your fishing day.
After an early breakfast, anglers set off from the liveaboard on one of the speedboats to the chosen fishing marks for the day. Casting, popper and jig fishing are the main techniques, and after, what is hopefully an action-packed morning, the boats will join back up with the liveaboard at a different location for some lunch.
After lunch, anglers decide with the captain what time to start fishing again, while the liveaboard will up-anchor and look for a place to settle for the evening. Once the afternoon or early evening fishing session is finished, all the sports boats return to the main vessel for dinner and the chance to chat with your angling companions about your day of fishing.
To learn more about the fishing in the Maldives, visit our YouTube channel.
As a fishing destination, the Maldives is one of the top five names that appear on anglers’ bucket lists worldwide, so if you’re a sport fisherman and looking to experience some of the best fishing on the planet; the Maldives will certainly tick all the right boxes.
Situated in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka and India, this archipelagic state is famed as a tourist and honeymoon resort, with a year-round temperature, pearly white beaches and clear blue water, but for many anglers, it’s considered the world’s popper and jig fishing capital. Consisting of over 1,000 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls stretching across the equator and covering around 90,000 square kilometres, it offers a wealth of fishing opportunities.
The location of these coral islands is amongst the rich and varied waters of the Indian Ocean, home to over 1,100 fish species, from small reef dwellers to giant pelagics. Our partners, Mac Strike, are specialists in navigating and fishing these waters, with over fifteen years of experience. Based on the southern tip of the archipelago in Laamu Atoll, where the best fishing gets found, they allow anglers to experience a fantastic week of mixed bluewater fishing. Popper, jig and big game fishing for some of the world’s most prestigious species like Marlin, Tuna, Sailfish, Wahoo, and Giant Trevally, to name just a few. All of which grow to epic sizes.
Our partner, Mac Strike, has over fifteen years of experience in the Maldives and are experts at fishing and navigating these tropical waters. The team, headed by first captain Atthelomeus, are some of the most experienced on the archipelago and will always do their best to ensure you enjoy a holiday experience of a lifetime. Their passion is fishing, and they are experts at reading the tides, weather and conditions and know when and where they should be depending on the species you want to catch and the time of year. All the crew are English-speaking and equipped to cater for anglers of all experience levels, from those enjoying their first popper and jig fishing holiday to those who have visited on numerous occasions.
With a fantastic crew, it would only be fitting to have a boat to match, and that is what’s on offer in the shape of the Mac Strike III, which is the perfect vessel for fishing in the Maldives and is an ideal blend of speed and size. Being 11 metres long, it can usually fish all year round, only missing the occasional day to extreme weather, and its two 200hp outboard engines make navigating Laamu Atoll easy work. The boat is perfect for popper fishing, with a spacious 3.5m casting deck, but it also features outriggers and a livebait tank to aid with the different fishing styles you may wish to try throughout your holiday. It’s fully equipped with a VHF radio, fish finder, all safety equipment, a toilet, an array of comfortable seats and even a blue tooth radio and freshwater shower.
In the Maldives, the range of species on offer is incredible, allowing travelling anglers to experience specimens of all shapes, sizes and colours. However, the main draw for visitors is the Giant Trevally, Tuna, Billfish, Groupers, Snappers and Barracuda.
The Giant Trevally, or the GT as commonly known, is one of the most famous quarries, and as a species, they are at the top of many anglers’ bucket lists, and the Maldives is one of the few places globally where they can get caught all year round. The biggest fish, between 30 to 100lb, congregate on the reefs and are perfect for anglers targeting them on poppers and jigs. They like nothing more than crushing a lure and catching them has to be one of the most exhilarating bluewater fishing experiences you can enjoy.
As well as GTs, another popular species is the Tuna, and the Maldives is home to an array of different types, including giant Yellowfins, the ultra-aggressive Dogtooth and smaller Skipjacks. These can be caught using various methods; however, once again, popper and jig fishing are preferred and most effective. Tuna fishing in the country is vital for the local economies, and traditional and sustainable pole and line fishing gets used by commercial fishing vessels.
As you’d expect, with a bluewater sportfishing destination, Sailfish and Marlin are both viable fishing targets. Popper and Jig fishing is the preferred method, but traditional ‘big game trolling’ also gets used. Both of these billfish species grow to epic proportions and provide some exciting sport.
Due to the island’s coral makeup, the reef fishing opportunities are unique and virtually endless. All manner of species, like Grouper, Snappers, Jacks, Emperor and Jobfish, to mention just are few are all possible targets. When dropping your lure, live bait or dead bait down to the bottom, you never know what you’ll catch next.
There are two seasons in the Maldives, divided into monsoon seasons:
The dry monsoon starts from October/November to March/April and usually provides the best weather, with clear skies and calmer seas.
The wet monsoon starts in April/May and goes until September and usually features more rain and the chance of rougher seas.
All the fishing on the trip is based in the south in and around Laamu Atoll, where there are fewer boats and better fishing; the Atoll is also the perfect size, providing anglers with plenty of water during their week. Over the years of fishing, our partners Mac Strike, have also noticed a larger average size in the GTs in this area. The favoured methods for targeting the array of species on offer are popper and jig fishing.
For those that don’t know, poppers are designed to simulate a distressed fish or animal struggling on the water’s surface, and in general, a decent-sized lure, fast retrieval rate and a good ‘popping action’ should attract most species. Most poppers work best when fished around rocky outcrops and underwater structures, as this is where many big predators will sit and wait for unsuspecting bait fish.
This style of fishing can be particularly extreme at times, especially if you’re regularly hooking up and battling with big Pelagics. However, if, during the fishing day, you need a rest or want a break, you can relax on the boat and even enjoy a spot of trolling.
Jigging is a technique predominately done over deeper water as it covers the entire water column from top to bottom and can be very effective for many predatory fish. There are many different jigging techniques, but all involve dropping different lengths, shapes and colours of lures into the depths and then working them in a particular manner to entice a hungry predator to hit them. Slow, speed and butterfly all prove to be popular methods to fish with, but it all depends on what the fish are feeling on the day. The captain and deckhands will all be able to advise you on particular lures and techniques during different sets of conditions and tides.
If you don’t have the correct fishing tackle, it’s possible to hire it at a small cost – with a range of quality Shimano saltwater fixed spool reels and HOWK rods.
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