Are you ready to take your fishing experience to the next level? We are excited to introduce you to some of the largest and strongest species that our range of exclusive fishing trips has to offer.
Imagine battling the raw power of a Dogtooth Tuna out on the renowned Hawkins Bank, where every strike tests your endurance and skill. Or picture yourself deep in the heart of Brazil, testing your fly-fishing abilities against the prehistoric Arapaima, a true river monster that promises an unforgettable challenge. But that’s just the beginning. From wrestling the mighty Sturgeon in pristine freshwater rivers, to going head-to-head with the elusive Halibut in icy Norway, our tailor-made fishing holidays are designed for anglers seeking the ultimate thrill.
Table of Contents
Arapaima
The awe-inspiring Pirarucu, or Arapaima as it’s known, is the largest scaled freshwater fish globally and can reach weights approaching 400lb and lengths of almost three metres. As well as being one of the largest, it’s also one of the oldest and Arapaima fossils scanning back over ten million years have been found around the world.
Originally indigenous to Brazil, Peru, Colombia and several other countries in the Amazon basin, the fish is now also present in Thailand after being stocked by enterprising fish farmers. The giant apex predator is genuinely unique, and after an astonishing evolutionary process, it has the incredible ability to breathe oxygen, allowing it to survive in oxygen-depleted pools.
Below are the top destinations in the world for Arapaima Fishing.
– Pirarucu lodge, Brazil
– Multi-lake, Thailand
– Gillhams resort, Thailand
Tarpon
The Tarpon, also known as the Silver King, is found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, inhabiting coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers. They’re highly migratory and known as one of the oldest living fish, evolving approximately 18 million years ago. The Tarpon is poorly received as a food fish but held in extremely high regard with travelling anglers, and thousands flock worldwide to target this incredible species. They are the largest species targeted by saltwater fly fishing anglers in shallow water and are famed for their astonishing size, armoured scales and impressive fighting style.
Tarpon are highly predatory and have the ability to fill their swim bladder with air, using it as a primitive lung, giving them an advantage over their prey when hunting, especially in low oxygenated water. Their large mouth turned upwards features an elongated, bony plate, perfect for crushing their diet of crustaceans, crabs and baitfish. They grow to impressive sizes and the largest ever recorded was a monster of over 2.5m in length and weighing over 350lb. They generally average anywhere between 10lb and 90lb, depending on their habitat, but they can easily grow to over 100lb in the right conditions.
Below are the top destinations in the world for Tarpon Fishing.
– Silver King Lodge
– Jungle Tarpon Lodge
– Tarponville Lodge
Bronze Whaler Shark
The Bronze Whaler shark, also known as the Copper or Narrowtooth shark, can be found in all manner of different waterways, from brackish rivers and estuaries to shallow bays and harbours to offshore waters with depths of over 100m or more. It’s the only member of its genus primarily found in temperate rather than tropical waters.
The Bronze Whalers, given their name because they would gather in large numbers around whale carcasses after being harpooned, are fast and active and maybe encountered alone, in pairs, or loosely organized schools containing up to hundreds of individuals. They can grow over 3 metres in length and over 300lb in weight, with an average size of around 100lb. They feed more towards the bottom of the water column on a diet of bony fishes, squid, cuttlefish and octopus. Off South Africa, they’re closely associated with the annual Sardine run, involving millions of Southern African Pilchards.
Below are the top destinations in the world for Bronze Whaler Fishing.
– Namibia, Africa
– Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
Halibut
The Atlantic Halibut is the worlds largest flatfish, and its name is derived from haly (holy) and butte (flatfish) for its popularity on Catholic holy days. The Halibut is well known as both a food fish and sport fish in equal measure. Starting life as a round fish, these Jurassic looking creatures of the deep soon evolve into the fish that everybody knows. At around six months old, their eyes migrate around their head, and they start living life as a flatfish. They’re a cold water species and are found in the North Sea, inhabiting the waters around Greenland, Iceland and Norway.
They’re mostly bottom-dwelling and found in depths ranging from a few metres to hundreds of metres; they do move up the water column when they feed, though. In most ecosystems, the Halibut is near the top of the marine food chain; they’re a well-equipped predator and feed on almost anything they can fit in their mouths; baitfish of all sizes, crabs, squid and octopus are all on the menu. For anglers targeting them, a large imitation shad or dead bait bumped along the bottom of the sea bed is most effective.
Below are the top destinations in the world for Atlantic Halibut Fishing.
– Å, Lofoten Islands, Norway
– Havoysund, Norway
– Soroya, Norway
White Sturgeon
Sturgeon are native to subtropical, temperate and sub-Arctic rivers, lakes and coastlines of Eurasia and North America. They are some of the oldest fish globally, and some of the earliest fossils discovered date back millions of years. They are long-lived and late-maturing, with an average lifespan of between fifty and sixty years; their first spawn doesn’t occur until they are around fifteen to twenty years old, though. Sturgeon have a distinct set of characteristics and an elongated, spindle-like body that is smooth-skinned, scaleless, and armoured with five lateral rows of bony plates called scutes.
Primarily bottom feeders, with a diet consisting of shellfish, crustaceans, and small fish, they feed by extending their syphon-like mouths. Having no teeth, they’re unable to seize prey, but significant individuals are more than capable of swallowing large prey items, like whole Salmon. The biggest Sturgeon ever recorded was a Beluga female, measuring 7.2m and weighing in at 3,463lb. Still, fish to over 1,000lb get regularly landed by anglers, with an average size of around 100lb.
Below are the top destinations in the world for Sturgeon Fishing.
– Hosted Sturgeon Fishing, Canada
DOGTOOTH TUNA
The Dogtooth Tuna, also known as the White Tuna, is a species of pelagic marine fish. It’s widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area and oceanic islands of the Pacific Ocean. Traditionally found in and around reef environments, they haunt deep reef drop-offs, seamounts and steep underwater walls. They’re most comfortable in depths of between 10m and 200m and swim in small schools or solitary.
They’re aggressive, opportunistic predators, feeding on small baitfish and squid. However, with a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth, they can take a range of prey items, including species much more significant than themselves. The Dogtooth Tuna is one of the apex non-pelagic predators, sharing this crown with species like Groupers, Napoleon wrasse and Giant Trevally. They can grow to enormous sizes, over two metres in length and weights of over 200lb.
Below are the top destinations in the world for Dogtooth Tuna Fishing.
– Rodrigues Island
– Andaman Islands
– Popper Fishing, Madagascar
Contact Us
Each trip is designed to offer more than just fishing—it’s a true adventure, set in breathtaking locations and guided by experts who know these waters intimately. If you would like to see more of any of the tours above, or even have any questions, you can contact our dedicated team of professionals today using our direct enquiry form.
