This detailed catch report comes from Rob, one of our customers who recently joined one of our popular solo traveller fishing adventures to the Andaman Islands. Travelling alone for only his second-ever fishing holiday, Rob embraced the experience, met new friends, and landed some incredible fish along the way. Here’s his account of a memorable week on the water…
This was my first time on a solo angling trip, joining three others I hadn’t met before, and only my second ever fishing holiday. Add to that the journey to a relatively remote part of the world, and there were plenty of unknowns to get my head around.
However, from the moment our WhatsApp group started a few months before the trip, I had a good feeling. When we finally met at the airport, it confirmed what I already suspected: this was going to be something special, and my expectations were not just met, they were well exceeded.
The pre-trip information was excellent, and any questions we still had were quickly answered by our host, Akshay, through the WhatsApp group. I didn’t have any suitable terminal tackle, so following a recommendation from Paul at Sportquest, I reached out to Terry at Jigabite, who sorted me out with everything I needed. The gear he supplied was spot-on in both quantity and specification. I’m sure there are other good tackle suppliers out there, but I was thrilled and pleased with Jigabite’s service.
On arrival, the itinerary was clearly explained, and Akshay personally checked over all our gear to ensure we were fully prepared, even helping us with knots like the PR bobbin if needed. That level of attention to detail really stood out.
Day one, as we set out on the boat, the scenery was nothing short of spectacular. After about an hour, we began drifting over a bait school above a reef between some small islands. This was my first time popping, using a hire rod and reel from Akshay. I quickly learned the basics — how to pop the lure and get a reasonable casting distance — but also realised there’s a lot more to it. Rod position after the pop is crucial, as most takes happen when the lure is stationary or just after the pop. It was clear this would be physically demanding, and pacing myself would be important.
Within the first hour, I had two takes from GTs, but missed both due to what I jokingly called “Slack Line Syndrome”: the rod tip was too high, and there wasn’t enough tension to set the barbless trebles. Thankfully, my popping technique improved over the week, and so did my hook-up rate.
After popping, we switched to jigging, which was another first for me. My own rod and reel made it hard work, so later in the week I hired a jigging setup from Akshay, and it made a huge difference. That first day, I nearly landed a small GT on a slow jig with my light gear, but it kicked off just at the boat. Still, I landed some great fish, including a beautiful Almaco Jack, a local cousin to the Amberjack.
Day two, I was determined to tick the GT off my bucket list. At a jigging spot, I hooked into something that felt like a medium-sized family car. It towed me to the stern, and after a 20-minute battle, I had my first GT on board, estimated at 25–30kg. The power of that fish was unbelievable, and it really pushed both my gear and me to the limit.
Day three brought more GTs on poppers. The explosive takes and heart-pounding moments during the hook-up were just incredible.
From days four to six, I eased into things a bit more, still picking up GTs, but also enjoying a wide variety of species. I finally landed my other bucket list fish: a Dogtooth Tuna. I even had a 6-foot Barracuda explode out of the water, cartwheeled in mid-air on a stickbait, before it shredded through a 200lb mono trace. To mix things up, I scaled down to do some light jigging and casting, catching a range of colourful, smaller species that made for great fun.
Akshay and his team were truly outstanding hosts, organised, knowledgeable, and committed to making sure you have a great time, both on and off the water. The guesthouses are basic by Western European standards but more than adequate, and the food was delicious.
If you need to rent rods and reels, rest assured, the gear is excellent and ideally suited to this kind of fishing. If you’re new to this style of angling, I recommend hiring the kit rather than risking bringing the wrong setup.
Overall, I had a fantastic experience, made new friends (and we’re already planning more trips together, both in the UK and abroad), discovered a fascinating culture, and visited a part of the world that few ever get the chance to see. The fishing was phenomenal, but the trip turned into something even bigger, a true travel adventure.
Would I recommend this trip?
Absolutely, 100% yes, whether you’re going solo or with a group.
Would I go again?
There are many places I’d still love to fish around the world, but this is definitely a destination I’ll return to, likely within the next couple of years.
A big thank you to Rob for sharing his catch report and giving us a brilliant insight into what it’s like to join one of our solo traveller trips. It’s always great to hear how these adventures bring together like-minded anglers and create memories on and off the water. If Rob’s story has inspired you to join us in the Andaman Islands, we still have a few spaces remaining on our upcoming solo traveller trips:
- 03/02/2026 – 10/02/2026 – Enquire (1 Space)
- 04/04/2026 – 11/04/2026 – Enquire (1 space)
- 10/10/2026 – 17/10/2026 – Enquire (4 spaces)
- 02/11/2026 – 09/11/2026 – Enquire (3 spaces)
If you’d like to read more about the Andaman Islands, you can visit our tour page here.
Contact Us
If you’d like more details on any of our trips to the Andaman Islands, or want to secure your spot, get in touch today. You can contact our bluewater fishing expert, Paul Stevens, on 01603 407596 or by email at paul@sportquestholidays.com. We’d love to have you join us on one of these incredible adventures.
