Due to the increased popularity of fishing for Dogtooth Tuna, Sportquest Holidays decided to put on their very own hosted Jig fishing trip to the fish packed waters that surround Rodrigues Island in Mauritius. This trip is for the anglers out there who seek adventure and excitement with some pretty extreme fishing.
Dogtooth Tuna fishing off Rodrigues Island is an extreme experience. Appealing to the anglers out there that love jig fishing. The rush you get is like nothing else out there. The sheer power of this mighty fish is one that we would highly recommend to any saltwater angler. Rodrigues Island is exclusive to Sportquest Holidays. If you would like to add any extra days on at the start or the end of this hosted trip, then we can tailor the itinerary to suit you.
Location
The Island of Rodrigues is around 108 square-kilometre and is part of the Republic of Mauritius, located in the Indian ocean. With its location only being 350 miles east of Mauritius, this makes for a great multi-destination. You can spend some days at Rodrigues fishing then head over to Mauritius for another week. Enjoying a fantastic two Island holiday.
The Islands are of volcanic origin and are surrounded by a tropical coral reef system. This reef system attracts a vast array of life which in turn provides the predators with lots of nutritious food items. There is also an extensive area around 100-nautical miles off the Island called the West Hawkins Bank. This bank provides anglers with a massive rise in depths that attracts many different predators—creating the perfect place to catch Dogtooth Tuna fish and Yellowfin Tuna fish. Make sure to visit our YouTube channel for an insight into all our tours and destinations.
There is also an area in the opposite direct called the East Bank. East Bank is just as productive as the West Bank but with it only being 50-nautical miles from the mainland. It can be reached easily on a shorter itinerary. All of these long trips are always subject to weather condition, and the time of year you travel.
Dogtooth Tuna Fishing
The majority of the fishing practised at Rodrigues Island is vertical jigging. This is when you lower your jig to the bottom then wind up while vertically jigging. Once you then get to a certain depth and have not received a bite, then the process is repeated.
This is a very demanding way of fishing. It takes skill to know the correct speed and pitch that both the fish find attractive. It’s important to understand how to get the best out of your jig. There are a wide variety of jigs on the market from long and short jigs to light and heavy jigs. We will make sure that you take the correct tackle with you to target the fish of your dreams.
Another style of fishing is trolling. This tends to be practised either when the angler needs a rest from jigging. Or when the boat has drifted off the banks. You will typically troll back to the bank.
This is a highly productive method for the Yellowfin Tuna and super huge Wahoo. Of course, very efficient at targeting the billfish you can catch in Rodrigues. Another successful method for catching the Dogtooth Tuna fish is bait fishing. This is where the boat will slowly troll while baits are lowered behind, and to specific depths. This again can be very productive for the bigger Dogtooth Tuna fish.
Boat
The boat was built in Mauritius from a proven mould to fish the Indian Ocean. It is a vessel designed to combine performance, safety and comfort, making it a go-to ship in the field of big game fishing.
It has been equipped to spend up to 20 days on the ocean. You can find a detailed breakdown of the Boat specification under the Q&A tab above.
Guides
Each day you go out, you will be accompanied by two experienced deckhands and the captain of the boat. These guys have been fishing these waters for a few years now. They always know where to go at any given state of the tide.
They have got some very productive inshore fishing drop-offs for the Doggies and GT’s, and if you fancy catching some of the stunningly coloured Coral Trout, they have lots of excellent marks for these. The team onboard the boat come into their own once they head out to Hawkins bank. They work very well as a team to ensure you get the best fishing experience as possible.
They will help rig up rods, making sure all knots are up to a standard, advise on jigging techniques and more importantly, put extra fish on the boat.
Contact Us
If Dogtooth Tuna fishing off Rodrigues Islands sounds like your type of sport fishing, make sure to explore all our Popper, Jig & Big Game fishing destinations. If you have any questions on our fishing trips to Rodregius Island, then contact us in the office. Our experienced team will be happy to help you with any queries you have. Additionally, you can request a free brochure.
