French Polynesia: inshore fishing, lagoon fishing, or big-game fishing?

Hi there, my husband loves fishing, and during our upcoming vacation in French Polynesia, he’s planning to do two half-day trips. We’ll be staying in family-run guesthouses on the following islands: Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, and Fakarava. Which type of fishing should he choose for the best experience, and on which islands? Thanks in advance for your help! 🙂

Which type of fishing should you choose for a good time and on which islands?

It all depends on the angler’s mindset... If it’s a freshwater fisherman looking to try fishing in different waters, lagoon fishing will bring the same pleasure of patience and tranquility. But if it’s a fisherman who needs to feel like a ‘real man’ and dominate so-called dangerous animals, they should head straight to join the list of idiots who do big-game fishing...

Giles

Okay, thanks for your reply. It's true that where we're from, it's mostly coarse fishing or whip fishing. So, if you've tried it, which island did you do it on? I should also mention that my husband once tried big-game fishing in Africa—really sporty, by the way—and just out of curiosity, why don’t you like that kind of fishing?...

The big difference is also in the price...........Just a few francs to fish with a handline in the lagoon..........and tens of thousands of XPF for a half-day of deep-sea fishing (expect between 80,000 and 120,000 XPF = 600 and 1,000 €)..........But when you love it, you don’t count the cost ;)

Oh well, at that price, I think we'll do plenty of other things... And he'll fish in the different lagoons. Thanks for your reply, Bobcat.

I must say, though, that my husband once tried big-game fishing in Africa—very sporty, I must say—and just out of curiosity, tell me why you don’t like that kind of fishermen...

How can you respect a man who burns 200, 300 liters of fuel just to go measure himself against a sea predator—whether it’s a swordfish, a shark, a marlin, or a tuna—only to not even eat the fish, just for the sake of a photo and the thrill of conquering the animal? An activity so "sporty" that its stars are named Paul-Loup Sulitzer, Carlos... real athletes, right?

Meanwhile, you’ve got river fishermen who maintain riverbanks during winter, monitor water quality, fight for habitat preservation, and build fish passes for migrations...

Hi Cassolarde,

For big-game fishing, you can book charters on Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora. A half-day should run around 60,000 francs, and a full day about 100,000 francs. You’ll be able to fish under IGFA rules, with the tag-and-release limit set at 100 kg here.

If you want to catch the same fish without IGFA regulations, check with your guesthouse about joining local fishermen on a "poti marara" for the day. Obviously, the comfort isn’t the same—it’s a bit cheaper, and the experience is different (and usually no room for your partner). For example, on Tahiti, it’s a great chance to spend the day with fishermen at Tetiaroa, trolling, paru fishing, or spearfishing for mahi-mahi. You can ask around on any of the islands.

For lagoon fishing, forget Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, and Bora—you’d just be wasting your time on your own. Try Rangiroa and Fakarava in the Tuamotus instead. You toss in a lure, and a fish practically commits suicide… but I don’t see how you’d find gear if you don’t bring your own. So, your best bet is still to ask at your guesthouse if anyone in the family is heading out for the day—when you see what comes out of Rangiroa’s lagoon, you’ll quickly forget about rivers. I don’t know Fakarava well, but in Rangiroa, if you find a rod, you can cast from the reef (usually just a 5-minute walk) or at the pass—you won’t come back empty-handed.

In short, sportfishing is expensive here, so unless you’re part of a club, I’d probably skip it. The trick is to ask at guesthouses if a local fisherman wants to take you out for the day for a fee.

The sun isn’t exactly friendly here, so if you do go fishing, try to schedule it toward the end of your trip so you can get used to it first.

As for the comments I’ve read about sportfishing, I don’t say anything about topics I don’t know—proof being I avoid making fun of PSG since I don’t play soccer.

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Hi and thank you so much, Otava! This is exactly the kind of clear, precise, and unbiased answer I was hoping for.

Since we knew some locals, we were lucky enough to go out with them for the price of a meal for the crew. It’s worth looking into, but without connections, it might not be easy. That said, with the pros, you don’t catch much yourself, but it’s authentic. There’s also the option to rent a motorboat and cruise around the lagoon independently—it’s a great way to explore... Make sure to research all the species out there because some are best not touched by hand—I learned that the hard way. Anyway, even when you know what you’re doing, I always end up with a spine in my hand when I go fishing.

Pics on my blog.

Happy travels

Thanks for the info. I really think there’s nothing like fishing with the locals... I’ll check out your blog.

Hi Cassolarde,

Get in touch with the Tahiti Fishing Center—they offer some great trips at very affordable prices! Have a great trip!!!

😎Hi there....Thanks for replying, but French Polynesia is far behind us now since we went there in March 2009....It was an absolutely stunning trip, the most beautiful we’ve ever taken, in fact....All we hope for now is to go back. As for fishing, in Fakarava, at Motu Aito Paradise, there was Fanau who took my husband fishing for *palangrotte* every day—sometimes even twice a day. Even I fished and caught some *capitaines*, *bec de canard*, and I can’t remember the names of the other fish, but suffice to say, the "local" fishing was extraordinary.....

As for fishing, in Fakarava, at Motu Aito Paradise, there was Fanau who took my husband fishing with a handline every day, sometimes twice a day.

You must have loved it! :) Don’t you have a photo to share and inspire other travelers?

Hi there... I hope you can enjoy my photos taken in Fakarava, around the motu Aito Paradise. Military fish, Parrotfish, and Napoleonfish, in that order... and Fanau cleaning the fish before they end up on the plate. You can see it's truly traditional fishing since it's just a line, a hook, a piece of coral for weight, and a piece of octopus... Anyway, have a great day—I'm off back to Polynesia... through my photos only... sniff!!!!

Thanks! 🙂

Hi Floriane,

This site is pretty well done for getting info on fishing spots and the type of fishing!

https://www.mylittlepolynesia.com/peche-gros-polynesie-spot/

See you,