The headquarters of the 2017 Mauritius International Release
Competition were in the marina where JPH Charters have their offices
and where the fleet of charter boats is moored. This again empha-
sised the extreme heights this world class charter fishing facility
has risen to. It really has to be experienced to be appreciated.
I was privileged to have a close look at a number of the
sportfishers at the event — both charter craft as well as
those which are privately owned — and was especially thrilled
to spend a day aboard one of JPH Charters’ craft Moana 1 during
the competition. It was very interesting to compare these craft to
the boats we chartered back in the years from 1987 to 1992.
Straight off there really is no comparison — day and night is fair com-
ment, and here I am speaking not only about the very new sportfishers, but
primarily of the older charter craft in the Charters’ fleet. During my fishing
trips to Mauritius 25 to 30 years ago the craft lacked finesse, the crews were
(with a few exceptions) not very friendly, the tackle array was abysmal and, above
all, release of billfish was not an option.
The converse was true this time. Even elderly Moana 1which I spent the
day on was remarkable, the crew not only spoke English but were as profes-
sional as those on any of the charter boats I have fished aboard off South
Africa and East Africa, and the tackle was 100%.
After spending a week covering the competition I urge any of our
readers planning on going to Mauritius to seriously consider going
fishing.
As with all fishing — especially marlin fishing during a
competition — the final results speak volumes. You’ll thus
be interested to know that the final result over four days fish-
ing from 14 boats was 28 marlin released. (See full catch log
and results in the table on page 18.)
In terms of marlin fishing in the Indian Ocean, and this includes
the entire East African Coast, the results were good. Chatting to the
locals afterwards, apparently this result is on par with what can generally
be expected in the waters off Mauritius’s Rivier Noir.
SKI-BOAT May/June 2017 • 13