Big-Game Fishing
Big-game fishing in the Maldives means heading into deeper water to troll or jig for pelagic species — sailfish, marlin, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, dorado — rather than the short hand-line trip most resorts run closer to the reef. It's usually run as its own private charter, booked separately from the shared sunset fishing trip most excursion lists carry.
The specifics differ resort to resort. Constance Moofushi runs it as a dedicated private trip — trawling, deep-sea jigging and spinning for sailfish, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, dorado, and black and striped marlin, timed seasonally on request. Kudadoo Maldives Private Island adds jig-and-popping for giant trevally and barracuda and bottom fishing for grouper, and the kitchen will prepare the catch to order back on the island — sushi, or a chargrilled tuna steak. Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa runs one of the broader spreads on offer, pairing big-game and sport fishing with separate sunrise and sunset fly-fishing trips and night fishing.
It suits guests who want a genuinely active few hours away from the beach — often the one excursion a mixed group agrees on when snorkelling and spa don't appeal to everyone equally. Boats are a shared, limited resource on a small island, so it's worth naming the interest early rather than assuming a slot opens up on short notice.
Good to know
Booked as its own private charter
Run separately from the shared sunset fishing trip most excursion lists carry — Constance Moofushi, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island and Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa all treat it as a distinct, dedicated trip.
Boats are a limited resource
A small island only has so many boats, so it's worth naming the interest early rather than assuming a slot opens up on short notice.
Catch handling varies by resort
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island's kitchen will prepare your catch to order — sushi or a chargrilled tuna steak — but it's not a universal policy, so ask when you book.
Where it’s distinctive
ananea Madivaru Maldives
North Ari Atoll · private transfer, confirmed at booking
Big-game (deep-sea) fishing excursion offered
Coco Bodu Hithi
North Malé Atoll · speedboat, 35 minutes
Big Game Fishing is offered as a private experience.
Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu
Baa Atoll · seaplane, 30 minutes
Big Game Fishing listed among the resort's Private Experiences.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
South Ari Atoll · seaplane, 30 minutes
Big-game fishing offered alongside traditional sunset fishing.
Constance Halaveli
North Ari Atoll · seaplane or speedboat, 25 min seaplane / 90 min speedboat
Fishing excursions run traditional Maldivian-style or big-game.
Constance Moofushi
South Ari Atoll · seaplane, 35 minutes
Private Big Game Fishing — trawling, deep-sea jigging and spinning for Sailfish, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado, Black and Striped Marlin.
dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives
North Malé Atoll · speedboat, 7 minutes
Big-game fishing is offered alongside the resort's other curated excursions
The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives, Autograph Collection
Gaafu Alifu Atoll · seaplane, confirmed at booking
Big Game Fishing for marlin, sailfish and yellowfin tuna offered
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives
South Malé Atoll · speedboat, 20 minutes
Fishing and big-game fishing excursions.
Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa
Haa Alifu Atoll · seaplane, 75 minutes
Big game, sport, sail and hand-line fishing trips run alongside sunrise/sunset fly fishing and night fishing
Joy Island Resort Maldives by Cocoon
North Malé Atoll · speedboat, 40-45 minutes
Big Game Fishing and Hand Line Fishing excursions offered alongside Sunset Fishing.
Komandoo Maldives
Lhaviyani Atoll · seaplane, 40 minutes
Big-game/deep-sea fishing excursions run alongside night (line) fishing trips.
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island
Lhaviyani Atoll · seaplane, 40 minutes
Trawling for sailfish and tuna, jig/popping for giant trevally and barracuda, bottom fishing for giant grouper, fly fishing for bonefish, with the catch prepared to order.
Niva Kuramathi Maldives
North Ari Atoll · seaplane or speedboat, 20 min seaplane / 75–90 min speedboat
Big-game fishing for marlin and tuna.
Kuredu Island Resort & Spa
Lhaviyani Atoll · seaplane or domestic flight + speedboat, 40 min seaplane / 35 min flight + boat
Fishing excursions and deep-sea trips through the resort's activities programme.
Niva Kurumba Maldives
North Malé Atoll · speedboat, 10 minutes
Big game fishing and sunset sport fishing excursions.
Naladhu Private Island Maldives
South Malé Atoll · speedboat, 30 minutes
Deep-sea fishing offered alongside diving and wreck exploration.
NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort
South Ari Atoll · seaplane, 25 minutes
Big-game fishing (private boat, up to 4 guests) offered among the excursions
Niyama Private Islands Maldives
Dhaalu Atoll · seaplane, 45 minutes
Big-game and sunset fishing excursions.
OZEN Reserve Bolifushi
South Malé Atoll · private catamaran, confirmed at booking
Fishing expeditions (sunset and big-game), additional fee.
Six Senses Kanuhura
Lhaviyani Atoll · seaplane, 40 minutes
Big-game fishing runs alongside morning and sunset fishing trips
Six Senses Laamu
Laamu Atoll · seaplane, 65 minutes
Big-game fishing trips run alongside morning and sunset fishing options.
Siyam World
Noonu Atoll · seaplane or domestic flight + speedboat, 40 min seaplane / 30 min flight + 15 min boat
Big-game fishing offered among the resort's sports and activities.
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Dhaalu Atoll · seaplane, 45 minutes
Deep-sea fishing offered as a butler-curated extra.
You & Me Maldives
Raa Atoll · seaplane, 45 minutes
Big-game fishing excursion offered.
Also offered at
Before you book
What's the difference between big-game fishing and the sunset fishing most resorts offer?
Sunset fishing is the shorter, traditional hand-line trip most resorts run close to the reef. Big-game fishing goes further out — trolling or jigging in deeper water for pelagic species like sailfish, marlin, wahoo, tuna and dorado — and is arranged as its own private charter rather than a shared excursion-list activity.
Which Maldives resorts offer big-game fishing?
It's a common private-charter offering across the atolls rather than a rare one — Constance Moofushi, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and Six Senses Laamu are among the resorts we know run it as a distinct trip alongside their regular fishing excursions. See the full roster below for what's confirmed at each.
Can I keep or eat the fish I catch?
At some resorts, yes — Kudadoo Maldives Private Island's kitchen will prepare your catch to order, served as sushi or a chargrilled tuna steak. It's not a universal policy, so ask when you book the trip rather than assuming.
How do I book a big-game fishing trip?
These charters are usually confirmed directly with the resort's excursions or watersports desk once you've arrived, since boat availability depends on what's on the water that day. Flag the interest during your consultation with us and we'll factor it into which resort we recommend — not every property runs it, and a small island only has so many boats.
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