Thailand 's magical island of Phuket has much more to offer than simply white sand beaches, sumptuous hotels and exquisite seafood restaurants. Anglers from all over the world visit Phuket to test their skills, patience and stamina against some of the world's most formidable gamefish.
The fish-rich waters of the Andaman Sea are home to numerous species of desirable sportfish, including the mighty Black Marlin and the ever-popular Pacific Sailfish.
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When referring to Phuket as an exotic fishing destination, there is a popular saying:
"There may be places in the world where the fishing is better - but there is no better place to go fishing"!
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Phuket has a resident fleet of about 40 charter boats equipped and eager to take out visiting anglers. Of these 40 or so vessels, most are designed to offer "holiday anglers" an introduction to blue water big game fishing. There are a few professional big game operators, who provide an excellent service to serious fishermen. These few are also fully rigged and equipped to offer multi-day, live-on-board trips to the Similan Islands or Koh Rok - a renowned Sailfish hot spot.
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Apart from Marlin and Sailfish the local waters also provide excellent sport with ocean middleweights such as Wahoo, Barracuda, King Mackerel, Giant Trevally, Dorado and an impressive selection of Tuna species.
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While Sailfish can be encountered during every month of the year, the most productive season for Black Marlin is from October - March. Juvenile Marlin are encountered frequently and provide excellent sport on light tackle. The larger specimens do show up in reasonable numbers over the continental shelf but the best chance to experience a fight with a serious Marlin is over the Don Mai seamount, 16-miles west of the Similan Islands - this venue can only be experienced during multi-day trips. Most other species are encountered throughout the year.
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