Fishing is one of the most important cultural and economic activities in the Maldives, and a popular recreational activity not only among the local people of the islands, but also with tourists. Every visitor to the islands will have many opportunities to go fishing: these might include fishing from the comfort of a palm-shaded beach, spear fishing with snorkelling and scuba equipment, and traditional pole and line fishing from a dhoni sailing boat. Angling aficianados also have the choice of several specialist fishing resorts scattered throughout the Maldives, and luxury fishing cruises that tour the many islands and atolls, often for days or weeks at a time.
There is an astonishing variety of fish in the islands, including tuna, groupers, barracuda, rainbow runners, and trevally - the list numbers well over a thousand species, any one of which might be the catch of a lifetime. All resorts have fishing equipment for hire and a small fleet of traditional dhoni boats to shuttle guests among the best fishing spots. These can include the remote and temporary sandbanks that form within the atoll lagoons, often providing several square kilometres of warm shallow water where enthusiastic fishermen - and women - can spend hours wading, swimming and catching fish. These lazy days of fishing usually conclude with a seafood barbecue on the beach in the evenings.
Night fishing for tuna has been the most common traditional livelihood for Maldivians for thousands of years, and most of the resorts will be able to organise night fishing trips. This style of fishing requires no particular expertise, just an appreciation for the gentle rhythm of the waves and the breathtaking beauty of the star-studded night sky. The crew hook the lines with live bait such as trigger fish and mackerel and drop them over the side of the boat. Usually there are no rods or reels - if a fish is caught it is hauled in with gloved hands and killed when it is rolled onto the boat.
Several specialist fishing resorts and fishing cruise operators offer big game fishing trips with experienced fishing guides. Many of the large fish species are protected by Maldivian law, and several marine areas are also protected, so it is important to go out with a qualified crew. The largest game fish such as sailfish, marlin, barracuda and swordfish are usually caught outside the atolls in the early morning. A number of luxury vessels also combine fishing cruises with diving and snorkelling.
Tuna is revered by the Maldivian people. Skipjack or yellowfin tuna is traditionally eaten with every meal, either curried or salted and dried (a style known as 'Maldives fish’). Fish is only plentiful source of animal protein in the islands, and one of the few foods, along with coconut, that the Maldives produce. Much of the food eaten in the resorts and by the modern Maldivian population must be imported. Because of the cultural and economic importance of fishing, the Maldives government has established strict rules that prohibit high-tech fishing methods within the 200-mile exclusion zone around the islands.