The Fishing
Fishing in Rarotonga is all year round, at Marlin Queen we target the following fish:
Pacific Blue Marlin
Pacific blue Marlin is considered by some game fishermen to be a pinnacle of offshore game fishing, due to the size and power of the Marlin. It spends the majority of its life in the open sea far from land, the blue marlin preys on a wide variety of marine organisms, mostly near the surface, often using its bill to stun or injure its prey. Females can grow up to four times the weight of males.
Mahi-mahi (Dolphin Fish)
Mahi-mahi also known as a dolphin fish have compressed bodies and a single long-based dorsal fin extending from the head almost to the tail. Mature males have prominent foreheads protruding well above the body proper. Females have a rounded head. Their caudal fins and anal fins are sharply concave. They are distinguished by dazzling colours; out of the water the mahi-mahi goes through several hues before finally fading to a muted yellow-grey colour. They spawn in warm ocean currents throughout much of the year, mahi-mahis are carnivorous feeding on flying fish, crabs, squid and mackerel and other forage fish.
Yellow Fin Tuna
The local’s favourite fish for sashimi, Yellow Fin Tuna is among the larger tuna species reaching weights over 180kgs and slightly smaller than the bigeye tuna, they often travel in schools with similarly sized companions, at times with other tuna species and mixed schools of small yellowfin and skipjack tunas. Their body shape is particularly adapted for speed, enabling them to pursue and capture fast-moving baitfish such as flying fish, sauries and mackerel.
Wahoo
Found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas, it is best known to sports fishermen, as its speed and high-quality flesh makes it a prized game fish. Its body is elongated and covered with small, scarcely visible scales; the back is an iridescent blue, while the sides are silvery with pattern of irregular vertical blue bars. These colours fade rapidly during death. The mouth is large, and the teeth of the wahoo are razor sharp. Both the upper and lower jaws have a somewhat sharper appearance that those of the king or Spanish mackerel.
Striped Marlin
Striped marlin are large, oceanic fish with long, round bills, small teeth, and a tall dorsal fin. Their bodies are dark blue-black on the top and fade to a silvery white on the bottom. The striped marlin' is a predator that hunts during the day in the top 100 m or so of the water column, often near the surface. The striped marlin are kings of the ocean, and use their intelligence as well as strength to thrive. The primary feeding technique used by striped marlin is piercing through schools of smaller fish. The deadly combination of strength and strategy make them a formidable force to be reckoned with. It’s what makes them a highly prized game fish.