Big game fishing - Moorea Fishing - Polynesia Fishing

WHERE TO FIND IT

The barracuda, or "ono" in Tahitian, is a fish found in open water between the surface and 30 m, but which can descend to 100 m. The adults frequent all coastal environments: reefs, outer slopes, lagoons, seagrass beds, rocky or sandy areas. Adults can be found in all coastal environments: reefs, outer slopes, lagoons, seagrass beds, rocky or sandy areas. Adults can also be seen aggregated under drifting and anchored FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices).

DESCRIPTION

It is fusiform and can reach 2 m in length, weighing 50 kg. As a general rule, individuals are between 1 m and 1.40 m long. The body is silvery-grey, lighter on the belly and often with irregular black spots, more numerous towards the caudal peduncle. The head is slender and pointed, with a lower jaw that is longer than the upper. It is often half-open, revealing sharp teeth.

WHERE TO FIND IT

Skipjack, also known as "skipjack tuna" or "auhopu" in Tahitian, is a pelagic fish that lives in warm waters (> 20°C) with high salinity, up to a depth of 250 m. It is not uncommon to find it close to the coast.

DESCRIPTION

Skipjack is a tuna-like fish, easily recognized by its uniform dark blue or purplish back and 4 to 6 longitudinal stripes on its belly. Skipjack tuna grow in two phases: they quickly reach 35 cm in 1 year, then continue to grow, reaching 80 cm in length and weighing 12 kg as adults. A gregarious species that lives in shoals, either free or associated with floating objects.

WHERE TO FIND IT

Swordfish, or "ha'urā" in Tahitian, is a pelagic fish found at depths of between 200 and 600m. It is found in the warm waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Its water temperature ranges from 18° to 22°.

DESCRIPTION

Swordfish hold all speed records at sea. It can reach a top speed of 110 km/h. They are solitary animals, but can swim in bands. This vision is spectacular, especially when swordfish leap out of the water. Swordfish have special organs near their eyes, which heat them to improve their vision. This enables them to spot their prey more easily. The marlin's body is elongated and round, and its head has a beak or rostrum a third of its length, giving it the air of a fencer. The skin is blue-gray on the back, silvery on the sides and white on the belly.

WHERE TO FIND IT

The sailfish, or "haurepe" in Tahitian, is a pelagic fish found at depths of between 200 and 600m. It is found in the warm waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Its water temperature ranges from 18 to 22°.

DESCRIPTION

This magnificent fish, with its blue, gray and white belly, owes its name to the sail-like fin on its back, which enables it to swim incredibly fast. This fish can reach speeds of 110 km/h, or 30 meters per second! The sailfish measures two to three meters and weighs an average of 40 kg, but some specimens can reach 100 kg. The life expectancy of this fish is around 13 to 15 years. The sailfish swordfish belongs to the marlin family, which is characterized by an upper jaw that protrudes beyond the lower jaw, ending in a sharp, sword-like tip.

WHERE TO FIND IT

The king mackerel or banana tuna, or "paere" in Tahitian, is a tropical and subtropical fish that sometimes ventures as far as England in summer. It is found in all the world's oceans. It seems to live mainly at shallow depths of up to 40m. This pelagic fish lives mainly in the water layer close to the surface, rarely deeper than 20m. It sometimes lives alone (in the case of large fish). It lives in the open sea as well as near the coast, and is frequently found around FADs and drifting wrecks. Its preferred prey are squid and small fish. Appearing at lightning speed, it dashes into the shoal, which bursts on impact, and rarely misses its prey.

DESCRIPTION

It can measure up to 2.50 meters in length and weigh a maximum of 83 kilograms - the French record is 38 kilograms - and was caught in Guadeloupe. This species feeds on small fish and cephalopods. An edible and commercial fish, it is also a prime target for sport fishing.

WHERE TO FIND IT

Red tuna, or "ā'ahi" in Tahitian, is a pelagic fish that can migrate widely in latitude and longitude. It lives at depths of up to 200 m in temperate waters, and up to 500 m in warmer waters. It becomes rare in cold waters, below 10°C at the surface.

DESCRIPTION

Red tuna vary in size from 2 to 3 m in length (and even 5 m in exceptional cases). They weigh an average of 300 kg (record: 684 kg) and can live up to 30 years. Its "torpedo"-shaped body is stocky and circular in cross-section. Midnight-blue on the back, bluish on the sides and silvery-white on the belly, sometimes marbled or spotted with oval markings. It has 2 dorsal fins, fairly close together: the first is yellow or bluish; the second is much higher and reddish-brown. The caudal fin is powerful, symmetrical and crescent-shaped. It is yellowish, edged with black. The "small" pectoral and pelvic fins are yellow, edged in black.

WHERE TO FIND IT

Yellowfin or yellowfin tuna, or "ā'ahi papahi" in Tahitian, is a pelagic fish found in all subtropical and tropical waters around the world. The yellowfin tuna frequents waters with temperatures between 20 and 30° and descends to depths of 250 meters. They gather in schools with other fish.

DESCRIPTION

It is characterized by its bright yellow dorsal and anal fins which, on the largest specimens, can be very long and even reach as far as its tail. It is a magnificent fish with a perfect finish and a formidable adversary, ultra powerful and resistant in combat. Adult sizes range from 40 to 170 cm (1.2 kg to 100 kg). Yellowfin tuna can reach 200 kg for a length of 2.5 m, and live an average of 8 years.

WHERE TO FIND IT

Albacore tuna, or "ā'ahi tari'a" in Tahitian, is a fish found in the temperate waters of all oceans, a pelagic species and a very voracious predator. They gather offshore in specific regions called "upwellings", where the cold waters of the deep ocean layers rise to the surface.

DESCRIPTION

White tuna like to live in shoals at depths of up to 250 meters, but come to the surface to feed and spawn, taking their name from the color of their "white" flesh. Adults can measure 140 cm, weigh 60 kg and live up to 15 years.

WHERE TO FIND IT

Dogtooth tuna, or "ā'ahi vau" in Tahitian, is a fish often found far from the coast or on the edges of passes in currents in groups of 5 or 6. They can be found at depths of up to 100 meters and weigh from 50 to 70 kg, but can sometimes exceed 100 kg.

DESCRIPTION

Recognizable by its midnight-blue color and silvery belly, it is sought after by many anglers for its fighting spirit. It has an impressive jaw with sharp teeth and fearsome canines. Its lightning-fast attacks, stocky body and speeds of up to 80 km/h make it a formidable adversary !

WHERE TO FIND IT

The blue trevally, or "pa'aihere" in Tahitian, generally lives in groups and prefers to hunt above reef zones rich in prey (small fish, crustaceans), even in very shallow water, where it sometimes settles for long periods. It prefers coral beds and the outer slopes of reefs. However, it can also be found in much deeper areas, up to 200 meters, or along rocky drop-offs.

DESCRIPTION

Its flattened, silvery body is covered with black and blue spots. It is easily recognized by the bluish predominance of its coloration and the electric blue of its fins. Its attack doesn't go unnoticed and its nervous defence, punctuated by lively rushes and sudden changes of direction, is a real thrill for thrill-seeking anglers. With an average size of 50 cm, the blue trevally can reach 1.2 metres and weigh up to 25 kg.