The Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Vanuatu

While you can find fishing opportunities throughout Vanuatu, the best-known fishing destinations are Efate, Espiritu Santo and, to a lesser extent, Malekula. Each offers a different experience, whether you're looking for an easy day trip from the capital, trophy-sized game fish or a more traditional island fishing adventure.

Efate

For most travellers, Efate LINK#D017 is the easiest place to go fishing in Vanuatu. Home to Port Vila, the island has the widest selection of fishing charters, making it a convenient choice when staying in the capital or at nearby resorts.

Many fishing trips are operated by local Ni-Vanuatu guides from nearby islands, including Lelepa Island, offering everything from reef fishing to light game fishing. Day trips are easy to arrange, and some resorts even provide access to shore-based fishing.

Anglers can target yellowfin tuna, marlin, dogtooth tuna, skipjack tuna, mahimahi, wahoo, barracuda and giant trevally offshore, while reef fishing can produce coral trout, bream and a variety of other reef species. For more information on charter operators, check out the 10 Best Fishing Charters in Vanuatu.

Espiritu Santo

If you're chasing bigger fish, Espiritu Santo LINK#D053, more commonly known as just "Santo", is widely regarded as Vanuatu's premier game fishing destination. While the fishing may be less about numbers, many anglers visit Santo for the chance to hook trophy-sized fish in remarkably accessible waters.

One of Santo's biggest advantages is how quickly boats can reach productive fishing grounds. Depending on where you're staying, giant trevally and dogtooth tuna territory can be reached within minutes of leaving shore. Offshore fish aggregating devices (FADs) also attract species such as mahimahi, wahoo and billfish, creating excellent opportunities for trolling, jigging and topwater fishing.

The island also has accommodation geared specifically toward anglers, making it a popular choice for dedicated fishing holidays rather than casual day trips.

Malekula

Fishing tourism is much less developed on Malekula LINK#D035, but that's part of its appeal. Rather than a large charter industry, fishing here tends to be more closely connected to local communities and traditional island lifestyles.

The most established fishing experiences are around the Maskelyne Islands, where protected marine environments and relatively sheltered waters create opportunities for both game fishing and spearfishing. While visitors will find far fewer operators than on Efate or Santo, those looking for a more remote and authentic fishing experience may find Malekula particularly rewarding.

For travellers primarily interested in fishing, Efate offers the most choice, Santo delivers the best trophy-fishing opportunities and Malekula provides a more traditional and off-the-beaten-track experience.

Vanuatu’s waters are home to many of the South Pacific’s big-hitting game fish species, with warm tropical conditions making most targets available year-round. The list includes:

• giant trevally
• dogtooth tuna
• yellowfin tuna
• mahimahi
• wahoo
• blue marlin
• black marlin
• striped marlin
• sailfish
• skipjack tuna
• barracuda
• red ruby snapper
• jobfish
• coral trout
• red bass
• bigeye tuna

Vanuatu is especially known for trophy-style fishing rather than huge-volume catches. In other words, you might not be reeling in fish every five minutes, but when something does hit, there’s a good chance it will make your arms question your life choices.

For big game anglers, blue marlin is one of the headline species, helped by deep water canyons close to shore where upwellings attract baitfish and, in turn, billfish. Black and striped marlin also frequent Vanuatu’s waters.

If casting poppers, working stick baits, or dropping jigs is more your thing, Vanuatu is also prime territory for giant trevally and dogtooth tuna. Around fish aggregating devices, commonly known as FADs, anglers can also target mahimahi, wahoo and tuna, while deep dropping opens up the chance of red ruby snapper and other deep-water species.

Fishing in Vanuatu is possible year-round, with warm tropical waters keeping many of the main game fish species active throughout the year. Marlin can be caught in any month, while favourites like giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi and wahoo are also generally available year-round.

That said, some months are better suited to particular target species:

• June to November: The cooler months are a strong time for blue marlin, with black marlin and striped marlin also more common during this period. Sailfish can also be targeted inshore when water temperatures cool.
• December to February: Warm, humid weather and often calmer conditions make this a good time for yellowfin tuna and marlin.
• March to May: Often considered one of the best overall periods for fishing in Vanuatu, when many species are easier to target. This is a particularly favourable time for wahoo and marlin, especially around Erromango.

Of course, fishing calendars are never a guarantee (fish have a rude habit of ignoring schedules), but Vanuatu’s year-round climate means there’s rarely a bad time to head out. For a fishing-focused trip, it’s worth choosing your dates around the species you most want to catch.

Fishing in Vanuatu is wonderfully varied, with charters covering everything from relaxed reef fishing to serious bluewater sportfishing. Around Port Vila, Efate, Espiritu Santo and the outer islands, trips can be tailored to different skill levels, whether you’re new to fishing or chasing something with a little more muscle.

Trolling

Trolling is one of the main techniques used for pelagic species such as yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo and marlin. Some charters also use live bait trolling and downrigger fishing, especially when targeting larger fish around deeper water, offshore drop-offs and Fish Aggregating Devices.

Topwater Fishing

Topwater fishing is another big part of the Vanuatu experience, particularly for anglers after giant trevally and dogtooth tuna. This usually involves casting poppers or stick baits around reefs, bommies, ledges and underwater structures, so expect active fishing rather than simply sitting back and waiting for dinner to jump aboard.

Jigging

Jigging is popular for deeper structures and hard-fighting species, including dogtooth tuna, jobfish and snapper. Deep dropping is also available in some areas, with red ruby snapper, red barred snapper, cod and deep sea bream among the specialist deepwater targets.

Reef Fishing

For something gentler, light reef fishing is available around sheltered island waters and reef systems, where species such as coral trout, bream, red bass and other reef fish can be targeted. Some local-style trips keep things simple with traditional techniques, smaller boats and a more relaxed pace, making them a good option for travellers who want the fishing experience without a full-on sportfishing mission.

The main thing to know? Vanuatu fishing is often about quality over quantity. The catch rates might not always be non-stop, but the variety of techniques and the chance of hooking a trophy fish make it one of the South Pacific’s more exciting fishing destinations. For charter options, see the 10 Best Fishing Charters in Vanuatu.

We can hardly conclude this guide to fishing in Vanuatu without mentioning the essential fishing restrictions that help protect the country’s reefs, marine life and local food sources.

Fishing in Vanuatu is regulated under the Vanuatu Fisheries Regulations 2009. For most visitors joining a licensed fishing charter, the practical side of licences is usually handled by the operator. If you are planning to fish independently, especially from a boat, around reefs or near a village, ask the Vanuatu Fisheries Department and the local community what permissions apply before casting a line.

Tabu Fishing Areas

Many coastal and reef areas in Vanuatu are protected under customary law. These are often known as tabu areas, where fishing, collecting shellfish or taking marine life may be restricted or completely prohibited.

Tabu areas are not always marked with official signs. In many villages, they may be identified by a palm frond tied to a pole or standing upright near the coast. If you see one, take it seriously. When in doubt, ask the local village chief or community members for permission before fishing near a village, reef or beach.

Protected Species and Marine Life

Some species are protected or restricted in Vanuatu, either because they are culturally important, slow to reproduce or vulnerable to overharvesting.

Coconut crabs are protected by size limits, seasonal closures and restrictions on egg-bearing females. Egg-bearing coconut crabs must not be taken, sold or purchased, and coconut crabs with a carapace length of less than 9 cm (3.5 in) are also protected. There are also closed seasons in some areas, including Torba Province, Maewo and Erromango.

Lobsters are also regulated. Egg-bearing rock lobsters and slipper lobsters must not be taken, sold or purchased. Rock lobsters must be at least 22 cm (8.7 in) long, or have a carapace of at least 7.5 cm (3 in), while slipper lobsters must be at least 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Spearing lobsters or using sharp objects to catch them is prohibited.

Marine turtles are fully protected in Vanuatu. This includes leatherback turtles, hawksbill turtles and green turtles, as well as their shells, eggs, nests and hatchlings. Visitors should also avoid disturbing nesting turtles or buying turtle products.

Other protected or restricted marine life includes certain shells, corals, invertebrates and beche-de-mer. Turtles, dugongs, whales and dolphins should never be targeted or disturbed.

Diving, Spearfishing and Reef Collection

Fishing with scuba or other compressed-air diving equipment is restricted and generally requires written authorisation. Fishing in marine reserves is also prohibited unless special authorisation has been granted for research or breeding purposes.

Collecting living coral, invertebrates and ornamental marine species is also restricted, especially in marine reserves, tourist dive sites, community-protected areas and declared tabu areas.

Restaurant and Market Choices

Travellers can also help protect Vanuatu’s marine environment by making responsible food choices. If coconut crab or lobster appears on a menu, it is worth asking whether it has been legally sourced and is in season. One meal might feel like a small choice, but for slow-growing species like coconut crab, every crab counts.

In short, Vanuatu is an incredible fishing destination, but it is also a place where local customs and conservation rules matter. Ask permission, respect tabu areas, use licensed operators and follow local advice. The fish will still be there for the next angler, and that’s the whole point.