Approximately 600 Km north-west of Phuket lies one of the last pristine fishing grounds left on earth, the celebrated Andaman Islands.
In fact it was in the early 1990s that the first friendly contact was made with the Sentinelese, one of the few remaining indigenous tribes, which prior to this greeted newcomers with spears, bows and arrows.
The Indian government still strictly prohibits visitation to North Sentinel Island due to the hostility of the natives and the dangers involved in navigating the coral reefs surrounding the island where stories about a sunken Portuguese galleon loaded with gold abound.
In the Andaman and Nicobar group there are approximately 570 islands of which only around 40 are permanently populated. Situated closer to Thailand in the Bay of Bengal this tropical Indian outpost is one of the last unspoiled fishing destinations on earth, a place where your wildest fishing ambitions are liable to come true.
Please note
Some boats only go to the Andaman Islands in February & March for weather and safety reasons.
All our sports cruisers are available as luxury tenders for super yachts visiting the Andaman or Similan Islands for fishing or sightseeing.
While fishing off Barren Island, around 130km from Port Blair our visitors often take a photo opportunity, away from their fishing, of a smoking volcano which stated smoldering in the late 1990’s and still occasionally covers our boats with ash.
Around Little Andaman Island keep your eyes peeled for the infamous Andaman Saltwater Crocs which could steal your catch and all your tackle. Growing to 8 or 9 meters long this is a serious predator that laughs at 100lb line.
Our Andaman trips can either be from Phuket or, more commonly, we can pick you up at the airport in Port Blair, the main commercial centre for the islands which has a checkered history of both penal colony and POW camp. Many clients fly direct from their home via India to Port Blair and return the same way, never seeing Phuket our home base, as the 600 Km trip by boat can be quite arduous.
Apart from Indian residents everyone needs a “Restricted Area Permit” to visit the Andamans, these are issued on arrival at the Port Blair Airport. If you arrive with us by sea you will need to arrange your permit when applying for your Indian visa.
The Nicobar Islands, to the south of the Andamans and west of Phuket, are off limits to all visitors, with even “special permits” being very hard to obtain and it is rumored that this is due to India’s only nuclear submarine frequenting these waters, so we steer well clear of the exclusion zone.
The tsunami of Dec. 2004 virtually wiped out the islands but due to their remoteness and Indian silence little information is available as to the consequences of the “Big Wave”.
Fishing in the Similan Islands
Around 120 Km North of Phuket, 8 hours by slow troller, is the best fishing grounds which could be considered "local". The Similan Islands are the heart of our diving industry and a national park with no fishing allowed within this protected area.
Keeping your distance and knowing where the FADs are (fish aggregating devices) Marlin and Sail Fish could well be on your agenda as well as a variety of large Tuna including Yellow Fin and Dog Tooth. On our slower boats the Similans are usually a 3/5 day trip and although the faster sports boats could do it in a day we would always recommend two days one night at least.
The Similans National Park is an archipelago consisting of nine islands usually referred to by number rather than name, 1,2 and 3 are off limits to all, as they are sea turtle hatcheries, while number 4 has a cabin built for the Thai Royal Princess and is exclusive to her when in residence.
Accepted as the No.1 dive site in Thailand and in the top 10 world wide it is guarded “we use that word very loosely” by park rangers on islands No 8 (Ko Similan) and No. 4 (Ko Miang) who have the only residences, all be it temporary, on the islands.
Closed from 1st of May until November 1st it is against Thai law to visit the Similans although weather permitting we regularly fish the surrounding waters outside the 3 mile limit.
Our fishing boats tend to avoid the islands as the ranges demand 600 Baht per head for the privilege of visiting and only anchor there for safety reasons in foul weather.
Another 3/5 day trip is Koh Ha and Koh Rock famous for their abundance of Sailfish. At half the distance to the Similans you could be fishing all the way and on these trips sightseeing could also be part of your schedule as the renowned Phi Phi Island could easily be included for a trip ashore. This trip would be recommended where there were non-fishing clients along for the ride.
Please note
All our boats with sleeping accommodation are available for non-fishing charters into Phang Nga Bay which should be included as one of the wonders of the world. Floating villages, the famous James Bond Island, Ao Phang Nga, Krabi and Ao Nang can all be included in this most scenic of trips.
An easy, but full day’s cruise from Phuket, fishing most of the way, Phuket boats arrive at the Thai / Myanmar border, which for the first and last bookings of the season is a “free day” to T2On’s lucky passengers. During the rest of the season normal procedure is for the crews to pick up their passengers on the Thai side of the border “Ranong” for the short trip across to Myanmar (Burma) “Victoria” to welcome aboard their compulsory Myanmar guide and pay the 100 USD entry fee which then allows her access to very possibly the best Bill Fish fishing anywhere.
The Burma Banks themselves are a series of flat topped underwater mountains covering a huge area of around 1,500 square kilometers. The waters around the “banks” are 300/350 meters deep and gradually rise to 15 meters from the surface, making this vast area inaccessible to commercial trawlers.
Situated 180Km North West of the Similan Islands and 90 to 180 Km due west of Ranong (Thailand) and Kawthaung, Myanmar (Burma) Nearly half way to the Andaman Islands (India) the “Banks” are in international waters although economic rights are claimed by the Myanmar Government.
Because of strong currents and no place to “run” for protection from foul weather the “banks” can only be visited, for safety reasons, during our “high” season mid- February to mid-April.
Obviously there is nothing to see, but if you’re here for the fishing this is one of the best “bill” fishing areas anywhere, with Marlin and Sailfish in abundance.
Please note
All our trips require a 50% payment in advance, the balance to be paid on the day