Giant trevally are found across the tropical Indian and Pacific oceans, but only a handful of places combine big fish, healthy reefs and low fishing pressure. Those are the destinations GT anglers save up for. This guide covers the best GT fishing destinations in the world, how the fishing works in each one, and what to think about when choosing where to go. We start with the one we know best: the Maldives, and the remote Gaafu Alifu Atoll in the deep south, where our own boat is based.
What makes a great GT fishing destination?
Every top giant trevally destination shares a few things:
- Reef structure and moving water. GT hunt along reef edges, drop-offs and channels where the tide concentrates baitfish. Atolls and offshore reefs with lots of channels produce the most fish.
- Low fishing pressure. GT are slow-growing and wary. The best fishing is where few boats work the reefs and most fish are released.
- The right style of fishing for you. Some destinations are about popping from a boat along the reef, some about jigging deeper water, and some about casting a fly to GT on shallow flats.
- Access and comfort. Remote fishing is great, but you have to get there. How long the journey takes, and whether you stay on land or on a liveaboard, matters as much as the fishing.
1. Maldives: Gaafu Alifu Atoll
The Maldives is one of the best GT fishing destinations in the world, and it is also one of the easiest to reach. The country is made up of 26 natural atolls, rings of reef cut through by many channels, which is exactly the kind of structure giant trevally hunt. The fish patrol the outer reef edges where the coral drops away into deep water, and gather at the channel mouths when the tide pushes bait between the lagoons and the open ocean.
The central atolls around Malé are busy with resorts and boat traffic. The best GT fishing is in the remote south. Gaafu Alifu Atoll is the northern half of Huvadhu Atoll, one of the largest atolls in the world, with a long outer reef broken by many channels and very few fishing boats working it. That combination of channels, deep drop-offs and quiet water makes it one of the best places in the Maldives to fish for GT.
Our private charter boat, Emperor, is based on Maamendhoo, a local island in Gaafu Alifu, at the Maldives Fishing and Holidays Lodge. Emperor is a 32-foot fishing boat with twin 200 HP engines for up to 5 anglers. A full day on the boat costs USD 1,380 and a half day USD 980, per boat, including the captain and crew, fuel, soft drinks and snacks, and basic gear. The crew fishes by popping and jigging along the reef edges and channels, and the trip can be switched to trolling for tuna and wahoo when conditions suit.
- Private Full-Day Fishing Charter
Fishing51 locations8 hrFrom $1,380
How you get there: an international flight to Malé, a domestic flight south (USD 365 per person) and a short boat transfer to Maamendhoo. Our fishing packages include the domestic flight and transfer.
How you fish: day trips from the lodge on a private boat, so you sleep on land and fish the tides.
Best for: anglers who want world-class GT popping and jigging without a long liveaboard expedition, and groups of up to 5 who want a private boat at a known price.
2. Seychelles: the outer islands
The outer islands and atolls of the Seychelles, far to the south-west of the main granite islands, are famous for fly fishing for giant trevally on shallow flats. Anglers wade or pole across white sand and coral flats and sight-cast to GT cruising in the shallows, often alongside bonefish, triggerfish and milkfish. It is very different from boat-based popping: the fish are smaller on average than offshore, but seeing a GT charge a fly in knee-deep water is the point. The outer islands are remote, so trips are usually week-long stays at an island lodge or on a mothership, booked well in advance.
Best for: fly anglers and flats fishing. For a head-to-head look at the two Indian Ocean countries, see Maldives vs Seychelles for GT fishing.
3. Oman: the Arabian Sea
Oman's coast on the Arabian Sea, and especially the islands off its southern Dhofar coast, has become one of the most talked-about GT popping destinations. The coastline is rugged and remote, with rocky points, reefs and islands that hold big GT along with other predators. Trips are boat-based, often from simple camps or small towns, and the fishing is physical: heavy popping tackle, long days and hot weather.
Best for: experienced poppers looking for an adventurous trip.
4. Sudan: the Red Sea
The remote reefs of Sudan's Red Sea coast are fished almost entirely from liveaboard boats. Anglers spend a week moving between offshore reefs and islands, popping and jigging for GT, along with other reef predators. The reefs are in good condition and the fishing pressure is low, but the trip is an expedition rather than a holiday: you live on the boat for the whole week.
Best for: anglers happy to spend a full week on a liveaboard.
5. Andaman Islands, India
The Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, are a well-known GT popping destination in Asia. The islands are surrounded by reefs, pinnacles and channels, and trips are run from boats and liveaboards that cover the more remote islands. As in the Maldives, GT are caught mainly by popping along reef edges and jigging deeper water.
Best for: popping and jigging in the Indian Ocean away from the main tourist routes.
6. Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has some of the most remote and least-fished reefs in the Pacific. GT fishing here is about exploring: boats and liveaboards work reefs, islands and passes that see very few anglers. The fishing can be outstanding, but getting there takes time and trips need careful planning.
Best for: anglers who want true wilderness fishing and don't mind a long journey.
7. Kiribati: Christmas Island
Christmas Island (Kiritimati), in the central Pacific, is one of the world's best-known flats fishing destinations. Most visitors come for bonefish, but the island's flats and lagoon also hold giant trevally, and casting a fly to a GT on the flats is a highlight of many trips. Fishing is mostly on foot, wading the flats with a guide.
Best for: fly anglers who want GT as part of a wider flats trip.
8. Japan: the Tokara Islands
The Tokara Islands, a chain of small volcanic islands south of Kyushu, are famous in Japan as a GT popping destination. The islands rise steeply from deep water, with strong currents around rocky shores and reefs, and the GT that live there are known for their size and strength. Trips are boat-based and the fishing is demanding.
Best for: experienced poppers with heavy tackle.
9. Australia: the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea
Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the offshore reefs of the Coral Sea hold good numbers of giant trevally. GT are caught by popping along reef edges and around bommies, often on liveaboard trips that also target other reef and pelagic species. Parts of the reef are protected marine parks with fishing zones, so trips are planned around where fishing is allowed.
Best for: anglers who want GT as part of a wider reef fishing trip.
GT fishing destinations compared
| Destination | Ocean | Main style | How trips run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maldives (Gaafu Alifu) | Indian | Popping and jigging from a boat | Day trips from a lodge on a private boat |
| Seychelles outer islands | Indian | Fly fishing on flats | Week at an island lodge or mothership |
| Oman | Indian (Arabian Sea) | Popping from a boat | Boat trips from camps or small towns |
| Sudan | Red Sea | Popping and jigging | Week-long liveaboard |
| Andaman Islands | Indian (Bay of Bengal) | Popping and jigging | Boats and liveaboards |
| Papua New Guinea | Pacific | Popping | Boats and liveaboards, remote |
| Christmas Island (Kiribati) | Pacific | Fly fishing on flats | Wading with a guide |
| Tokara Islands (Japan) | Pacific | Popping from a boat | Boat trips |
| Australia (GBR, Coral Sea) | Pacific | Popping | Liveaboards and day boats |
Why choose the Maldives for a GT fishing trip
Every destination on this list can produce a fish of a lifetime. What sets the Maldives apart is how much of the trip is fishing rather than travelling:
- Short journey to the fish. Many international routes reach Malé, and a domestic flight and short boat transfer get you to Gaafu Alifu without an expedition.
- Sleep on land, fish the tides. You stay at a lodge on a local island and go out on a private boat, rather than living on a liveaboard for a week.
- Private boat, known price. Emperor is yours for the day for up to 5 anglers, at USD 1,380 for a full day, and packages have a fixed price per person.
- More than GT. The same trip can include jigging for dogtooth tuna and trolling for yellowfin tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi, so non-GT days are still good fishing days.
GT fishing holidays and packages in the Maldives
Our fishing packages at the Maldives Fishing and Holidays Lodge on Maamendhoo include full-board accommodation, the return domestic flight, the boat transfer and a private Emperor charter on every fishing day. Prices are per person and fall as more anglers share the boat. A 5-night package with 4 full fishing days, for example, costs USD 3,670 per person for 2 anglers or USD 1,870 per person for 5.
MaamendhooFishing Holiday Packages5 Nights / 4 DaysFrom $1,870 per person- Stay at Maldives Fishing and Holidays Lodge
- Private Full-Day Fishing Charter
- Based in Maamendhoo
Packages run from 2 to 8 nights, with full-day or half-day fishing. See all Maldives fishing packages for every length and group size.
How to choose your GT fishing destination
- Popping, jigging or fly? For boat-based popping and jigging, look at the Maldives, Oman, the Andamans, Sudan, Japan or Papua New Guinea (see also our guide to the best popping and jigging destinations). For GT on the fly, look at the Seychelles outer islands or Christmas Island.
- Land or liveaboard? If you'd rather sleep on land, the Maldives and island lodges suit you better than week-long liveaboards.
- How much travel time you have. Remote expeditions can take several days each way. A destination you can reach quickly leaves more days for fishing.
- Group size and budget. Private boats are priced per boat, so filling the boat brings the price per angler down. Ask for a clear price that says what's included. Our Maldives fishing trip cost guide lists every price.
- Season. Each destination has its best months. For the Maldives, see our month-by-month fishing seasons guide.
GT fishing tackle for any destination
Wherever you go, GT tackle has to stop a powerful fish before it reaches the reef. For popping that means a heavy spinning rod built to cast big lures, a large saltwater spinning reel with a strong drag, heavy braided main line and a thick leader, with poppers and stickbaits rigged with strong hooks and split rings. For jigging you'll want a jigging rod and reel and a selection of heavy jigs. On Emperor, basic gear is included and a professional rod and reel setup is available for USD 80 per setup. Read more in our guide to GT fishing in the Maldives.
Best GT fishing destinations: FAQs
Where is the best place in the world to catch giant trevally?
There is no single best place: it depends on how you want to fish. The Maldives, Oman, Sudan, the Andaman Islands, Papua New Guinea and Japan's Tokara Islands are top destinations for popping and jigging. The Seychelles outer islands and Christmas Island are the best-known places to catch GT on the fly.
Is the Maldives good for GT fishing?
Yes. The Maldives' atolls are full of channels and reef edges where GT hunt, and the remote southern atolls such as Gaafu Alifu see little fishing pressure. Our boat, Emperor, is based in Gaafu Alifu for that reason.
Where is the best GT fishing in the Maldives?
The remote southern atolls, where the outer reefs and channels are fished by very few boats. Gaafu Alifu Atoll, part of Huvadhu Atoll, is one of the best.
How much does a GT fishing trip in the Maldives cost?
A private full-day charter on Emperor costs USD 1,380 per boat for up to 5 anglers, or USD 980 for a half day. Multi-night packages including the lodge, meals, the domestic flight, the boat transfer and fishing start from USD 870 per person (2 nights, half-day fishing, 5 anglers).
Can you catch GT from the shore?
Yes, on flats destinations such as the Seychelles outer islands and Christmas Island, where anglers wade and cast to GT in shallow water. In the Maldives, GT fishing is done from a boat along the reef edges and channels.
Is GT fishing catch and release?
At most top destinations, yes. Giant trevally grow slowly, and releasing them keeps the fishing good. Single or barbless hooks, a short fight and a quick photo with the fish supported horizontally give it the best chance.
Plan your GT fishing trip to the Maldives
Tell us your dates, how many anglers are coming and whether you'd like half or full days, and we'll confirm availability on Emperor and the exact price. You can also see the Emperor charter or compare all fishing packages.