A fishing trip in the Maldives can cost as little as USD 25 for a shared sunset trip from a local island, or several thousand dollars for a week at a fishing lodge with a private boat every day. Most of the difference comes down to three things: whether you charter a boat privately or share a trip, how long you fish, and how many anglers split the cost of the boat. This guide sets out the real prices we sell at, what each one includes, and how to work out what your own trip will cost.
Prices checked October 2026. All prices are in US dollars.
Maldives fishing trip cost: the quick answer
- Shared sunset fishing trip (local island, a few hours, handline): from USD 25–30 per person.
- Private half-day charter: USD 980 per boat for up to 5 anglers, which is USD 196 each when the boat is full.
- Private full-day charter: USD 1,380 per boat for up to 5 anglers, which is USD 276 each when the boat is full.
- Fishing holiday package (lodge, meals, domestic flight, boat transfer and private fishing days): from USD 870 per person for 2 nights, up to USD 11,170 for a solo angler fishing full days for 8 nights.
Private fishing charter prices in the Maldives
A private charter means the boat, captain and crew are yours for the day. You choose the fishing (popping or jigging for giant trevally, trolling for tuna and wahoo, or quieter reef fishing), and you don't share the boat with strangers. Our own boat, Emperor, is a 32-foot fishing boat with twin 200 HP outboard engines, based at Maamendhoo in Gaafu Alifu Atoll. It can also be arranged elsewhere in the Maldives at the same rate, depending on your dates and where the boat is.
| Charter | Price per boat | Per angler with 2 on board | Per angler with 5 on board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private half-day charter | USD 980 | USD 490 | USD 196 |
| Private full-day charter | USD 1,380 | USD 690 | USD 276 |
Every charter includes a professional captain and crew, fuel, soft drinks and snacks, and basic fishing gear. The boat takes a maximum of 5 passengers.
Maldives fishing package prices per person
A fishing package bundles the fishing with everything else you need for a multi-night stay at the Maldives Fishing and Holidays Lodge on Maamendhoo:
- full-board accommodation at the lodge
- a return domestic flight from Malé
- the boat transfer to the island
- private fishing charters on Emperor (one fishing day fewer than the number of nights, so a 3-night package includes 2 fishing days)
Package prices are per person and depend on how many guests share the boat. The fewer anglers on board, the more each one pays, because the boat costs the same however many people are on it.
Full-day fishing package prices (USD per person)
| Package | Fishing days | 1 guest | 2 guests | 3 guests | 4 guests | 5 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 nights | 1 | 2,170 | 1,420 | 1,170 | 1,045 | 970 |
| 3 nights | 2 | 3,670 | 2,170 | 1,670 | 1,420 | 1,270 |
| 4 nights | 3 | 5,170 | 2,920 | 2,170 | 1,795 | 1,570 |
| 5 nights | 4 | 6,670 | 3,670 | 2,670 | 2,170 | 1,870 |
| 6 nights | 5 | 8,170 | 4,420 | 3,170 | 2,545 | 2,170 |
| 7 nights | 6 | 9,670 | 5,170 | 3,670 | 2,920 | 2,470 |
| 8 nights | 7 | 11,170 | 5,920 | 4,170 | 3,295 | 2,770 |
Half-day fishing package prices (USD per person)
| Package | Fishing days | 1 guest | 2 guests | 3 guests | 4 guests | 5 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 nights | 1 | 1,670 | 1,170 | 1,000 | 920 | 870 |
| 3 nights | 2 | 2,670 | 1,670 | 1,335 | 1,170 | 1,070 |
| 4 nights | 3 | 3,670 | 2,170 | 1,670 | 1,420 | 1,270 |
| 5 nights | 4 | 4,670 | 2,670 | 2,000 | 1,670 | 1,470 |
| 6 nights | 5 | 5,670 | 3,170 | 2,335 | 1,920 | 1,670 |
| 7 nights | 6 | 6,670 | 3,670 | 2,670 | 2,170 | 1,870 |
| 8 nights | 7 | 7,670 | 4,170 | 3,000 | 2,420 | 2,070 |
These rates are valid until 31 December 2027.
What's included in the price of a fishing trip
What you pay on top of the headline price depends on whether you book a charter on its own or a full package.
Included in a private fishing charter
- Professional captain and crew
- Fuel
- Soft drinks and snacks
- Basic fishing gear
Included in a fishing package
- Everything in the charter, for each fishing day
- Full-board accommodation at the lodge
- Return domestic flight and boat transfer to Maamendhoo
Extra costs
If you book a charter on its own and want us to arrange the rest, or you want better tackle than the basic gear, these are the current add-on prices:
- Domestic flight from Malé: USD 365 per person
- Full-board meals and a room at the lodge: USD 150 per room
- Equipment rental: USD 80 per kit
- Professional rod and reel setup (heavier popping or jigging tackle): USD 80 per setup
Package guests don't pay for the transfer, meals or room again. Those are already in the package price.
How group size changes the fishing charter cost
The single biggest factor in what you pay is how many people share the boat. A private charter is priced per boat, so a full-day charter costs USD 1,380 whether one angler goes out or five do. On your own, that is USD 1,380 for the day. With four friends, it is USD 276 each.
Packages work the same way. A 5-night full-day package costs USD 6,670 for a solo angler but USD 1,870 each for a group of five, less than a third of the price per person for the same lodge, the same boat and the same four days of fishing. If you're travelling alone or as a couple, ask whether other anglers are booked for your dates. For couples the biggest saving per person comes from the first extra angler: 2 guests pay USD 3,670 each on that same package, against USD 6,670 for one.
Shared fishing trips vs private charters
If you just want to try fishing during a beach holiday, you don't need a private boat. Many local islands near Malé run shared sunset fishing trips. You fish with handlines from a local boat for a few hours around sunset, alongside other guests. On our site these start from USD 25 and USD 30 per person on Maafushi.
A shared trip is good value for a relaxed evening, but it isn't the same experience as a charter. You don't choose where the boat goes or what you fish for, there's no popping or jigging gear, and you won't get to the outer-reef channels where giant trevally, dogtooth tuna and other big game feed. If you want to target a particular species or technique, budget for a private charter. Our guide to private vs shared fishing charters explains which suits you, and how to choose a fishing charter lists what to check before you book. Our guide to Maldives fishing techniques explains what each kind of trip involves.
How to save on a Maldives fishing trip
- Fill the boat. Five anglers on a full-day charter pay a fifth of what one does. It's the biggest saving available.
- Choose half days. A half-day charter costs USD 400 less than a full day, and a 7-night half-day package is USD 600 less per person than the full-day version for a group of five.
- Book a package if you're staying at the lodge. The package already includes the domestic flight, which costs USD 365 per person on its own.
- Bring your own tackle if you have it. Basic gear is included, so you only pay for rental or a professional rod and reel setup if you want heavier gear and don't bring your own.
- Plan the whole trip together. Matching your fishing days to the season and your travel dates avoids paying for days you can't use. See our Maldives fishing trip itinerary for sample days and our month-by-month fishing seasons guide.
Maldives fishing trip cost: FAQs
How much does a fishing charter cost in the Maldives?
Our private charters cost USD 980 for a half day and USD 1,380 for a full day. The price is per boat, for up to 5 anglers, and includes the captain and crew, fuel, soft drinks and snacks, and basic fishing gear.
Is the charter price per person or per boat?
Per boat. The price stays the same whether 1 or 5 people are on board, so the cost per angler falls as your group grows. Package prices, on the other hand, are per person.
What is the cheapest way to go fishing in the Maldives?
A shared sunset fishing trip from a local island, from about USD 25–30 per person. For serious sport fishing, the cheapest option is a private half-day charter shared between five anglers, which comes to USD 196 each.
How much does a GT fishing trip cost?
Giant trevally fishing is done on a private charter, using popping and jigging tackle. A full day on Emperor costs USD 1,380 per boat. If you want heavier tackle than the basic gear, a professional rod and reel setup is USD 80 per setup. Read more about GT fishing in the Maldives.
What does a fishing package include?
Full-board accommodation at the Maldives Fishing and Holidays Lodge on Maamendhoo, a return domestic flight, the boat transfer to the island, and private fishing charters for every fishing day.
Do I need to bring my own fishing gear?
No. Basic fishing gear is included on every charter. You're welcome to bring your own rods and reels, or to rent a professional setup for USD 80.
How far in advance should I book?
Emperor is a single boat, so popular dates can fill up. Send us your dates and group size and we'll confirm availability and the exact price.
Are these prices fixed?
The charter and package prices on this page come from the operator's current rate sheet, valid until 31 December 2027. We'll always confirm the final price in writing before you pay.
Get a quote for your fishing trip
Tell us your dates, how many anglers are coming and whether you'd like half or full days, and we'll confirm availability and the exact price. You can also see the Emperor charter rates or compare all fishing packages.