Scale down your tackle for non-stop light jigging action
Our Fishing Package options
- Extreme Popping and Jigging package
- Popping, Jigging and Trolling package
- Trolling, live baiting and bottom fishing package
- Light and micro jigging package
The exotic Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a chain of hundreds of volcanic islands situated in the Bay of Bengal, closer to Thailand than to India. These are one of the rare places where native tribes still exist, separated from civilization to this day. The islands are a former penal colony and were occupied by the Japanese during World War II.
Some of the finest white sand beaches in Asia combine with crystal clear waters and reef systems to give the Andamans a diversity seldom seen and make it a must visit destination.
This fishing paradise is where we started our saltwater angling charters in 2006. We fish the Andaman’s vast fishing grounds from our base in Port Blair. The island chain is surrounded by canyons, seamounts, up-wellings and ripping currents that scream across reefs and deep channels making the area a predator’s paradise and spectacular for fishing.
Named Port Blair to honour Lieutenant Archibald Blair of the British East India Company. Port Blair is the largest town and a municipal council in Andaman district in the Andaman Islands and the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India. It lies on the east coast of South Andaman Island and is the main entry point to the islands.
Best known for explosive surface action with heavy chugging poppers and high octane vertical jigging, the Giant Trevally and Dog-tooth tuna are reputed to win more battles than the angler as you fish the reef edges and jagged drop offs.
Troll and live bait for billfish and tuna off-shore or get closer for action with the razor gang.
Our base out of Port Blair is located on the East Coast of the South Andaman Island, Port Blair is an exposed location and mostly affected by the Southwest Monsoon.
The months from October to the end of May give the best possible conditions to make your trip a memorable one.
Gamefishing Asia has the best fleet of state of the art, dedicated Centre Console boats for popping and jigging boats in the Andaman Islands. The three boats have been customized with anglers in mind, giving you quick access fishing spots, a comfortable ride, and the endurance to cover the most remote regions of the archipelago.
Click the tabs below to know more about each of our boats and look at the safety features and layout videos.
The 37ft ‘Rampage’ is a purpose built Popping and Jigging platform, powered by a pair of 250 hp Yamaha 4 stroke outboard engines, giving a very comfortable 20 + knot cruise.
This boat has been chosen as a fast game-fishing vessel to cope with the distances involved fishing the remote areas off Ritchie’s Archipelago as well as the North and South Andaman Islands for longer day trips.
Rampage is in survey to carry 10 passengers plus a crew of 2 (ideal for 4-5 anglers popping and jigging). We have a range of the latest quality tackle from for hire (i.e. PE 8-10 popper casting gear and PE 3-6 jigging gear) and for those anglers interested in trolling and live baiting we have setups from 20lb-100lb all suited to the stand-up style of big game fish fighting.
The spacious and user-friendly layout along with state-of-the-art Garmin electronics and Airmar transducers make this boat one of the fastest and most capable popping, jigging and game-fishing platforms constantly available in the Andaman Islands. And of course, it’s unique hull provides the smoothest ride of any boat in its class.
As safety is of paramount importance to us we take pride in maintaining our boats and equipment, all our boats are fitted with VHF Radio sets, GPS positioning systems, Distress Alert Transponders, extra life jackets and medical first aid kits. All are Captains, deckhands and crews are fully certified and trained additionally in handling emergency situations at sea.
The 37ft ‘Reef Raider’ is a purpose built Popping and Jigging platform, powered by a pair of 250 hp Yamaha 4 stroke outboard engines, giving a very comfortable 20 + knot cruise.
This boat has been chosen as a fast game-fishing vessel to cope with the distances involved fishing the remote areas off Ritchie’s Archipelago as well as the North and South Andaman Islands for longer day trips.
Reef Raider is in survey to carry 10 passengers plus a crew of 2 (ideal for 4-5 anglers popping and jigging). We have a range of the latest quality tackle from for hire (i.e. PE 8-10 popper casting gear and PE 3-6 jigging gear) and for those anglers interested in trolling and live baiting we have setups from 20lb-100lb all suited to the stand-up style of big game fish fighting.
The spacious and user-friendly layout along with state of the art Garmin electronics and Airmar transducers make this boat one of the fastest and most capable popping, jigging and game-fishing platforms constantly available in the Andaman Islands. And of course, it’s unique hull provides the smoothest ride of any boat in its class.
As safety is of paramount importance to us we take pride in maintaining our boats and equipment, all our boats are fitted with VHF Radio sets, GPS positioning systems, Distress Alert Transponders, extra life jackets and medical first aid kits. All are Captains, deckhands and crews are fully certified and trained additionally in handling emergency situations at sea.
The 32ft ‘Tropical Star’ is a purpose built Popping and Jigging platform, powered by a pair of 200 hp Suzuki 4 stroke outboard engines, giving a very comfortable 20 + knot cruise.
This boat has been chosen as a fast game-fishing vessel to cope with the distances involved fishing the remote areas off Ritchie’s Archipelago as well as the North and South Andaman Islands for longer day trips.
Tropical Star is in survey to carry 8 passengers plus a crew of 2 (ideal for 3-4 anglers popping and jigging). We have a range of the latest quality tackle from for hire (i.e. PE 8-10 popper casting gear and PE 3-6 jigging gear) and for those anglers interested in trolling and live baiting we have setups from 20lb-100lb all suited to the stand-up style of big game fish fighting.
The spacious and user friendly layout along with state of the art Garmin electronics and Airmar transducers make this boat one of the fastest and most capable popping, jigging and game-fishing platforms constantly available in the Andaman Islands. And of course, it’s unique hull provides the smoothest ride of any boat in its class.
As safety is of paramount importance to us we take pride in maintaining our boats and equipment, all our boats are fitted with VHF Radio sets, GPS positioning systems, Distress Alert Transponders, extra life jackets and medical first aid kits. All are Captains, deckhands and crews are fully certified and trained additionally in handling emergency situations at sea.
We’ve drawn up a list of the best combinations of rods, reels, line, leaders, hooks & lures to make sure you’re properly equipped to fish at all of our destinations.
All our recommendations have been tried and tested to make sure your tackle is a match for the fish you want to catch. However every now and then you come across a fish that re-writes the rule book.
We also have a selection of tackle for rent at very reasonable rates. Please let us know if you want to rent tackle at the time of your booking.
Rods: You will need a spinning rod rated for Pe8 to Pe10 line and it should be able to handle at a minimum 10 kg of consistent drag pressure. A rod length of 7’6” to 8’6”, with a butt intersection will be the perfect tool for the job. 80 lb class is minimum, best is 100 lb class.
Reels: A spinning reel like the Shimano Stella SW 14000 HG and upwards size or the Daiwa Saltiga 6000, 6500 size would be ideal for the job. For GT popping you will need a reel that has minimum retrieve/ Gear ratio of 5.0 to 1 and above and as earlier mentioned be able to put out at least 10kg drag smoothly and consistently.
The line cap should be at least 180 meters of PE 8 and for the bigger fish you can use PE 8-12 on a reel being able to take at least 180 meters of it.
Braided line: 80 lb or 100 lb (Jerry Brown, Tuff Line, Power Pro)
Leaders: When using PE lines and high drag settings a good shock leader is essential for GT we normally use 170 lb to 220 lb shock leaders of about 1.5-3 meters length, this absorbs the immense forces in the system coupled with the GT strike and head and tail whacking. Monofilament leader is recommended over fluorocarbon. Fisherman Stealth or Varivas Shock Leader are good options
Lures: For lures we recommend having at least 20 lures in your arsenal, these can be from 120 gms to about 200gms. Bigger, louder, splashing and popping lures are good for the large GT’s. Craft Bait GT3, Hammer Head E-Cup and I-Cup, Heru Cubera 150 or Orion Cono Cono 160
Stick-baits: One’s that swim just below the surface or sinking models are very effective. With GT any colour will work. If the fish are on the feed they will hammer anything that moves. Some good colours to have are those that resemble baitfish like the Mackerel coloured lures, Red heads, green and black, purple, etc. ASWB, Siren or Orion Big Foot and Nambas.
Others lures that work well for GT’s are Pencil Poppers like Fisherman Paro Paro. These lures work wonders on some days especially when sea is really flat.
Treble Hooks: Only strong ones like Decoy GT Special in size 8/0 an 10/0. We recommend Gamakatsu GT Recorder in size 6/0 and upwards because these treble’s are barbeless and are really good for fish and safety on board.
Split Rings: Owner 11H or equivalent power in other brands !!!
Rods: Any Jigging rods 5′ to 6’6” long, 2 pieces, rated for Pe5 to Pe8 line, with recommended jig weights of 150-400 grams. Spinning or conventional rods can be used based on an angler’s preference. 60 lb to 80 lb class are best suited.
Reels : A quality spinning reel like the Shimano Stellas SW 20000, SW 18000, SW 10000 can be used. Also the Daiwa Saltiga range like the 6500 or 6000, may be used. However it is important to make sure that reels have a low gear ratio which makes jigging a far easier task and also provide the grunt needed for winching up hard fighting fish from the deep.
Overhead jigging reels are also gaining popularity with hardcore jiggers. There aren’t as many reels to choose from but the right reel for the job can be found with the necessary line capacity and right gearing.
Line : Jigging has gained popularity mainly due to the use of ‘super lines and braid’. The use of braid makes it easier to feel the jig at a depth of 50 meters or more. Also the no stretch quality of braid works well when jigging at greater depths.
There are a wide array of brands available and colour coded jigging line is best suited apart from finding a line with a very narrow diameter.
60 lb or 80 lb, the best is Varivas Avani Big Ones in PE4 or PE5. The Daiwa Accudepth 80 lb is another good option.
Leaders : monofilament, no fluorocarbon because it is not flexible enough, Varivas Shock Leader and Fisherman stealth in 100 lb or 140 lb
Jigs : need to be 200 g and over. The best here is 300 g as the boat can drift fast with the strong currents. Duel Tamentai, Shimano Butterfly, Fisherman Andaman, Skill Jig.
Color : natural, pink or orange (you need a good stock of jigs as these are a favourite of Spanish Mackrel that can bite through the leaders. Use a short wire leader to reduce the chance of this happening.
Terminal Tackle / Assist hooks : The use of quality terminal tackle is one area which is commonly overlooked. Quality assist hooks ranging from size 9/0 to 13/0 are standard sizes here. Split rings and solid rings with a minimum breaking strain of 200lbs is a must apart from a supply of Kevlar assist cord.
You can also make your own. To do this you’ll need :
A Solid Ring : like Owner Solid Ring size 9
Line cord : the best is the Varivas Assist Line SS 80
A Good Jigging hook : like Shout Kudako size 7/0 and 9/0 or Owner SJ-41 size 13/0
Rod : 60 lb class (PE 4)
Reel : Stella or Saltiga with a very good retrieve
Braided line : 50/60 lb like PE 4 (Varivas, Power Pro)
Leader : Monofilament 100 lb to 140 lb (Fisherman Stealth or Varivas Shock Leader)
Lures : when it’s frenzy time, the best lures are pencil popper like Yo-Zuri Surface Bull, Orion Flapper or South African Lure Ice Cream GT.
Sometimes sinking Stickbait’s make the difference. Good choices are FC Labo CSP HS, DUO Pressbait or Sebile Stick Shadd SS.
Hooks : Most efficient are good single hooks like Decoy JS Sergent
Our goal is to provide guests with a unique angling experience with our hospitable service and comfortable stays. Customer comfort and well being is our priority. We believe in focusing on customer satisfaction by providing quality services and working on suggestions to maintain a high standard in all our offerings. Our CSR initiative to reduce one-time use plastic products is an indication our dedication is not limited to our clientele and team, but also to the environment that contributes much to our wellness.
Kokari is the local name for the Giant Trevally (Caranxlgnoblis), which is abundantly found the Andaman waters, and a globally sought-after sport fish. Many travel the world to catch, cradle and release this magnificent creature which is known to be one of the strongest and hardest to catch among the fish species.
At Kokari you will see lots of angling mementos that carry stories about the fish that got away and the few that didn’t. Spectacular sunrise views, spacious rooms, delicious food and friendly hosts will make your stay with us an experience to remember.
Port Blair is the start and end point for our trips. From here we fish various locations north and south of Port Blair. Multi day trips to other islands with overnight stay in clean, comfortable accommodation is offered as part of some of our fishing packages.
Stay on other islands differs from Island to Island, we make a selection for our angling clientele based on cleanliness and comfort, food and proximity to access the boats. This will enable us to provide you with the best experience during your angling holiday with us.
We have a simple but expansive menu to satiate a variety of palates. All hygienically and freshly made by our very own in-house chefs. The crab curry and chilli garlic prawns are a must try! Our cuisine options cater to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian guests.
If you have any special requests or preferences with regards to your meals on an angling holiday then do let us know well in advance, some ingredients may not be readily available or not available at all. In this case we are happy to try to assist you to provide a meal option that meets your requirement.
Here is a sneak peek of some our best selling exotic seafood and Chef’s specials available on pre order only
