The marlin fish caught in Kenya big game sport fishing can weigh anywhere from a 100lb to well over 1000lb, indeed the heavies fish ever caught on rod and line in Kenyan waters was a 1,248lb blue marlin caught on march 1995 aboard the Kingfisher boat Neptune out of Malindi.



This humongous great fish is displayed along with many other fish for all to admire on the walls of the Malindi Sea fishing Club (MSFC). The MSFC is a truly wonderful place, steeped in angling history, where not surprisingly the conversation is invariably of fish, fishing and fishermen, and where they make what is undoubtedly the finest prawn curry in the world!

Nocturnal Broadbill sword fish

There are barely a handful of destinations scattered around the world where that most elusive member of the billfish clan, the nocturnal broadbill swordfish is regularly caught; Kenya is probably the best, fishing for these elusive fish involves an overnight trip, which in itself is a wonderful experience.

Broadbill are caught year round but the prime time is generally regarded as being January-March when the seas offshore are generally at their calmest. Boats target broadbill out of Malindi, Watamu and Shimoni, often on extended 30-hour trips to distant areas such a the legendary North Kenya Banks, and often it is during the daytime on these trips that anglers encounter outstanding sport marlin, large tuna and many other species.

The giant Trevally

In recent years the giant Trevally has become something of a cult angling species, and yet again Kenya offers the visiting angler an excellent chance of doing battle with this immensely powerful members of the jack family. Giant trevally, or GTs are commonly known to live over reefs and banks, often in large shoals of fish that can include individual specimens in excess of 100lb.

A few years back it was the early part of the season that was considered prime GT time, but in recent years exceptional fishing has been experienced through out the entire season, almost certainly as a direct result of a significantly increased amount of angling effort specifically targeting trevally that these days are tagged and released. Over a dozen other species of trevally can be caught in Kenyan waters.

The yellow fin tuna

Tuna notably the yellow fin tuna found in such abundance off the coast of Kenya are one of the strongest fish in the sea; guaranteed to raise a sweat on the brow of even the fittest angler! School size yellow fin tuna, fish from 10-40lb, can be caught through out the season, usually in abundance and occasionally in such numbers that they can even become a nuisance when attempting to target other species, but at such times, you are guaranteed an action packed day followed by a plate of the finest sushi!

The biggest yellow fin tuna, fish that in recent years have included specimens to over 220lb, have appeared in August and September, but be warned, fighting these brutally strong fish is certainly not for the unfit or faint hearted! Several other species of Tuna can also be caught in these waters including skip jack, long tail, big eye and kawa- kawa- the eastern little tunny that are widely referred to as bonito.

Tiger and Mako sharks

Many species of shark can be encountered off the Kenyan coast, but in recent years it is the fearsome tiger shark that has attracted most attention from anglers. A sizeable population of tiger sharks has been located off Watamu and when these fish are in feeding mode, which is more often than not, hooking one, can almost be described as a formality; successfully playing a hooked tiger shark to the boat to be tagged and released is entirely another matter!

These wonderful apex predators average from 300-800lb but many 1,000lb plus specimen are caught, tagged and released each season. Giant bull sharks of similar proportions are also occasionally encountered and while mush rarer, the much prized mako shark is another species that is occasionally encountered by anglers fishing off Kenya.

In addition to the major species listed above, a day's offshore fishing in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa will almost invariably produce many other species including highly sought after species such as the incredibly fast Wahoo, the gloriously coloured and sweet tasting dorado or felusi as it's known in Swahili, and let's not forget the large snapper and grouper that can be caught fishing baits or lures near the bottom. Two species of barracuda, king mackerel-known as kingfish, cobia, rainbow runner and many others can all be encountered on a typical day's fishing off Kenya.

Journals of an avid angler

I have fished in this wonderful; country for over 10 years, during which time I've made some 16 trips to the coast averaging four-five day's fishing per visit, that's around 70 days fishing off the Kenyan Coast. Sure I've had a few quiet days but I've never had a day when I've caught nothing, while on other days I've almost wished the fish would go off the feed to give me a rest!

Each year I fish extensively around the would, frequently visiting exotic countries and enjoying world class sports fishing, but Kenya remains my all time ultimate angling destination. I've said it before and I'll say it again, were I ever restricted to fishing just one week a year in tropical waters, then I would not hesitate in choosing Kenya as a destination. If nothing else, the prospects of a plate of curried prawns at the Malindi Sea Fishing Club and an icy cold beer or two would be sufficient to bring me back.