Similan Islands Marlin

[PAPPILOCHROMIS]

Hi everyone, juz got back from Thailand during the Chinese New Year period. Catch wasn't good as the waters were rather choppy due to much wind. Trolled for all day around the islands of Racha Yai and Racha Noi. According to the boatman, we seem to be waiting for the waters to be mirror like. Can anyone further explain what is the rationale behind the waters being mirror like when I saw videos of gamefish caught while in the rough seas?

[Patudo]

Difficult to say sometimes. It depends a lot which boat/skipper/crew you were fishing with, how competent they were. Also on any given day the fishing can be poor anywhere in the world, even in the greatest game fishing hot spots. Did you see how the other boats were doing?

Generally speaking I also prefer it to be fairly calm for fishing in the Phuket area but choppy conditions will also produce. All the small tunas especially seem to fish well when the water surface is broken by wind and waves. At the dropoff, choppy conditions and wind often result in a lot of flying fish activity and good action from big skipjack tuna, dorado, sometimes wahoo.

Over the years I have seen more and more boat traffic in the area around the Racha islands, not just fishing boats but dive boats and passenger boats... I still think there are areas around the two islands that produce well but the routine of many of the charter boats is not ideal for fishing the area as effectively as possible.