Big game fishing in the Maldives

Life in the Maldives is centred around the surrounding waters of the Indian Ocean, which are renowned for plentiful stocks of tropical fish.

The country is made up of 26 atolls - low, coral islands surrounded by a lagoon – that break down into hundreds of islets, which means the water is never far away.

The economy of the country has been reliant on the skills of its fisherman for centuries, which over time have developed handcrafted multi-purpose sail boats, called a dhonis, to get the best catch.

Today, almost a third of the country's workforce is employed in the fishing industry, so for holidaymakers really wanting to get a feel for the Maldivian lifestyle then fishing is thing to do.

If you want to try your hand at catching the larger, more exciting varieties of ocean dwellers, then a popular activity for holidaymakers is 'big game' fishing.

Many Maldivian hotels have links with locals who go organise fishing adventures on speed boats, which usually take place at dawn.

Among the fish you can expect to catch are tuna, barracuda, snapper, sail fish and marlin, and in many cases the fishing boat captain will offer advice on when to go out and what to use to lure your catch.

The two most popular times the boats leave are either at dawn, which is the traditional time the dhonis go out, or at night.

If you are serious about your fishing, then there are also cruises available that include excursions, free use of fishing equipment, transfers by dhoni, and guided tours of local islands.

For more information see www.tropicalcruise.co.uk

Tour operators to the Maldives offering fishing-related activities include www.boutiquesrilanka.com, www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and, www.directline-holidays.co.uk

Return flights from London Gatwick to Male with Emirates airlines cost £566 per person via Thomas Cook www.thomascook.com