Fishing in Niue: When to Go, What to Catch and How to Catch it
One of the hidden gems of fishing in the South Pacific, Niue’s waters are uncrowded and unmatched. Only within 100-600m from shore you can be trolling, jigging or casting for bluewater pelagics, from zipping wahoo to monstrous marlin. Niue provides exciting game fishing all year round with passionate local fishing guides to show you the ropes. And we’ll show you the ropes of planning your fishing experience, right here, with this complete guide to fishing in Niue.
Quick Fishing Tips for Niue
- Niue has strict fishing regulations where visitors can only fish from Sir Robert’s Wharf in Alofi or with a licensed fishing charter
- The charter policy in Niue is that the catch stays with the boat. However, some charters will cut a piece of the catch for you to cook up at your accommodation, while others will deliver it to local restaurants for you to try professionally prepared
- All of Niue’s fishing charters provide equipment for trolling, jigging and casting. However, you need to bring your own equipment for spearfishing
- Niue’s fishing charters are very similar in what they offer, but you can learn how to compare them in How to Choose the Best Fishing Tour in Niue.
For elaboration, as well as more tips, see the 10 Fishing Tips for Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comGame Fish Species in Niue
Niue’s waters are home to an array of highly-sought tropical pelagic fish species. While some are seasonal, most can be caught all year round. Some of Niue’s game fish species include:
- Wahoo
- Mahimahi
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Dogtooth Tuna
- Skipjack Tuna
- Pacific Sailfish
- Striped Marlin
- Giant Trevally
- Bluefin Trevally
- Red Bass
- Pacific Baracuda
- Queen Fish
- Long Toms
- Pike
The most popular game fish to target in Niue are wahoo, mahimahi, yellowfin tuna and marlin. Learn more about these fish in What Types of Fish Can You Fish for in Niue?
(c) niuepocketguide.comThe Best Time to Fish in Niue
With warm air and sea temperatures and game fish species to catch year-round, there’s never really a bad time to fish in Niue. Niue experiences two distinct seasons: the winter season (dry season) and the summer season (wet season). Winter is cooler and drier, while summer is hot and humid. Sea conditions in summer can get rougher more frequently than in winter, which incidentally means that there are fewer fishing days per month in summer.
However, if you are targeting a specific game fish species, then the season does matter. Here is a quick list of Niue’s common game fish species and the best seasons to fish them:
- Wahoo – Winter
- Mahimahi – Only winter
- Yellowfin Tuna – Summer
- Skipjack Tuna – Fringes of summer
- Marlin – Fringes of summer
- Sailfish – Fringes of summer
- Dogtooth Tuna – Summer
For more information, see The Best Time for Fishing in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comFishing Charters in Niue
Due to strict fishing regulations in Niue in order to keep the fish populations sustainable, visitors to Niue can only legally fish at Sir Robert’s Wharf in Alofi or with a fishing charter. The latter has the largest number of tour options than any other activity on the island, with an excellent bunch of passionate locals and expats keen to show visitors their fishing grounds.
Niue’s fishing charters include all of the high-quality fishing equipment you need aboard fishing vessels that tend to be 5-7m with outward motors for a smooth ride. Refreshments are also sometimes included. Niue’s fishing charters include:
- Fish Niue Charters
- Niue Fishing Charters
- Niue Wahoo Fishing Charters
- Paul Pasisi Charters
- Sea Turtle Charters
- Gone Fishing Niue Fishing Charters
- Kiu Tahi Fishing Charters
- Niue Sport Fishing Charters
- Teresa’s Charters
- Vaimono Charters
We go into detail on each charter in the 10 Best Fishing Charters in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comFishing Techniques and Specialities
The standard fishing technique for fishing charters in Niue is trolling. However, most fishing charters are also set up for jigging and hand casting, whatever the conditions and fish you are targeting call for. Other speciality fishing includes spearfishing, while some boats are also licensed to take you whale watching.
Spearfishing
Fish Niue Charters, Niue Fishing Charters and Paul Pasisi Charters offer spearfishing charters to Niue’s bluewater drifts, drop-offs and offshore FADs. While most charters require you to bring your own gear and gun, Niue Fishing Charters can organise rentals on request. Find out more in The Complete Guide to Spearfishing in Niue.
Whale Watching
While not directly associated with fishing, whale watching is available with some of Niue’s fishing charters. In Niue, boats need to have a license in order to interact with humpback whales that migrate to Niue’s water between July and September. Charters with a license, including Paul Pasisi Charters, Niue Fishing Charters and Fish Niue Charters, can all approach whales if seen and even have passengers swimming with whales providing they stick to regulations. Learn more in The Guide to Swimming with Whales in Niue.
More About Fishing in Niue
- What You Need to Know About the Kaloama/Goatfish Season in Niue
- 5 Best Fishing Trips from Alofi
- The Best Spearfishing Charters in Niue
That’s it for our complete guide to fishing in Niue. Discover more exciting experiences in the 101 Things to Do in Niue: The Ultimate List or get more travel advice in The Complete Travel Guide to Niue.
