Try Banda Sea Strike Sensation!

A small cluster of volcanic islands jutting out from very deep water in the Banda Sea, the Banda Islands are reached by a short flight from Ambon. The waters around Banda hold monster-size yellowfin tuna, which are caught by visiting anglers trolling mainly with big minnow plugs. Other fish are also available, and there must be huge marlin following the bait schools.

The water is extremely deep close to shore, and the wall diving is justifiably world famous. Resorts are of varying standards, and boats are few and cater mainly to divers. There are no sportfishing charter operations in the Banda Islands. The tuna fishing is best from October through December, when large numbers are present. They are normally accompanied by vast schools of spinner dolphin—a dead giveaway for the tuna. The locals fish for them with live baits and handlines. For deep-feeding fish, they use an ingenious system of wrapping a rock in a banana leaf hooked onto the bait. When the bait has reached the desired depth, a sharp jerk on the line releases the leaf and suspends a free-lined bait.

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