Thailand has some of the most exciting gamefishing sites in Asia especially along the Andaman seacoast of Phuket and Krabi provinces. Marlin, sailfish, tuna, huge garoupa and every kind of shark imaginable are a boat ride from shore. Phang-nga Bay plays host to some of the rarest species of aquatic life in the world, including the rare swimming iguana.
Over the past 15 years, deep sea fishing competitions have grown in size and popularity with Phuket and Krabi as centres for a growing fleet of contenders. Tournaments are especially popular during the calm season between September and March when contenders reel in record catches of sailfish, marlin, wahoo and barracuda. Major game fishing contests are run according to the rules of the International Game fishing Association which mandate a "catch and release" requirement for sharks, underweight fish, and billfish such as marlin and sailfish.
