Fishing in the Cook Islands: The Types of Fish in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands

Best time: October to May

Yellowfin tuna is a Cook Islands fishing favourite, not only because they are available to catch for most of the year, but they always put up a fight, whether they’re big or small. The best time to target yellowfin tuna is from December to April, but there are always some hanging about throughout the year, with increased chances of a catch between October and May.

Plus, head on a charter at dusk or dawn to increase your chances of reeling in these eating favourites.

Typical weights of yellowfins are between 15 lbs (7 kg) and 23 kg (50 lbs) but they have been weighed up to 80 kg (176 lbs). They are also a popular fish to target for spearfishing, which you can learn more about in The Complete Guide to Spearfishing in the Cook Islands.

Best time: May to September

One of the most commonly caught game species in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, especially during the wintertime, wahoo provide an exciting challenge for anglers. These speedsters are fast and furious, providing a real challenge when reeling them in. They are mostly caught early in the morning near the FADs and along the coast.

Wahoo is best targeted on a fishing charter at daybreak using trolling fishing techniques. They can reach 23 kg (50 lbs) but can be as heavy as 50 kg (110 lbs)!

Best time: March to September

Also internationally known as dorado or dolphinfish, mahimahi is a popular species to target in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands during the winter months, but the season lasts as long as March until September. The colourful fish is enough to wow as you pull it to the surface, but is also one of the best fish to eat.

Mahimahi can weigh anything from 5 kg (11 lbs) to 25 kg (55 lbs). Learn more about seasonal fishing in The Best Time of Year for Fishing in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Best time: October to April

Billfish anglers will not be disappointed in the Cook Islands, with the prize of blue marlin, striped marlin and, more rarely, black marlin waiting to be caught. Although all marlin species are caught in the Cook Islands' waters, the blue marlin is the most common. Blue marlin can be caught all year round, but the best months to try your luck are October through to April.

Blue marlin can range in size from 65 kg (150 lbs) to a whopping 450 kg (1000 lbs)!

Best time: October to April

Looking for a tough fight? Then head out for giant trevally (GT), known for being some of the toughest fighting fish.

GT fishing on Rarotonga primarily involves night fishing to increase your chances of reeling in your targeted catch. You're also likely to catch some flying fish (maroro) on one of the trips, which are used for live bait to catch the Cook Islands' pelagic species.

On Aitutaki, however, there are fishing charters who can take you by boat to the reef's edges where you can catch GT all day long - find out more in Fishing Aitutaki: 5 Best Fishing Charters on Aitutaki. Note that GTs are catch-and-release only.

The best time to catch giant trevally is between October and April when the flying fish are more abundant, but GTs can be caught all year round. GTs in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands range in size from 5 kgs (11 lbs) to 50 kgs (110 lbs)!

Best time: All year!

A popular, if not the most popular, fish species to target on the Aitutaki Lagoon, bonefish or kiokio provides a fun yet challenging fly fishing experience on the flats. With fishing licenses required for fishing within the lagoon (learn more in The Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands), the populations of bonefish are kept strong to guarantee a fair chance at a catch.

The weight of bonefish ranges from 3.2 kg (7 lbs) to 3.6 kg (8 lbs), but can reach a whopping 9 kg (20 lbs) (well, at least that's big for a bonefish).