Great fishing destinations of the world and the vaccinations you need
It is one thing to fish in your local creek, but fishing in some of the top spots in the world is an entirely different experience.
If you enjoy fishing, one of your dreams may be to fish in the best fishing destinations around the world. Here, we cover some of the best places to fish, what to expect when you arrive, and some of the things you should know before you go.
Taimen, Eg-Uur River Basin, Mongolia
Mongolia is known for its extremely salty sea, nomadic lifestyle and exotic places. But this remote country in north-central Asia is also famous for its streams, home to some of the largest trout species in the world, the Taimen.
Fishing for Taimen is not for the fainthearted as this very fierce and cannibalistic fish called river wolves by the locals can grow up to 2 metres and tilt the scales at more than 90kg.
If you would like to try your hands at catching a Taimen, Mongolia’s fishing season is from June to November.
Make sure you are up to date on your routine vaccines before going for a fishing holiday in Mongolia. These vaccines include your regular flu shot, polio vaccine, tetanus, measles and chicken pox shots.
You can also get typhoid fever from contaminated food and water, so make sure include a typhoid shot, and carry enough clean drinking water if you intend to go do some deep-sea fishing.
Piranha fishing in the Amazon Basin, Brazil
If you have ever seen any of the Piranha movies, you will know that these are not fishes to meddle with, but that does not mean you cannot enjoy a few hours of Piranha fishing. The secret is to make sure you are accompanied by a professional guide, and that you go in the right season.
Looking to trap some Piranha, head over to Manaus, capital of Amazonia in Brazil, and join any of the well packages Piranha fishing (and eating) tours. Remember that the razor-sharp teeth of these fishes can cut through flesh and bone, so you have to be very careful. In this fishing story, you don’t want to be the victim.
At all cost, avoid fishing for Piranha in the months of July to October, as these are dry season months in the region, and the Piranhas are usually hungry and aggressive during this period.
If you intend to try your hand out at Piranha fishing in Manaus, Brazil, certain vaccines are recommended for your protection. For example, Malaria and Yellow Fever are prevalent in the Amazon region so you will need Yellow Fever vaccine and malaria shots.
To be on the safe side, you should also take vaccines to protect against measles, typhoid fever, and Hepatitis A and B.
Bermuda
When it comes to fishing for giant Blue Marlins, no list is complete without Bermuda. In fact, Bermuda has won the global World Cup Blue Marlin Championship eight times in 27 years, including holding the record for two of the largest fish ever caught in the competition, a feat no country has come close to breaking.
Apart from the much sought after giant Blue Marlins, you can also fish for White Marlin, Yellowtuna and Wahoo. Bermuda is an attractive fishing destination particularly as it is quite close to the US east coast, and boasts amazing scenery including amazing beaches, restaurants, affordable hotels and holiday resorts.
Before leaving for Bermuda, or any other foreign country, consult with your travel healthcare practitioner a few weeks in advance to find out the potential health risks in the areas you intend to visit.
For example, while pretty much safe for travellers also have cases of typhoid via contaminated water and food, cases of Dengue Fever, Tetanus, and Hepatitis A and B.
There is no vaccine for Dengue Fever, so avoid mosquito bites as much as possible, but make sure to complete your regular flu vaccine and vaccinate against typhoid and Hepatitis.
Zambia
Zambia is one of the best-kept secrets in the fishing world. This south African country has a large number of lakes and rivers, home to countless number and species of fish, making it a great place to fish for sport or food.
Some of the popular fishing spots in Zambia are Lake Kariba, a manmade lake and one of the best places to catch Tigerfish, Kapenta (a sardine-like fish), and bream. There is also Lake Bangweulu, where you can catch catfish, tiger fish and bream.
When visiting Zambia for a fishing holiday, you are expected to have your personal fishing and camping equipment and pitch your camp close to your fishing spot as there are very few hotels in these areas.
Visiting Zambia also poses a number of health risks, such as Yellow Fever, Malaria, Typhoid, Cholera, Tetanus, and so on.
Be sure to visit your doctor for the necessary vaccinations to protect against these diseases, and travel with prescription antimalarial and antibiotics drugs for improved protection.
Borneo, Malaysia
Borneo in the southeast Asian country of Malaysia is the third largest island in the world. But that is not all this island is known for. Borneo is popular as one of the best fishing destinations in the world, home to a large variety of fish and the perfect place for sports fishing.
This fishing destination offers anglers from different parts of the world an amazing opportunity to explore one of the best fishing spots in Asia. Borneo is host to hundreds of fish species including the Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, and the King of waters.
You will also find Yellowfin Tuna, Bigeye, Dogtooth, and a number of other exciting catches in these waters. Some of the more aggressive fish to look out for here are Greater Amberjack, Barracuda, Rainbow Runner, Escolar, Dorado, and a few bigger sized sharks.
This is one place where you can enjoy fishing for fun and fishing for game.
Before leaving for Malaysia, you will need vaccinations to protect against tetanus, influenza, pneumonia, chickenpox, shingles, measles, polio, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, and Hepatitis A and B.
You can get some of these vaccinations from your doctor, and the others from a reputable travel healthcare practitioner.