The great future hope of Phuket's fishing world is the continental drop-off into the deep Andaman Sea. Few boats have fished this, for few have the range to travel the 70 odd kilometres out to sea. This is beyond the Similan Islands, which can be used as overnight anchorage and base for boats venturing on multi-day tours. Hope abounds that this continental drop-off is home to the grandaddies of the juvenile marlin that are quite common in the shallow island waters.
Phuket has less than a half dozen modern, international standard game fishing boats, most operated or owned by foreign expatriates (see list below). This is augmented by a dozen or more wooden Thai boats converted for fishing convenience. The Thai crews on these boats are also knowledgeable though they do not always follow the billfish catch-and-release policy followed by all international operators.
