Every angler has that list.
Not the list of fish they want to catch, but the list of fish they’ve spent countless hours thinking about while making “just one more cast.” The species that turn ordinary fishing sessions into treasure hunts.
For me, one of those fish was the Coachwhip Trevally.
A fish I knew existed in Maldivian waters, yet somehow had always managed to avoid my lure.
Until recently.
Just Another Evening Session… Or So I Thought
Like many of my fishing trips around Greater Malé, the session started without any grand expectations. I packed my ultralight setup and headed to Hulhumalé West Harbour, a spot that has become familiar over the years.
The harbour was calm. Baitfish occasionally flickered on the surface and there was enough movement in the water to keep hope alive. Conditions looked promising, but as every shore angler knows, promising conditions don’t always mean fish.
Still, that’s the beauty of lure fishing. Every cast carries a little bit of possibility.
I tied on a 7g jig and started working the water.
My Setup
- Rod: Daiwa Revros R 662MHS
- Reel: Tsurinoya Lanius 800
- Lure: 7g Jig
- Line: Rankaru MEGA PE 0.4
It’s a setup I enjoy because it makes every fish feel alive. You feel every vibration of the lure, every bump on the retrieve, and of course, every strike.
Then it happened.
The Hit
The jig hadn’t been in the water long when I felt that unmistakable jolt through the braid.
Not a snag.
Not baitfish.
A fish.
The rod loaded up instantly and the fish took off with surprising speed. It wasn’t a monster, but on PE 0.4 and 800 size reel, becomes secondary. What matters is the fight.
And this fish wanted no part of being landed.
It darted, changed direction, and made several determined runs before finally coming closer to the harbour wall. As the silver shape emerged beneath the surface, I knew this wasn’t one of the usual suspects.
My heart rate probably doubled.
Could it be?
A few moments later, the fish was safely landed.
And there it was…
My first-ever Coachwhip Trevally.
A Bucket List Fish
There are catches that are memorable because of size.
Then there are catches that are memorable because of what they mean.
This was firmly in the second category.
Holding the fish on the concrete edge of the harbour, I took a moment to appreciate it. The body shimmered with a metallic silver-blue glow, reflecting the afternoon light. The fins carried subtle yellow-green hues, and the fish had the sleek, athletic look that trevallies are famous for.
It wasn’t the biggest fish I’ve ever caught.
But it might have been one of the most satisfying.
Because after all the hours spent fishing Greater Malé’s shores, after countless casts into harbours, channels and reefs, this was a species I had genuinely hoped to encounter one day.
Getting to Know the Coachwhip Trevally
The Coachwhip Trevally (Carangoides oblongus) belongs to the jack and trevally family, a group of fish that has earned enormous respect among anglers for their strength and speed.
Despite not being as famous as the Giant Trevally or Bluefin Trevally, the Coachwhip is a beautiful fish in its own right.
Some of its defining features include:
- Bright silver coloration
- Streamlined, deep-bodied profile
- Long sickle-shaped fins in younger fish
- A powerful forked tail built for speed
- Aggressive predatory behavior
These fish are commonly found around:
- Coastal reefs
- Harbour structures
- Reef passes
- Lagoons
- Channel edges
Which explains why Hulhumalé West Harbour can occasionally produce unexpected rewards for observant lure anglers.
Why Ultralight Fishing Makes Moments Like This Special
One reason I gravitate toward finesse and ultralight fishing is that it transforms every encounter into an event.
A fish doesn’t need to weigh several kilograms to create excitement.
On light gear, even a modest trevally becomes a worthy opponent.
You feel every head shake.
Every sudden run.
Every attempt by the fish to throw the hook.
When the fish finally slides onto shore, you’ve experienced the fight rather than simply overpowered it.
That connection is what keeps drawing me back to the water.
Another Reminder of What Maldivian Shores Have to Offer
The Maldives is often associated with offshore fishing, giant tuna, and massive GTs crashing surface lures.
But sometimes the most rewarding catches happen much closer to home.
Harbours, seawalls and accessible shore spots around Greater Malé continue to surprise anglers willing to experiment with light tackle and small lures.
Every cast carries the possibility of something unexpected.
This Coachwhip Trevally was proof of that.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, the fish itself was only part of the achievement.
The real reward was the journey leading up to it. The early mornings, the quiet evenings, the countless casts that produced nothing, and the belief that eventually a new species would find its way onto the end of the line.
This catch reminded me why I love shore-based ultralight fishing in the Maldives.
You never really know what is swimming beneath the surface.
And sometimes, after years of waiting, a bucket list fish finally decides it’s your turn.
Now it’s time to start chasing the next one.
I did catch another fish that day. A common type of Goatfish called Finstripe Goatfish(ކައްޓަފުޅި ކަޅުއޮއް). Here’s the day’s catch.
Tight lines.