The fisherman waits until a fish takes the bait. On some islands such as Atiu, this type of fishing is done from cliffs near the water to catch trevally. This method is generally used for catching large trevallies. Fishermen tie a thick line to a tree, then walk the line out over the reef. The fisherman either waits or leaves the baited hook over night and checks it in the morning.
Game fishing involves dragging baited hooks or lures of various configurations behind boats.
Game fishing targets pelagic species such as marlin, tuna, dolphin fish, wahoo and barracuda. Casting involves flicking baits, lures, metal spinners, or flies into the water and reeling them back towards the fisherman. Casting targets trevally, bonefish, and small pelagic species. Traditionally, fishermen dragged pearl-shell lures behind canoes to catch small tunas. I'i or drop stone fishing With i'i, a baited hook is dropped to great depths to target deep-sea fish species such as cods and snappers and pelagic fish tuna, whaoo, marlins, etc.