Best Marlin Spots

[Fishing_John]

I am planning a trip sometime in the next year and a half with the main focus on catching my first marlin. I have never caught one before and I was wondering of these 4 spots which one do you think I would have the best experience with? Quepos Costa Rica, Pinas Bay Panama, St. Thomas USVI, or Bermuda. I know CR and Panama are excellent for sailfish, but how good is the marlin fishery there? Also of these spots which one has the best opportunity to put sufficient bends in the pole in the case that the marlin dont cooperate? I understand that fishing isnt the most perdictable thing, but I just wanted to hear some others thoughts.
Thanks
John

[Williy]

They do catch marlin in CR but I don't think it would be a higher percentage area. I think Panama or Mexico would provide a better cahnce. I did hear of quite a few marlin being caught around Tamarindo CR when I was there a few weeks ago but I don't think this is the norm.

[Warren_Brantley]

l. Fort Lauderdale and local captains for swordfish, go to CyberAngler SE Section for catch reports. We've had great success with Capt. Kates over the years. (But they are not marlin.)

2. Kona for spears, blues and small stripers. Capt. Don Wiltz has an affordable boat (Keneka II) and an apt to boot. And you don't have to learn Spanish!! Order the "Hawaii Fishing News" magazine to see monthly catches, weights, and whether they tagged or ate them. I might see you there this May and June. Mahalo!!

3. Cabo for the entire experience of a safe town, great food and striped marlin shots daily just about year 'round. Avoid the time share scams at the airport. First time there it is best to use a charter service. Mar de Cortez Hotel is simple, affordable and international. Go to Pisces, El Budster, and Cabo Magic Web Sites for daily/weekly catch reports. The week after Christmas is awfully nice and the whales are quite a sight (by the way whales always have the right of way). A safe town for the entire family. Most captains/crew speak some English and local 28 foot boats are affordable and productive. Go visit the docks at 3:30 PM and see the release flags. August is too hot!

4. And Venezuela through a charter agency only. I live at the Yacht Club when I'm down; you will need a hotel. Don't take the lady of your life. In September and October it is difficult to go offshore and not catch white marlin. And you'll have shots most days at blues. No one speaks English and skip the solo "foot tours" around the neighborhoods. The food is fine, the roads and towns.........are not. It is only a 4 1/2 hr. flight on Delta out of Atlanta.

Good luck with your first marlin; may many more follow. Tight Lines. WB

[_]

John,

Go to St.Thomas after the Boy Scout Tourmanent in August or book charter a few days before the September full moon.You will have very good chance of scoring a blue marlin, maybe several.

If you want a chance to catch several species of billfish, then go to Venezuela in March/April or in September or October. If you are serious about fishing, go there. If you want to vacation and fish, do not, as there is not alot of other things to do but fish.

I fished in Quepos, CR and they do not catch alot of marlin nor do they really try. There are alot of sails and some big tuna.Most boats live bait at an inshore reef for sails and tuna, but do not venture offshore to look for blue marlin.

I was in Tamarindo a few weeks ago and we went 2 for 5 on blue marlin. That is not a common occurence and has not happened to me in 8 years of fishing down there. There is good sailfish bite there, but not as good as further south like out of Los Suenos and Golfito.

The fising in Cabo can be really good, but I have never seen a place more overrun by tourists and charter boats. There must be 100 charter boats fishing every day.We did release 4 striped marlin in one day, but it is too much riff raff for me.

I have never been to Panama, but have it on the list as must do. I beieve the black marlin bite is best in January/February.I heard that it is hard to get booked there during these months, and it also costs a good bit.

Hope this helps,


Mid

[P_Watson]

Madeira is having a great year with Blue Marlin being seen and tagged each week. Average size is around 500 - 600 lbs. New daily fishing report will be online from August 1st 2005 if you want to follow the progress. http://www.madeira-tourist.com/fishing/madeirafishingreport.html

[David_West]

John
Of the four possibles you identified I've only experience of Pinas Bay, Panama.

Certainly during January through March they get consistent numbers of mainly Black Marlin, with Blues and a smattering of Striped Marlin. Whilst I was there, it was in February a couple of years ago at Tropic Star, the ten boats released over 50 Blacks, half a dozen Blues and a solitary Stripie in 6 days fishing.

Added to that, and relating to your point, there were lots of back up species - many more Sails plus occasional Yellowfin. But the inshore fishing for Jacks - particularly Roosterfish - and Snapper is excellent and well worth spending at least a half day at.

The only possible drawback, and someone has already identified it, there's a lot of pressure on February bookings!

You were quite specific in your choice of venues but, in terms of Panama, I similarly experienced excellent fishing from Isla Coiba, closer to the Costa Rican border. And there's a chap called Tony Herdon who focuses on the Perlas group of islands in the Gulf of Panama. Apart from the species I've described I've also had magnificent sport with Tony for Peacock Bass in Lake Gatun. He also, when there upwellings of cold water in the Gulf targets Tarpon - now these are in the Pacific, but they're Megalops atlanticus - in one of the river systems. I know he's had them up to just shy of 270lbs!
Kindest regards
David West
Chairman - Sportfishing Club of the British Isles
http://www.scbi.org.uk

[Marlinhunter]

You're comparing apples and oranges. There are Pacific Blue Marlin and the slightly smaller Atlantic Blue Marlin.

For Pacific Blue's, Blacks and Striped I'd head for Panama #1. No matter whether it's Hannibal Bank or Zane Grey Reef. December-April the fish are there.
#2 Manta or Galapagos, Ecuador. Lots of Striped and Blues mainly on El Nino currents. #3 Tie-Costa Rica. Wintertime, think Guanamar or Los Sueños; Summertime think Flamingo/Tamarindo.#4 Tie-Kona, Hawaii. #5 Tie-Bay Islands, NZ; #6 Tie- Tonga or Vanuatu.

Over on the Atlantic side, #1 Cape Verde; #2 Venezuela (mainly winter); #3
Vittoria, Brasil; #4 Tie-Bermuda (a grander was caught recently); #5 Tie-Punta Cana; #6 Tie-St. Thomas & Puerto Rico.

[Michael_Wagner]

we have plenty of white marlins mid april to min.end of june and blues mid june ahead til september in front of the dominican east coast, whites 2-10 miles close to the coast, blues we get in the area 8-20 miles out
if interested in more information visit me on www.mikes************************.info
good luck for the first one
Mike

[Anonymous]

cape may, new jersy

[Capt_Dan_G.]

Hands down your best spot for catching a Marlin is St. Thomas. I've fished there(out of Red Hook) on the Marlin Prince with Capt Eddy and both time we were on huge Marlin. I personally landed a 750lb and a 300lb in the same day.
Make sure you go in Sept/Oct and the Moon tides are so important here.
Lastly, Quepos CR is also a fantastic place to get shots at tons of sailfish and a few Marlin(maybe). I have taken a group of 15 down there the past two years, but the fishing (Dec-Mar) is non stop Sailfish action vs. Marlin.
St. Thomas would my first choice!
Good luck!