VENEZUELA: CATCH REPORTS

[Warren_Brantley]

PLEASE POST ACTUAL CATCH REPORTS ON BILLFISH FOR LA GUAIRA GIVING DATE, BOAT, AND SPECIES. (Please use this as a opportunity to keep the world informed.)

[Warren_Brantley]

Sept. 29: 1 white/1 sail/no others
Sept. 30: 3 sails/no marlin-sword bites
Oct. 1: 0/1 blue/no other bites
Oct. 2: 1 sail/1 blue/no other bites
Oct. 3: 0/0 on all species (no bites)
Oct. 4: 1/1 white/no other bites
Oct. 5: 0/1 white (mucho sancachos)
Oct. 6: 0/1 white (mucho sancachos)
Oct. 7: 0 hookups (mucho sancachos)

[Warren_Brantley]

Oct. 6: 1 sail
Oct. 7: 1 blue
Oct. 8: 1 sword (a 1st for client H. Mason)

[Anonymous]

Courtesan Too.
Feb/March - 4 Days:
1 Wahoo
3 Dorado
1 Blue

Hooked and lost another blue. Saw a bunch of others.

Saw some huge YFT. Hooked and lost one.

Lots of longliners.

[Warren_Brantley]

Sept. 29: 5 sails

[Capt._Warren_G._Brantley]

L&H charter - one day report:
6 blues raised/4 tagged
5 sails raised/2 tagged
4 whites raised/2 tagged

[ghost]

And, a 200# YFT

[Warren_Brantley]

OK (bear with me)a second posting:

A U.S. Warden (Embassy) Message has been issued to inform persons traveling to and residing in Venezuela that the country’s Ministry of Infrastructure has indefinitely closed the first bridge on the Caracas-La Guaira highway (viaduct collapsed). The highway is the principal link between Caracas and Maiquetia Simon Bolivar International Airport (CCS), as well as between Caracas and the country’s principal seaport, La Guiara.

Due to concerns regarding the safety and security of the alternative routes,(very narrow unlit mountain roads passing through isolated areas) precautions should be taken. {The U.S. Embassy has determined that Embassy employees and their dependents must restrict their time on the roads to daylight hours. Use of official vehicles will also be required.}

Major delays, in excess of two hours, are expected between Caracas and the Maiquetia Simon Bolivar International Airport.

Travelers in and out of Venezuela should consult with their charter agents and/or airlines regarding possible changes in schedules.

Again, for those of you (like me) heading down for the March/April Blue Marlin run this is something we have to take into account. Stay informed by contacting your charter agent and by monitoring the Embassy Website. WGB

[Capt._Warren_Brantley]

OK...........
I've sent an e-mail into my charter service in the country (Nani) and he will tell me if it is between La Guaira and the airport OR between the airport and Caracas. I also inquired about safety of night driving. I'll post what I find out. WGB

[Capt._Warren_Brantley]

UPDATE: And a good one.

The closed road is between the airport and Caracas. The road to LaGuaira is open. With the road problem being the other side of the airport there are fewer locals fishing, coming to Caraballeda, and using Port Azul. All is fine. The blues are averaging 100 kilos, sails and whites are in and yellowfin are thicker than even last year. Sounds like all is normal. WGB

[ghost]

My good friends just returned from the all inclusive Mango ************************ where they spent three days catching four Blues and 13 sails.

[Jim]

Yes, La Guaira, Feb 9th 7 blues were "released" and one "dorado", three "sancochos", Boat Rompemar I, Cap was Gustavo, use to fish in GiGi, most of the fishing, Jose Rebenga (Very knowledgable)(caught it on 30 pounds gear). Boat is a bertram 38, is not for charter just used by owner and friends, has good record fishing

[wayne_bradford]

I'm looking for charter information for a trip we're making to caracas 3/26-3/30. Just billfishing 3days, no pkg. Any Advice? Thanks.

[Bill_Rice]

Wayne: Local boats-Joropo or Guarimba. American boats-Capt. Jimmy Grant on the Waterman or Bubba Carter on Sharkey's Revenge. You can call Macuto at ************************ Portofino-416-610-9271 or Henry at Southfishing 1-800-882-4665.

[Nick_Fuegi]

Solera Billfish Shootout 2006
So? What happened?

No news about this tournament anywhere that I can find. No updates on daily catches...
I've been itching to find out what's been going on. Anyone know the results?

How many boats/fish?

Nick

[Capt._Warren_Brantley]

[Capt._Warren_Brantley]

[Capt._Warren_Brantley]

HTTP error prevents loading.

Go and search International Warnings under the US Embassies; specify the country (ex. Venezuala) and they'll give you the skinny on how to catch marlin safely. They will mail you updates as needed.....right interesting. Tight lines. WGB

[Warren_Brantley]

45 foot Uniflite (March 18th - 22nd)

Captain is bilingual. His personal best day on whites is 42 and his personal best day on swords is 10. Forgot to ask him about blues. Personal best day on spearfish was last September - four!!! Wish it had been me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things are smooth in Venezuela with the airport working safely. None of the prior problems encoutered.

No problems at all. Great!! Smoothest trip I've had over the few years I have fished here. Viaduct coming from Caracas collapsed Sunday. They have temporary two lane highway going around it. Expected time for completion is 15 months according to my charter agent.

Not many folks fishing. My agent said all (12) USA charters cancelled for March due to airline worries.
European folks are taking up the slack.

As the week went on we raised fewer billfish.

For the week the following were the results:

18th: 8 blues raised, three bit, one caught. 2 sails raised, none bit, none caught

19th: 2 blues raised, one bit, one caught. No other species of billfish raised

20th: 2 blues raised, one bit, one caught. No other species of billfish raised.

21st: 2 blues raised. one bit, none caught. 1 sail raised, one bit, one caught. Caught two big dorado by accident.

22nd: One sword raised (or so to speak), tangled/not hooked up, none caught (1/2 day for swords). No billfish raised or caught (1/2 day trolled for blues). Avoided tuna and dorado, lots of schools of both about.

For the 5 days: raised 14 blues, hooked up 6, caught 3.

For the 5 days: raised 3 sails, hooked up 1, caught 1.

For the half day deep drop, one sword raised, (entangled with leader) could not tell if hooked, none caught.

No whites raised by us.

Raised 18 billfish for the 5 days, 8 bit, 4 caught (50% catch rate on fish hooked up). Two pulled hook immediately, one rat blue cut the leader with a tail slash when flopping 65 yards out, no clue about the sword.

Estimated weights 150 to biggest a bit less than 250 pounds on blues.

CPU: Catch per unit of days fished (5 days fished/4 billfish caught). CPU of .80 billfish a day

Believe the bite is occurring earlier in the year and tapering off earlier. Will consider this when returning next year.

Tight lines. Gone to Tropic Star. WGB

[wayne_bradford/mike_king]

INCREDIBLE! First timers to Venezuela. Beautiful country. Perfect weather. Awesome acccomodations and service. Fishing was referred to as Epic by our captain. We're still in shock. Couldn't believe fishing existed like this. 26th-29th raised-24 blues released 18/ tagged-8/largest 350lbs. raised 15 sails/ caught 2/tagged 1. (they're slick). Caught 3-200lb plus YFT. (kicked our asses)and 1-25lb dorado. Trip of a lifetime for us. Learned so much. Thanks to Captain Jimmy Grant/Mango ************************. You need to go to Venezuela! Wayne.

[mike_rozz_]

i am in caracus venezuela, i want to go marlin fishing, do you know where i should go. or a phone # i could call to find out thanks

[Warren_Brantley]

Call my charter friend Capt. Handelman. He will link you up with a boat.the marlin bite is wicked north of the airport and some whites are moving in. Call Nani in Caraballeda at:


58-414-3-245498 (Cell Phone)

Regards, Warren Brantley

[Warren_Brantley]

Bertram 54´ - "Orinoquia"
8 days of fishing = 20 blues, 2 sails,1 swordfish & 14 YFT.
Regards, WGB

[Rick_Alvarez]

Mike,
There are several people you can contact down in Venezuela for "quality" services. For local boats call Bernardo Schummer at 0414 320 4721 and for a U.S. captain call Capt Jimmy Grant at 0414 324 4544. In Venezuela dial these numbers exactly as I have listed them. Both are fluent in English and can provide the services you need. In the future, when you visit Venezuela, arrange things ahead of time by calling FishQuest Sportfishing Adventures toll free at 1888 891 3474.
Good luck to you,
Rick

[Warren_Brantley]

OK. Here's an example of how to do this. I can go back for months and I know which of these three boats is catching more fish, the dates of the best catches, the time of year to go and the number of days to charter, for the number of persons fishing, so as to optimize opportunity for dollars spent billfishing. Simply objective data. This was posted yesterday and is copied to show as an example.
-----------------------------------

4/20/2006 Fishing on the EL BUDSTER. Kevin & Tim Carroll from Lincoln, RI have a very nice time. They catch a STRIPED MARLIN on a rigged Caballito.It takes 40 minutes to get to the boat. The crew examines the Marlin . It is determined that the Marlin is not in good condition and can not be released. They also catch a 45 lb. WAHOO and two 15-20 lb. YELLOWFIN TUNA. On the EL BUDSTER I. Peter Kung from San Francisco, CA catches and releases a 120 lb. STRIPED MARLIN. The marlin is caught on a live Caballito and takes 45 minutes to get to the boat. The EL BUDSTER II did not catch fish today. All the fish were caught at the 95 Reef. The water temp. was 76-77 degrees.
--------------------------------

Would be nice to have something like this year around for La Guaira. And ya'll DO NOT HAVE IT yet.............

Also, I have been to the location in Cabo where these fellows set up their charters and there is a great Shrimp Restaurant right next door. (Try it; I went every night for a week.) Based on their data we plan to charter a specific boat for specific dates this year for my son and his wife. It is this kind of objective, nonarguementative, nonfinger pointing data that gets you charters. Most of return to places where (1) we enjoy the fishing (2) we enjoy the persons we associate with while there (3) We are not subject to emotional outbursts and accusations that we "do not get it" (4) We know our costs up front (5) And we have objective data of catches which let us best choose our dates. Regards, WGB

[Nick_Fuegi]

Check out this thread:

http://www.marlinmag.com/forum.jsp?done=yes&ID=558167&categoryID=null

Lots of nice Venezuelan links to help people get fishing.

Nick

[marlinhunter2]

The South Paw with Capt. Bubba Carter fishing 16 days in April, released 55 Blues. Two of those days saw eight fish released and one day, nine were released. Average fish weighed about 250 lbs and a few between 300 and 500lbs.

Capt. Jimmy Grant aboard the Waterman in ten days fishing release 47 Blues.

[Nick_Fuegi]

Now that's a potentially useful report. Thanks. Would be even more useful if this was a log-in forum, so the reliability of the source was known despite the anonymous post.

So, 25 fish in three amazing days and 77 fish in 23 'normal' days at peak season. So, the top skippers and crews at high season get about 3 blues a day. If you're lucky, you've got a 1 in 9 chance of hitting 8 blues in a day at peak season with the best operators.

That's the sort of info that anglers like to hear. Guess that's why it got posted. ;)

Only missing info. Avg weight? How many skunkings? Any other species caught? Is the bite this year better/worse than usual? What were the moon-phase/weather conditions on the best days? Any chance of a less anonymous reports in future so we know it's reliable and not an advert? Genuinely no offence meant - just can't see why the post needs to be anonymous. The anonymity reduces the apparent reliability.

Thanks again for some hard numbers. Keep up the good work. Can't wait for next month's full installment.

[Warren_Brantley]

Delayed Fishing Report (one European fishing 17 days beginning in late March).

MAGIC DOLPHIN

Day 1: 1 tuna 105 kg. + 1 white + 2 dorado

Day 2: 1 blue 120 kilos + 1 sail

MAGIC I

Day 3: 2 blues, 70 / 90 kilos + 1 wahoo 15 kilos.

Day 4: 1 blue 80 kilos + 1 white + 1 tuna 80 kilos

Day 5: 1 blue 80 kilos + 1 sail.

Day 6: 2 blues +/- 90 kilos + 1 tuna 70 kilos + 2 dorado

Day 7: 2 dorados

Day 8: 1 blue 100 kilos.

Day 9: 1 blue 60 kilos + 2 wahoo

Gigi IV

Day 10: 1 tuna 80 kilos + 1 blue 80 kilos + 1 wahoo

Day 11: 2 blues +/- 80 kilos + 2 dorados

(FISHERMAN BEGINS WITH A PHYSICAL THERAPIST; 6pm to 7pm for 3 days!)

Day 12: 1 white + 1 sail

Day 13: 3 wahoo

Day 14: 1 blue 90 kilos + 2 dorado

Day 15: 2 blues +/- 90 kilos

ALION

Day 16 .- 2 tunas +/- 100 kilos + 1 blue +/- 70 kilos + 2 wahoo

Day 17 : 2 blues +/- 100 kilos + 4 dorado + 3 wahoo

Total: yellowfin tuna = 6 up to 105 kilos; blues = 18; sails = 3; whites = 3. Sancohos on more than 30 billfish & tuna over the 17 days.

Regards to all, WGB

[marlinhunter2]

"Any chance of a less anonymous reports in future so we know it's reliable and not an advert? Genuinely no offence meant - just can't see why the post needs to be anonymous. The anonymity reduces the apparent reliability."

Some of us prefer anonomity. That report I posted came directly from a e-card blast.

Until World Pub requires it, I won't give out my e-addy. Those that know me, know I write the truth. Is Rick so bored that he needs to give out all the booking info, just because you asked for it?

[Nick_Fuegi]

That is awesome. Great report. Thanks & congrats on the trip.

[Nick_Fuegi]

How does anyone know who you are if you're anonymous? That's the point... If people don't know who you are (if you're anonymous) they can't rely on your info...

Once again, I'm not suggesting that your report was unreliable. But it would be useful to know where it came from (who you are).

What's that about booking info? I don't get it. Rick's been very helpful by filling in some (of the many) blanks to allow people to get fishing in Venezuela. Is that boredom? I thought Rick was in the Marlin fishing business. Is helping people go fishing not good for the Venezuelan recreational fishing industry in general?

As another insider, maybe you could help out with a link to a street-map of the area?

[Wade_McArthur]

I agree,
The reports and the data may be accurate, but without a real name to go with, the data lends itself to speculation about its accuarcy. Nick, Warren, and I always post our real names and e-mail addreses, which absolutely does speak of our credibility. We aren't hiding anything. Once again, not questioning the credibility of the other reports.

Just two cents worth.

Wade

[George_Woodward]

"Once again, not questioning the credibility of the other reports."


Oh yes you are!
George Woodward

[james]

Is bubba back from florida,got may charters for him,last seen with blond and missed him miami.

[George]

Bubba has been in Venezuela this past month. He helped spread Capt. Desi Zenar's ashes at sea for Carl & June Zenar.

[marlinhunter2]

"Rick's been very helpful by filling in some (of the many) blanks to allow people to get fishing in Venezuela. Is that boredom? I thought Rick was in the Marlin fishing business. Is helping people go fishing not good for the Venezuelan recreational fishing industry in general?"

Rick looks like he's giving away the store. Legitimate sporting travel agencies frown on people doing their own thing, then coming to them afterwards seeking free help or when they get in trouble.

I once posted my responses with my email addy and got slammed with 500 pieces of spam and crap from people that just didn't get the BIG picture.

To those who don't have a vested interest in the boats and hotels in Venezuela - please identify themselves.

[Warren_Brantley]

To the above noted quote: "To those who don't have a vested interest in the boats and hotels in Venezuela - please identify themselves."

I have no vested interest, do not own a boat, reel, rod, any equipment, or hotels in the area. I do own such (except the hotel thingy) in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

I simply go down and fish a couple of times each year. I do not run charters, use local Ven boats always. I'd go every month and hang out and/or fish for 5 days (whether the fish were in or not) if I had the leave time from my job. I always use Nani as my charter. I give straight, truthful advise to anyone who e-mails me. I give advice for other areas I fish also (Kona, Cabo, Stuart, Fort Lauderddale, Gulf Coast, etc.). I certainly enjoy the company, food, fishing and ambiance of Caraballeda both onshore and offshore. I'm a big supporter of the billfishing at La Guaira but the only profit I receive is a tan, some more billfish numbers, and a fine meal with Nani at the end of each day along with some lively conversation. Regards to all. WGB

[Nick_Fuegi]

Thought I'd acknowledge the above comment raising Capt Zenar's death. I never met him, only spoke on the phone.
V sorry when I heard about his passing a couple of months back. Was not my place to mention it here though.

As it's been raised, it deserved acknowledgement.

Nick

[Nick_Fuegi]

I have no vested interest in Venezuela - other than a strong wish for the people, landscape and wildlife (inc fish) of what is a beautiful country to be allowed to flourish in the future. Unfortunately, all the above are being exploited by those that do have vested interests and are in trouble as a result.
Whenever somewhere has considerable natural resources, you can expect a few people to rip the place to pieces to convert these resources into cash for themselves - leaving nothing for the future but whatever they couldn’t economically take. Fish are a natural resource.

I guess that my other vested interest is in being able to fish there again without getting lynched as a result of comments on this forum! ;)

That's why I try to keep my comments positive, by making them constructive. - Providing info so people can go fishing. After all, the more people see the place, the more people will care...

As they're the most pertinent to the readers of this forum; I've raised the issue longlining, and the sometimes dubious catch reports (adverts). Any anglers that do go fishing as a result of reading what's posted here, won’t be shocked by the longliners, or disappointed if they don’t release the 9 blues/day the industry shouts about. If anglers have a realistic picture, they are likely to be pleasantly surprised.
The forum needs views from all sides to stay balanced. When I first read the marlin-mag forum, I was amazed by the lack of useful info. It was all industry adverts. Now, if you look at it, there is some useful information here. Most of it about Venezuela.

Marlinhunter. You may, or may not, have interests in Ven, but you surely come across like you do. Again - no offence meant - just the way it sounds.
If you are indeed saying that you don't like the idea of anglers getting all this free information because it affects the businesses of agents, your attitude is part of the problem imho. The internet was always going to see this information published sometime and it’s been long overdue.
You have seen the future. I'll bet that more people will fish Venezuela as a result of free objective info - not less. Many of them will still book through agents = more business, not less.

Resisting the spread of information and/or misleading customers by only telling one side of the story, makes industries look bad.
That means less business for everyone, agents included. I think Rick is doing the right thing by providing customers with the information they need.

Times change. Businesses evolve. The Venezuelan sportfishing industry must be the same as any other business. Customers are better informed now. They want choice and detailed information. They don't like longliners and/or dead billfish.

Who buys anything for $$$$ these days without checking detailed “warts and all” web reviews? For cars, you've got internetautoguide.com. There's tomshardware.com for computers, dpreview.com for photography....
None these sites ever hurt the industry whose 'secrets' they 'exposed'. They help people decide what to buy and link directly to where to buy it. They don’t offer to buy stuff for you in exchange for a cut…

Sure there are winners and losers. The winners are the companies that provide the service the *customers* want.

Discussion is a good thing. You’ll notice that all the talk about Venezuela has kept it at the top of these forums for a long time. As a result, the Venezuelan threads have had by far the most view/comments. That’s free P.R. at the heart of the target market which can’t be bad for the industry as a whole. - Unless they make themselves look bad by resisting the inevitable.

I say post the maps on the web. Give the operators their own websites. That’s a business opportunity in its own right.

Nick

[Rick_Alvarez]

I thought this was a fishing report forum (?) ... and yes I have a "vested interest" but if somebody is already down there wanting info I will provide it as a professional courtesy. The captains or boat owners down there know where the call or booking originated from and so my "interest" is protected.
Anyhow, here's the report on the Playa Grande Yacht Club Blue Marlin Classic held May 5th & 6th:
20 boats fished the two days - 24 blues & 2 sails were released.
This is a private club tournament. I was invited to fish on Team Calypso and only had one shot at a blue on day two which I royally sancochoed. 1st Place Boat/Team Plastika - 2nd Place Palozano - 3rd Place Catch 22 - Individual anlgers 1st Place Bernadro Bastardo aboard Catch 22 - 2nd Place Rafael Párraga aboard Palozano - 3rd Place Juan Carlos Bellini aboard Kichitica.
Regards to all,
Rick

[Marlinhunter]

"Marlinhunter. You may, or may not, have interests in Ven, but you surely come across like you do. Again - no offence meant - just the way it sounds."

I don't, never have, never will. Commercial truck driver 44 yrs over the road. What do you do?

"If you are indeed saying that you don't like the idea of anglers getting all this free information because it affects the businesses of agents, your attitude is part of the problem imho."

I know quite a few travel agencies, used them on occasion and have had good rappor with them.

They cringe everytime, someone sez they heard someone, someplace heard something derogatory about a locale, esp since they were never there.

"The internet was always going to see this information published sometime and it’s been long overdue."

The internet has allowed a lot of people, with limited knowledge an outlet from which they can possibly expand their minds, but instead waste it on porn. Over 50% of the websites are devoted to same.

"You have seen the future. I'll bet that more people will fish Venezuela as a result of free objective info - not less. Many of them will still book through agents = more business, not less."

Since they legal inception of the internet, the airlines have gutted commissions to travel agencies. They no longer need them to fill the seats. The future of travel agencies is growing dimmer, as I write.

The internet was originally developed by the US Army by MIT grad students for communication between battlefield and HQ. It was never meant to be what it is today. It's a blessing and a horror at the same time.

I spend six weeks a year fishing someplace in the world, whether it's Venezuela, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico or Oz. I've travelled all over the world, driven road trains in Oz, livestock in 49 states, 7 Provinces + Mexico. I don't claim to know everything about every truck and engine, but know which one's work and don't. Nor do I claim knowledge as an expert on every fishing and travel subject. Just 55 years of travel exposure.

When Chavez stops ranting, that's when I stop going to Caraballeda.

[perjobs]

Four Swedish guys fished La Guaira banks with captain Ernani Handelman on "El Diablo" in late october 2006.

Day by day report:



Saturday, oct 28:th
Arriving at Simon Bolivar at about 4.30 in the afternoon leaves us time only for checking in to our rooms at ************************ portofino lodge and having a good dinner with Nani at Caraballeda golf and yacht club restaurant. More than 24 hours of travelling made us tired but we were certainly full of expectations.

Sunday, oct 29th
Lines in at two since Nani used the time before lunch to educate us in the art of fighting billfish. That means connecting us and a 30 lb gear with his toyota. We liked the session. After some steaming from Caraballeda we started fishing in the western part of La Guaira bank. Rough seas. A triple strike of dorado generated three of the same as a start. After two hours of trolling we started to run for Puerto Maya (where we spent all the nights while fishing). When almost there, something grabbed the artificial lure (squid) that we were trolling in high speed. According to the crew it must have been billfish since the leader looked like it had been worked over with sandpaper (=the bill). The dolphins introduced themselves to us, and we saw them almost every day.
We installed ourselves in the lodge and had a good dinner including the dorado we caught earlier.

Monday, oct 30th
We fished well offshore, about 28 miles north of Puerto Maya. Nothing today except for four wahoos cutting four leaders close to our home port.

Tuesday, oct 31:th
Before heading out we passed the wahoo area with metal leaders. We caught three wahoos ranging between 15 and 20 kgs.
We fished a little west of La Guaira bank and caught 2 dorados.

Wednesday, nov 1:st
Today we fished western La Guaira bank (outside the power plant). The action for the day was a blue marlin between 100 and 150kgs crashing into a ballyho on the left outrigger. It stole a good deal of line but did not stick. The bait was separated in half.

Thursday, nov 2:nd
Fished about two hours this day in front of the power plant. Nothing. We went to a ************************ for diesel this day. We saw the back of a whale, exhausting water several times but we could not tell the species.

Friday, nov 3:rd
Today we ran far offshore north from Puerto Cruz. Since we saw no birds or baitfish, Nani said to me; you decide when we start fishing. I said "now" and David started to rigg 5 lines. Before the second ballyho was in the water Nani saw a blue marlin behind the first bait, and David tried to feed the fish but it would not take it. After a few hours of trolling a blue ran into the pattern and took a ballyho (I was asleep, but the noice from my friends and the crew woke me, adrenaline running) but again it did not stick. Probably had the leader wrapped around its bill.

Saturday, nov 4:th
We headed for the power plant, and as we steamed I suddenly saw some foam on the surface not far from the boat. I pointed it out to the mate, David, and in the same instance a big blue jumped through the patch of foam. I guess there was baitfish... We stopped and fished for it for a while but it did not show itself again. Instead we saw the back of a whale again. Possibly the same animal because it was more or less in the same area as last time. Nothing today either... The guys and me has given up the thought of billfish...

Sunday, nov 5:th
We fished ourselves all the way from Puerto Maya to the airport, then we had to steam to Caraballeda to make it before nightfall. Nothing except one barracuda. The baracudas had by the way destroyed more than one bait during our fishingdays.
In the ************************ we hear that some boats had a good day northwest of la guaira bank, the same area we fished friday where we had one of our few blue bites. We checked in to our rooms in the ************************ portofino lodge and had dinner in the restaurant. Since we had only fish for dinner in Puerto Maya we ordered red meat in the restaurant...

Monday, nov 6:th
Nani drove me and Jonas in his car to the golf part of his club at the foot of the mountain. Beautiful colonial style buildings very much contrasting with the buildings outside the walls... Contrasting was also the gardens and the tidyness. Then he drove me to Puerto Azul ************************, he thought it would be a nice place for me to stay with my family. A beautiful place! Again, inside the fences and beyond all the security you begin to wonder if you are in the same country. At 13.00 we left for the airport, a good idea to be there early ( the flight was 18.05) since the national guard decided to check everyones (!) baggage (even the check in baggage) twice, and especially ours...


So to summon things:
We caught seven dorados (we tried to avoid them after the first few days),
three wahoos (we tried to avoid them after the first few days) and one barracuda.
We had two bites from blue marlins, one from unidentified billfish and we saw two more blues that did not bite.
Oh, and I caught a bunch of cutlassfish in the lagoon of Puerto Maya on my fly rod. But I need a marlin...

Finally, we had a great fishing vacation with good people, sun, blue water and good food and drink. Thanks Nani!

For pictures, please visit:

http://www.fishyourdream.com/en/gotland/logbook_venezuela.htm

Regards
/Per Jobs, Sweden

[Catch em up]

Jan 15th the Impetuous, a 55ft Hatteras with Capt. Josh Howe on the bridge fished the banks. Raised six sails, four whites and one blue marlin. Released two sails, one white marlin, and one blue to complete the slam.

[raffel]

Until World Pub requires it, I won't give out my e-addy. Those that know me, know I write the truth. Is Rick so bored that he needs to give out all the booking info, just because you asked for it?