Venezuela marlin fishing. Links to websites.

[Nick_Fuegi]

For some background check out the excellent thread on Venezuela here: http://www.marlinmag.com/forum.jsp?done=yes&ID=556164&categoryID=null

Someone pointed out that it's hard to find links to websites on Venezuelan billfishing. I agree. It gave me a positive idea.

Let's post 'em all right here!

Please post any *active* links you know of (check 'em) to the websites of operators in Venezuela or companies specialising in Venezuelan offshore fishing. Websites can be in any language. There must be some French and Spanish companies offering fishing too? Try to avoid companies that are just linking to one of the sites below.

I'll get the ball rolling with all the links I know about already from a LOT of research of my own for my trip.

http://www.venezuelamarlinsafari.com.ve
http://www.salitrefishing.com
http://www.explore-yachts.com/charter/deepsea-fishingen.htm
http://www.fishinginternational.com/location/venezuel1.htm
http://www.fishquest.com/Quest.asp?Option=Trip&Detail=30
http://www.southfishing.com/pages/venezuelabillfish.html
http://www.explorepartners.com/fishing/fishing-boats.htm

Ok, now it's your turn. Let's see how many there are in total. This should make it a lot easier for people to get fishing! :)

Nick

[Nick_Fuegi]

Found this link:
http://www.ibfn.org/community/charter/list.asp?id=CHARTER&NAV=18&search=&area=&country=&state=&s=country
It has five links to Venezuelan marlin sites.
*BUT BEFORE YOU GO THERE*... ALL the links are dead/out of date (operator no longer in Ven etc).

It struck me that anglers that find dead links need to report them. All the changes in Venezuela have left a load of useless info on the web. So, if you find an out of date website. Email the operator/webmaster and politely ask them to amend their info.

I sent the following to IBFN (the link above):
"Dear Sir,

Just thought I’d let you know that all the links you have under Venezuela are dead/out of date (operator no longer in Ven etc etc).
There has been some discussion on Marlin Mag forum http://www.marlinmag.com/forum.jsp?ID=558167
about links to Venezuelan sites and how hard it is to find info and go fishing there. It seems there have been a lot of changes in Venezuela in the last few years and this explains why the links are no longer useful.

We’re trying to do what little we can to solve the problem - hence this note.

Please could you update/remove the links and help a fishing community that seems to be suffering from a lack of useful information and a frustrated customer base as a result.

Many thanks,"

Use this as a template if you like.

Nick

[Great_thread]

http://www.gotmarlin.com/ works, but it’s not been updated since ’03. Anyone know if that guy’s still in business in Venezuela?

[Nick_Fuegi]

Can't believe there are no more links yet. Every Venezuelan operator should be promoting themselves here for free! Out of those seven links, at least two are highly doubtful. Can the options really be so limited?

If I didn't knoe better I'd think there was a cartel in operation! ;)

Come on! Post your links!

Nick

[Rick_Alvarez]

You should add www.intlbillfishtourns.com for those interested in competing in INTERNATIONAL tournaments in Venezuela.
Thanks,
Rick

[Rick_Alvarez]

Great Thread:
Got marlin has not been in Venezuela for about 2 years now. The boat they operated, a 46' Bertram, went back to Curaçao.
NICK,
I'm glad to see you're keeping up with Venezuela fishing. Hope you decide to return soon.
I cannot locate any more active sites. Some stuff is posted on inthebite.com but it is not a site dedicated to Venezuela.
Good fishing to all,
Rick Alvarez

[George]

Add www.southfishing.com

[Nick_Fuegi]

Hi Rick. Thanks again for your help.

Loved Venezuela (both on land, and water). Will definitely be back asap for marlin and Amazonas. Busy at the moment relocating to Canada. Then I need to tag a giant BFT on the East coast and release a black marlin in Oz to complete the hexacontinental ultimate fishing challenge before I get back to Venezuela. I had hoped to do it before I hit 30, but that's not going to happen now.

Noticed a lot of people are still looking for the same info I was before I came to Ven. Was surprised that the industry hadn't supplied this demand with more websites, info etc.

It just amazes me that places like Hotel Eduards don't have websites.

Happily, this forum now has a lot of info to help anglers considering Venzuela as a destination. It's a free pool of information expanding to fill the vacuum.

Hopefully, all this open discussion will be good for business and the fishery/fishing in general. If it's easy for people to get the info they need to make the decision to go fishing in Venezuela, they will go. When they see it's strengths and weaknesses with their own eyes, maybe something can be done about the longliners etc. Hopefully visitors will see a bit of the country whilst on their trip and take an interest in looking after the rest of it too.

Here's to beautiful Venezuela, the www and progress.

Nick

[Nick_Fuegi]

First another link: Ok. Just occurred to me whilst replying to Rick, that we might as well add all the links/details of accommodation in Venezuela here too.

Here are the details I know. If you can fill in any of the blanks with web-addresses or direct phone numbers, please do your fellow anglers a favour and post details. Likewise, if you see a mistake or think any of the info is of little use, say something and/or post a correction here.

So here we go:
HOTEL OLÉ CARIBE
Website: http://www.hotelolecaribe.com/

Marina Porto Fino
Website: http://www.marinaportofino.com/

Hotel Catimar
Website: http://www.hotelcatimar.com/index_us.htm/

Hotel Macuto
Website: http://www.venezuela-airport-hotel.com/

Eurobuilding Express
Website: http://www.hoteleuroexpress.com/

Best Western Puerto Viejo
Website: http://hotelplayagrandecaribe.com/

Hotel Eduards
Avenida la Playa con calle 1, Macuto
Website?
Email?
Phone number? +58 (212) 515 60 00

Mango Marina
Address?
Website?
Email?: www.familiasolis@hotmail.com
Phone number +58 (414) 370 53 64.

HOTEL OVETENSE
Calle Ramos, Maiquetía
Website?
Email?
Phone number +58 (212) 515 60 00, 332 15 27

HOTEL SILVEPE
Avenida principal Playa Grande, Catia la Mar
Website?
Email?
Phone number +58 (212) 515 60 00, 351 53 06

HOTEL LUNA MAR
Avenida Club Náutico, Catia la Mar
Website?
Email?
Phone number +58 (212) 515 60 00, 351 13 14

HOTEL RESTAURANT BAHIA MAR
Avenida la Playa, Catia la Mar
Website?
Email?
Phone number +58 (212) 515 60 00, 351 59 35

Should be something there to siut everyone. Please fill in any blanks. You know what's funny? I found some of this hotel info on the website of the Czech embassy in Venezuela! That's how hard it used to be to get info about Venezuela! Unbelievable! Lol.

[Rick_Alvarez]

Nick:
The Hotel Eduard's website is:
http://www.hoteleduards.net/
Their email is:
hoteleduards@hotmail.com
Since you started this, you should maybe do a recap of the list incluidng these new accomodations additions and dropping some of the inactive sites you originally listed please.
Regards,
Rick

[Rick_Alvarez]

Nick:
Forgot to mention a couple of things. First, I am currently providing info to Dr. J. David Torres, Marine Biologist of INAPESCA (Venezuela's equivalent of the U.S. National Marine Fisheries) for regulations on netting and longlining. There are a couple of other advisors much more knowledgeable than I am assisting as well. I am optimistic that something good will come out of this.
Secondly, I forgot to mention the Hotel Santiago which is right next door to the Eduard's. Aside from the great restaurant the hotel is okay. I ended up having to stay there along with my crew during the recent tournament because the Eduard's was full. Also not sure if you listed the Hidalgo, which has also a great restaurant (even better than the Santiago)plus a hotel. I will find those websites and emails and post them later tonight. Also I think there might be a couple that you did list that are "not for visitors". I'll find out which ones those are and post that as well.
Best regards to you again,
Rick

[Nick_Fuegi]

Ok. To recap the point of this thread:
It was started to list ALL websites reliably offering Venezuelan billfishing because it was very hard to find much info.
This time-consuming research is posted here for the benefit of the worldwide angling community and the Venezuelan fishery.
We proved there are surprisingly few providers on the web, that they are hard to find and/or that much of what little info is available is out of date.

Ok, here’s everything we collectively know that you can currently get on the web that's of some use.

1st) Links to operators in Venezuela and/or vendors specialising in Venezuelan billfishing (no particular order).

http://www.venezuelamarlinsafari.com.ve/
Site admin based in: Caracas

http://www.explore-yachts.com/charter/deepsea-fishingen.htm
Site admin based in: Caracas

http://www.salitrefishing.com/
Site admin based in: Pembroke Pine FLA

http://www.fishinginternational.com/location/venezuel1.htm
Site admin based in: Santa Rosa CA

http://www.fishquest.com/Quest.asp?Option=Trip&Detail=30
Site admin based in: Woodland CA

http://www.southfishing.com/pages/venezuelabillfish.html
Site admin based in: Miami FLA

For those wanting to take part in Venezuelan billfishing tournaments:
www.intlbillfishtourns.com
Site admin based in: Miami FLA

Someone pointed out to me that explore-partners was the same company as explore yachts. As readers will only want to see the site with the lower prices, the other link is gone to save your time! ;) If you want to see the other site google for "explore-partners".

See next post for accommodation update.

[Nick_Fuegi]

Ok

This next list shows all known, Links/contact info for accommodation suitable for those wishing to do some offshore fishing in Venezuela. Make sure you’ve seen a good map of the area - you’ll want to know where your accommodation is in relation to your boat before you book anything.

HOTEL OLÉ CARIBE
Website: http://www.hotelolecaribe.com/

Marina Porto Fino
Website: http://www.marinaportofino.com/

Hotel Catimar
Website: http://www.hotelcatimar.com/index_us.htm/

Hotel Macuto
Website: http://www.venezuela-airport-hotel.com/

Eurobuilding Express
Website: http://www.hoteleuroexpress.com/

Best Western Puerto Viejo
Website: http://hotelplayagrandecaribe.com/

Hotel Eduards
Website: http://www.hoteleduards.net/

La Posada Del Hidalgo
http://www.quinceletras.com/Posada/English/English.htm

Hotel Santiago
http://www.hotelsantiago.com.ve/ingles/index1.php

Mango Marina
Address?
Website?
Email?: www.familiasolis@hotmail.com
Phone number?

Can anyone post a link to a good (and current) map of the local area showing the marinas and/or hotels? If not, can anyone draw such a map? If someone sketches a map, scans it and posts it to the web with a link here, I can make a ‘formal’ version in Photoshop and post a link to it. See the power of the web! We’ll make our own fri99in’ map!

Post any more links to any other operators/reasonable accommodation. Before posting, check they aren’t already covered in the lists. Also, please make a considered decision as to whether any “new” link is either out of date and/or whether it just links to one of the sites already covered. All we want is up-to-date info for as many operators as possible so anglers can easily choose a supplier and confidently spend their marlin-money. So a link that ends up at one of the sites I’ve already listed is a waste of time.
Seems that there really are only six websites offering Venezuelan bill-fishing (plus one for tournaments) and only two of these sites are based in Venezuela. Not quite as spoilt for choice as one might like to be.
Please fill in any blanks in the hotel lists by posting links to the homepage, or failing that, post ‘traditional' contact details.

One last thing. Can anyone recommend (1st hand) a good value, capable, Caracas-based, fluently bilingual, web-design company that could set up websites for Venezuelan charter operators? How much would a basic website cost to design/build? What would the running costs be? If the figures look good, someone might get in touch! :)

Be sure to post a link to any new sites here.

Nick

[Nick_Fuegi]

Anyone got a good map of the area? Link?

I've tried Google Earth, and whilst they have a good satellite map and you can see the individual boats, there's no street names...

Need online street-map of the area.

Anyone?

[Rick_Alvarez]

Nick,
On the web site for the State of Vargas http://www.estadovargas.gov.ve/, the state where La Guaira is located, there's supposed to be a map but when I click on it, it takes me to some other info and not the map. I have written the lady in charge of tourism for the state so that maybe she can get the site corrected or email me something. Will keep everyone informed.
Good fishing to all,
Rick

[Nick_Fuegi]

The map is here http://www.estadovargas.gov.ve/Contenido.asp?ID=73

I'm still looking for street-maps of the towns themselves. However, that's a good start for anyone reading this thread and needing to get to grips with the general area.

Nick