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Orchidius · 26-01-2014, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Given that Ciguatera has no cure, you have to wonder what risk you are willing to take.

Ciguatera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is the first I ever heard about this disease... Is it something to really worry about, or not so much in the Caribbean?

blackkayak · 26-01-2014, 14:47

The shrimpers keep a pot of hot oil on a diesel stove. They rough filet trash fish like Bonita , deep fry them and eat all day. I find mackerels oily but if you bleed 'em, wash 'em and grill them very hot they're good. Fortunately, if you keep fishing there's a tuna or a mahi there for you.

Orchidius · 26-01-2014, 14:49

Not all predatory fish are subject to contamination?

blackkayak · 26-01-2014, 14:54

Just fish that feed on coral or feed on fish that feed on coral. All fish eat other fish.

Tia Bu · 26-01-2014, 15:07

We like to pull two 100# test monofilament lines on cuban hand reels. They are hooked to downriggers, one about 50' and one about 75' behind the boat. After the downrigger comes about 10-15' of stainless leader, then a metal, one-hook spoon. It's a fun rig to set up and mess about with when you feel like fishing. When the downrigger pops to the surface, you know you've caught a fish (or some Sargasso weed). Getting the fish in with the hand reel is fun.

The trouble we've had in the past with sportfishing rigs on a sailboat is that you can't stop the boat to fight the fish. On a sportfisherman, you stop as soon as the fish strikes, and then you back down on it as you're fighting. If a big fish hits a line on a rod and reel on a sailboat, they can strip all the line off before you can get around to reacting.

Of course, if they're that big, I'm not quite sure what the heck you'd do with them if you got them up to the sailboat, anyway.

Nicholson58 · 26-01-2014, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidius

This is the first I ever heard about this disease... Is it something to really worry about, or not so much in the Caribbean?

It is not real common. Stay away from large reef predators such as Cuda, Grouper, Snapper. My Mother-in-law lived in Miami for 40 years and always made sure a fish would fit on the plate. Nothing in a restaurant without the head (so you could see the size)

My brother got a mild dose of it years ago that took years to clear up.