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Old 27-10-2024, 11:24   #1
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Fishing Leeward Islands

We are taking my son and his friend sailing on our 45' catamaran for two weeks in January. We will start in St. Martin and are open to areas between Anguilla and Antigua. They are both really into fishing; however, I do not know much about it. I am trying to plan an itinerary for the ideal trip but have no idea where to take them for offshore and inshore fishing. They also mentioned pelagic fishing. Any advice or resources are appreciated.
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Old 28-10-2024, 09:45   #2
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Re: Fishing Leeward Islands

Pelegic: Troll cedar plugs, large feathered spoons and diving plugs around ledges of deep dropoffs and you should do well.

Snapper, Grouper, porgies, etc. bottom fish with bait. Coral reefs in 20-90 feet of water. Use a double drop bottom rig, sometimes called a chicken rig, baited with cut up fish or squid. Save a couple of small fish that you catch to cut up for bait for continued fishing.

Hope this helps and have a great time!
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Old 28-10-2024, 11:51   #3
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Re: Fishing Leeward Islands

Since you are not into fishing, read up on Ciguatera. Seek local knowledge on what is safe to eat, and if there is any uncertainly, don't eat it. One reef might be ok, and another only a mile away might not be.

I've met several people that got ciguatera before, their skin was burning so badly they had to wear gloves to prevent tearing their skin off when they slept, and one person was on morphine for several months. Another had symptoms a year later. Another was a local (in Fiji) who got it from a fish he bought from a market.

So just be careful. Personally, I will ONLY eat Pelagic fish no matter what anyone else tells me is ok. It isn't like there aren't plenty of options for food. There is a reasonable chance you catch a nice Dorado, and if you do that is enough fish to eat satisfy your fishing friends.
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Old 28-10-2024, 12:57   #4
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Re: Fishing Leeward Islands

I looked into this before our trip to St. Martin last June. I never planned on reef fish due to the ciguatera possibility.

I brought along my gear, but never unpacked it, because we only had a week and there were only a few interesting looking drops that would have consumed much of a day trolling. However, there was one around the west side of Anguilla that I would have liked to troll if there was time. I didn't troll when sailing open water to Anguilla or St. Barts because the bathymetyr did not look productive (No steep drops)

What I have had the most success with is cutting a couple rods and installing ferules so I could take them down and fit in my duffle for flying in. Much easier for fighting fish than dealing with handlines and bungie cords, at least for me.

Trolling ballyhoo has been much more successful for me than the artificial lures, but cedar plugs, spoons, skirted lures, squids etc can work too. Finding ballyhoo to buy can be difficult, but if you know how to rig them with wire or can buy them rigged, it may be worth it. (See Youtube for rigging)

Don't eat the barracuda (ciguatera) but other pelagics should be ok.

If I can find the thread I started on this I will post a link.

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Old 28-10-2024, 12:59   #5
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Re: Fishing Leeward Islands

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Old 28-10-2024, 14:23   #6
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Re: Fishing Leeward Islands

Ciguatera is real. Was talking with an Anguillan local who had a run in two years ago.
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Old 28-10-2024, 14:57   #7
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Re: Fishing Leeward Islands

Best bet.....find a local fisherman and hire him for the day or half day. He'll know the good spots, have the correct gear for guests, clean the fish afterwards, etc, etc

I think you'll be fine with most reef caught fish.

If trolling, you'll end up catching a lot of a barracuda. Of all the fish in the Carib, the barracuda is the most likely culprit to carry ciguatera. I will not, under any conditions, eat barracuda, and advise the same for you.
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