Vagabond Fishing

Mozambique

Nov. 21st.  0/1 black marlin

We fished baits today, started out with a bonita skiping short and a rainbow runner skipping long.  I also fished a diving plug down the middle, short, to try and pick up a wahoo or yellofin.  Wouldn't you know it, a small black (100#) made a couple of attempts at the plug to no avail.  Otherwise we did not see anything and called it a day in the early afternoon.  The water has looked good the past few days, but the amount of life we see each day has been decreasing as we get further away from the full moon spring tide.

Nov. 20th.  1/1 black marlin

We caught a 250# black, on a lure, mid morning.  We did not see anyother marlin and very little bait showing on the surface or the sounder.

Nov. 19th 2011

We have fished 12 and 1/2 days since our arrival at Bazaruto Island, Mozambique.  We have, so far, caught 5 black marlin and 1 blue marlin.  Two of the blacks were around 650#, the rest of the marlin were between 130 and 200#.  One of the 650's was on a skip bait the rest on lures, the Bonze "violator" being our top producer.  The last week or so has been slow, a NE wind bringing in green water.  We managed to release 5 marlin durring the 8 day Mozambique Tours/Pestana Bazaruto Island Lodge Marlin Tournament, taking 1st place.  Capt. Thomas Holmes did a great job of putting us on the bites.

Seychelles

 Feb.

We have been on boat detail since early Jan.  Our total up to that point is 11 Black Marlin, 2 Blue Marlin, 2 Striped Marlin and maybe 10 or 12 sails.   

Dec. 19th.

We fished a few days this past week.  1 Blue Marlin (around 600#), 1 Striped Marlin, a couple of Sails and 6-10 Tunas each day.

Nov 26- Dec. 5th  We brought the "Predetor" to Desroches and Helped my good friend Jonboy get the boat ready for charter fishing out of the resort.  We fun fished a few days with some of the resort staff so that Jonboy could get the know the area before putting clients aboard.

Dec. 5th

Fished 2 hrs in the afternoon, 2 yft, 2 rainbow runners and 2/3 of sails.

Dec. 4th

4 hours of bait and switch fly fishing.  1/2 on sails and 1/2 on wahoo. 

Dec. 2nd

1 sail, 2 yft and 1 wahoo.

Dec. 1st

1/4 on sails, and a couple of tunas. 

Nov 18th

Back in Victoria we fished the south side of the Bank.  1 Stripey, missed another billfish bite and put a couple of Tunas in the box.

Nov 15th

We fished further south on the west side of the Amirantes.  1 Billfish bite in the am.  Late in the afternoon we ran back to the east side and got on the Yellowfin Tunas off of Poivre. 

Nov 14th

We headed south for a few days, to fish the waters of the Amirantes group.  We found a good yellow fin bite off of St. Joseph's today, with a few wahoo and doggies mixed in. 

Nov 11th

Pulled big skip baits today, no love.  We did manage a Mahi, Wahoo and 1/2 on sails on a small lure we pulled long.  We did not see the bird life and bait we had the previous two days. 

Nov 9th

3 Mahi, 1 tuna, 5 Black Marlin and 2 Sails.  All of the blacks were under 200 lbs.  All on lures.  4  other confirmed billfish bites and a handfull of  Wahoo bites.

Nov. 7th, 2010

Fished aboard the Mantra out of  Vitoria.  5 Wahoo, 3 Mahi, 5 Black Marlin and 1 Blue Marlin.  4 of the Blacks were in the 130-200 lbs range, the first of the day was around 75.  450-500 on the Blue.  We had bites out of 4 other marlin.  All of the fish were caught on lures.

Oct 31st, 2010

We fished a crew day out of Victoria aboard the 36 Predator.  4/8 on Sails, 2 pup Tunas, a Mahi and missed a mako.

CAP CANA 

Sept. 7th

1/1 blue marlin 

Sept. 6th

Zip 

Sept. 5th

1/1 white marlin 

Sept. 4th

Zip 

ST. THOMAS

Aug. 5th

2/3 on Blue Marlin today.  The first fish of the day came up on the left long teaser, it never attacked and quickly faded off, then grabed the right long lure, jumped once and was gone.  The two we caught both came to the right short teaser, teased up well and were hooked on a pitch bait.  The first was a 200, the 2nd around 400.

July 30th

0/1, we had a small blue eat a long rigger lure early in the day.  The fish made a few jumps and sliped the hook before we could clear the other lines. 

July 28th

1/2, both on pitch baits. 

July 27th

2/4, and raised another that did not bite.  We caught one on a pitch bait, missed another on the pitch bait, caught one on a lure and hook a 2nd on a lure that got sharked.

July 25th

0/1.  The Reel Worthless had 2, a 31 Bertram had 3, a number of boats got skunked.  It is hero or zero right now. 

July 24th

0/0.  Reel Adiction was 2/3. 

July 23rd

2/3 on the blues today.  The 1st was a 250# on a single hook wide range.  The 2nd blue was a 100# on the long left teaser.  The fish teased well and Dr. Jules did a nice job on the switch. 

July 22nd

Big goose egg today.  Abigail had 2, Producer 1. 

July 21st

We were 0/1 today, got bit as we were setting out, but pulled the hook.  All in all it was a slow day, Reel Addiction had 1, Prime time 2, Marlin Prince 2, Blue Bird 1, a couple of other boats with 1 each.  Most of the fleet got blanked. 

July 16th

0/1, we had a fish knock out the long rigger mackerel, if not for the bill mark on the bait I would not have called it a bite, we never saw the fish.  Other boats out on the water today were: Free Enterprise, 1/2. Abgail, 1/1. Black Pearl, 1/?, Tyson's Pride 0/1?.  The water was green, hopefully things will tighten up as we aproach the full moon. 

July 13th

Not much going on at the moment.  We start fishing again next week, on the front side of the July full moon. 

July 4th

0/2 on the blues today.  Both teaser fish.  A 74' Viking, the Manna Ray caught 2 whites and 2 blues.   

July 2nd

We were 2/3 on the north drop today.  We pitch baited a #400 10 min. into the day.  Mid afternoon we missed a nice one on a long rigger mackeral, then came tight on a #250 on the long rigger mackeral late in the day.  Had a couple of wahoo bites as well. 

June 24th

We stayed at the dock on Tuesday.  Yesterday we caught a blackfin tuna, did not see a blue.  We have had a last min. cancellation and have from now till the end of the  month available out of St. Thomas. 

June 21st

On Sunday we were 1/1, catching a nice 450# that made a couple of jumps on the leader after staying down most of the fight, really making our angler work for it.  Monday again 1/1 pitch baiting, with a 400#.  This one stayed up top and Capt. Bubba got on her quick.

June 5th

Yesterday we caught 2 out of 3 white marlin. 

May 31st.

The number of Blues around is getting better.  Today we caught 1/2 blue marlin, a 150#, and 2 nice mahi.  Both of the blues were teaser fish.  Top boat had a Blue and 4 White Marlin, others had: 1 blue 2 whites, 1 blue 1 white, 2 whites (two boats) and the fly fishing crowd raised 4 blues. 

May 29th

We were 1/2 on Blue Marlin and 1/3 on White Marlin today.  The Blue was our first of the season here in Punta Cana.  We had a few more bites which may  have been billfish.  On the 28th I fished on another boat, going 2/4 on White Marlin, and 2 mahi.

May 27th.

1/2 on the White Marlin today, most boats caught between 1 and 3. I know of 1 Blue Marlin released, top boat had 7 White Marlin.  

May 23rd.

 2/4 on white marlin and 2 nice mahi. 

May 22nd.

All in all a bit slow today.  Due to the crowd of boat fishing the Cabeza del Toro tournament, stacked up in the area I have been fishing, I when to the southern.  Not much to it.  Back on the bank late in the day we did manage a gaffer and two smaller Mahi,  plus a Sailfish.  I do not know the results of the tournament as of yet.

May 20th. 

I fished a half day aboard a private boat, 3 mahi.  Marlin fishing was slow, 2/5 was the best catch I know of.

May 16th.

Yesterday we were 1/2 on white marlin, plus two more seen that did not bite.  1 mahi for the table.  Most boats stayed in.

May 14th.

A bit sporty out on the Mona Pass today, not all that unusual for fishing Punta Cana.  We were 1/2 of Sails, 1/3 on White Marlin and boxed 9 Mahi.  There were only a couple of other boat fishing out of Cap Cana today,  one boat had a Blue Marlin, 2 sails and some Mahi, another boat a couple of White Marlin.  I did not see what the other boats caught.

There were a few White Marlin released yesterday.

May 10th.

Only two boats fished yesterday, 3 whites and some mahi between them.  Just one boat, that I know of, fishing out of Cap Cana today. 

May 9th.

The marlin fishing turned off yesterday, out of 5 boats fishing I do not know of any marlin caught.  There were some nice mahi brought in. 

May  8th.

Yesterday the marlin bite was on again in Punat Cana.  Top boat was Hans with a blue and 4 whites, most every one else had 1 or 2 whites.  There are a number of boats fishing today out of Cap Cana marina.

May 6th.

We started the morning catching a acrobatic sailfish.   Mid moring we found three frigates working some flying fish.  When we got under the frigates the mahi jumped us, we caught 3 and missed a few others.  We were back out in the afternoon for another half day.  It was not as fruitfull as the am.  1 mahi and 1 small cero mackeral was all we had to show for our efforts.  I know of 1 white marlin caught and another jumped off, as well as a blue raised (no bite) amongst the other boats fishing out of Cap Cana marina, Punta Cana, today.

May 5th.

I just got back into town mid day.  It sounded like the fishing the last few days has been spotty.  Today two boats fished, one raised a few, the other saw 9 or 10 and caught 6.  I will be back on the water in the  am.

May 1st.

Two boats out yesterday.  One went 1/6 catching a sail, the fly fishing boat raised 7.  The fish were not teasing or biting well. 

April 27th.

Three boats fished out of Cap Cana marina, Punta Cana, yesterday.  2/4, 3/3 and 2/9?, all white marlin.  The seas were nice. 

April 26th.

The fishing in Punta Cana continues to be on and off.  On Sat. the whites bit for some, 7 for Paco, 3 on another boat, and three boats with 1, I did not fish.  Sat. was the 2nd and final day of the Mahi tournament, so some boats were not concerned with the whites.  Hando on the "Miranda" won the most #'s title and a junior angler aboard the "Tijereta" with Bubba won the big fish with a 41#er.  On Sunday, with everyone looking for the whites, 6 boats caught 1 white.  And so it goes.

April 23rd.

The fishing in Punta Cana was better today than yesterday, but  not by much.  Aboard the Turn Me Loose we were 1/1 on white marlin, adding a couple of nice gaffer mahi late in the day.  I know of two other white marlin caught, a 1/3 and 1/?, plus a scattered mahi.   

April 22nd.

The bite slowed down today.  The two boats that fished only raised a couple of fish between them. 

April 21st.

Today two boats fished out of Cap Cana marina, Punta Cana.  One raised 3 white marlin, the other saw 10 whites and a blue.

A private boat had 4 shoots at white  marlin yesterday, they were the only boat fishing out of Cap Cana. 

April 19th.

The wind has finally dropped out for a bit in Punta Cana.  It was overcast all day, a few rain showers.  We caught a nice white soon after setting out this morning, off of the airport.  After pounding the area for a while we continued to work north in pretty, but lifeless water.  Coming back south on the outside, we got 1 of 2 bites, same fish I think.  The water on the south side of the bank was patchy.  We picked  up 1 gaffer mahi out in the deep.  Ended the fishing day at 2/2 white marlin (three bites from 2 fish),  a gaffer, and a cuda.

 April 17th.

My party for today had a last minute conflict.  I saw some nice gaffer Mahi come in yesterday afternoon.

April 16th. 

Not much happening this week.  The normal boat work and another goose egg on the mullet hunt.  Back out tomorrow.  The weather turns great starting Sunday (so the weatherman say's), there should be a few more boats fishing.

April 11th.

Another good day fishing Punta Cana.  We went 2/4 on the White Marlin and caught a Blackfin Tuna.  Jack let his parents get in on the action today, both caught a White Marlin. 

April 10th.

Big day today.  We are hosting angler Jack McClusky, who came to Cap Cana looking for a white marlin to complete his Royal Slam, and become, at age 9, the youngest angler every to complete the feat.  Jack caught his Atlantic Sail off of Palm Beach, Fl. his Atlantic Blue out of Walkers Cay, Bahamas (both aboard the family boat).  Pacific Blue, Sail and Black marlin out of Tropic Star Lodge in Pinas Bay, Panama and Stripey at Cabo San Lucas.  He went to Kona, HI to catch his Spearfish with Teddy Hoogs aboard the Kila Kila.  Swordfish out of Islamorada with Scott Stanzick on the Catch 22.  It was down to the White Marlin.  About an hour into the day we raised a white to the left teaser, swing and a miss.  Circling around we hooked a Mahi on a long rigger.  Circling some more we hooked a White on the other long.  The fish stayed up top and with Jacks Dad dealing with the Mahi heading the other way we were able to get back on the White and get the release.  We then missed a couple before coming tight on one of a double header.  This fish gave Jack a more determined struggle, sounding twice before we got our shot and Jack scored another release.  We had one or two more shots and had a few more on the teasers that we could not switch.   Not only is Jack now the youngest angler to every catch a Royal Slam, but he caught all of the fish in 10 months.

CONGRATS JACK!!!   

Jack fights a White Marlin, his Dad steers the chair.

April 9th.

We fished a morning half day, a group here at Cap Cana for a wedding.  0/2 on the white marlin and caught a barracuda.  The whites were a double header, one on the right teaser that droped back to the long rigger, my deckhand hooked him.  As I circled to Stb. and cleared my right teaser another popped up.   It did a couple of donuts under the teaser, ran 15' ahead of the teaser, turned around and grabed it going away.  It was all I could do to pull it away (love them mahi bellies).  It did a couple more donuts, finally switched to a bait, made a big lunge at the bait, missed by a country mile and left.  We got within 30' of the leader and the first white came unglued!  Such is fishing.

April 7th.

It's been blowing the last 4?, maybe 6 days now.  Not to rough to fish, but uncomfortable like.  I only heard of  one boat fishing yesterday, seeing 2 whites.  One more day at the dock, then we get a few days on the water. 

April 6th.

I was up early this morning to try and catch some dredge mullets with the cast net.  They are proving to be more elusive than the Menhaden I am used to throwing on up in North Carolina. 

April 3rd.

It's been a bit sporty the last two days but we have managed to make a day of it.  We raised a  double on the longs first thing with no love.  As I circled back aroun one of the fish poped back up, the angler showed some great tech. on the drop back and 10 min. later we had our first release of the day.  As it turned out it was our only release of the day.  Shortly after lunch something pulled on my left bridge teaser a couple of times.  I never could make a positive ID.  I put us down for 1 white from 3 shots at 2 fish.

A short spot of boat work early this week, than back out for what should be an improving bite as we come off the full moon.

April, 2nd.

3/3 on the Whites today, raised another that did not bite. 

March 26th.

Today started out a bit choppy, not rough, just choppy.  We picked up a wahoo early and heard of a couple marlin raised.  After that is got quiet, both for us and on the radio.  We fished a couple of nice changes to no avail.  We finally found a nice white on the SE corner of the bank.  A stuborn, big fish (80# maybe), it stayed up at first.  After some nice jumps and getting the leader once she went down.  It took another 30 min. to get her back up and set free.  This was, by far, my 2nd biggest white ever, behind the behemoth of last month. 

March 21st.

A glamor day yesterday.  I headed out for a little fun fishing with some friends that teach at the international school here in Cap Cana.  We caught 1 white marlin, a teaser fish, and had another teaser bite which I never got my eye on. 

March 19th.

Yesterday we had Tuesdays group back aboard.  They wanted a blue marlin, so we made the long run to the south to see what we could find.  On the way south, my deckhand (Wander) spoted some birds working.  We caught 3 nice gaffer mahi under them.  As we rounded Isla Saona we spoted more birds, no luck with that group.  We picked a small mahi and a blackfin tuna around a couple of the FADS and late in the day found the blue we were looking for.   The blue ate a small lumo color plunger in the left long.  Single hook. 

March 16th.

Heading north today we set out around a couple of whales.  As we crossed over the 100, along a so so change, we had a white up.   As I had been slow to call for the changeover from the wahoo spread we still had the baits on wire out.  0/1.  Despite having seen the white I did not think things looked all that good.  An hour later we were high speed (10 kts, sort of fast) lure fishing back south on the outside edge.  Missed one on one of the long lures.  0/2.   The the east side of the bank looked a bit better as we set the baits back out.  1 cuda and a lost wahoo later we caught a double header of mahi.  Circle back and around for 1 of 2 mahi, around again and catch a white.  We caught 1 more cuda to finish the day at 1/3 whites, 3 mahi, 2 cuda.

March 13th

It has been a tough week of fishing in Punta Cana.  The weather turned good by Wed., but all in all the fishing for the week was slow.  A few wahoo around, and I heard of one white missed. 

March 9th

Tough day on the 8th.  Rough and no bites.  After about 3 hours we called it a day.

March 8th,

The seas were abit sloppy yesterday, but the good fishing in Punt Cana made it bearable.  We caught 11 gaffer mahi and 1 blackfin tuna.  We also missed a white marlin.  I did see one whale, but it went down before anyone else got an eye on it.  On the marlin hunt today.

March 7th

A bit slower in Punta Cana yesterday.  We fished a few hours in the morning, catching 1 nice blackfin tuna and a cero mackerel.

March 6th,

A good selection yesterday offshore of Punta Cana.  1 wahoo, 6 blackfin tuna, 5 cero mackerel, 1 king mackerel, 2 cuda, 1 amberjack, 1 blackjack.  We did not see a billfish, but I know of another boat that raised and missed a white.

March 5th.

Yesterday we had a good afternoon half day out of Punta Cana.  We caught 1/2 of white marlin, 2 blackfin tuna, 1 wahoo, 1 spanish mackerel, 1 cuda and saw a couple of whales.  Light winds to boot.  Another boat saw a white on the 3rd, it would apear that they are starting to show up.

March 1st.

The fishing was slow today, a couple of 'cuda bites.  The Humpback whales were out in force again however.  We saw 8 maybe, they are here in Punta Cana in droves.

Feb. 19, 2010

Wow, what a great day yesterday.  A slight swell and variable winds made for a pretty day.  We started off catching a small Mahi around some float.  We saw the Humpbacks 5 or 6 times, the first one breached 12 or so times right close to the boat, coming strait up, half its body out of the water, then falling over with a great crash.  Next was a double header of White Marlin, one of which was the biggest I have ever seen.  I called it 100#.  Massive fish, big head, carried the weight well and thick shoulders.  A nice Wahoo, a Spanish Mackerel and a Cuda rounded out the catch.  We pulled the hook on another nice 'Hoo and missed a few other bites.

Feb 4th

Picked up a last min. half day late this morning.  We caught a 'Cuda and a 30# Wahoo, missing a couple of other wahoo and cuda bites.  All in all the water did not look very good.  I found some blueish water pushing in on the outside of the bank late in the afternoon, this prduced both of our fish. 

Today we saw  8 Humpback Whales.  3 pairs and 2 singles, all in different locations.  One of the pairs was in the same spot I have seen Humpbacks the last two days. 

Feb. 3rd

Great weather today.  Fished a half day, catching Mahi of 30, 20 and 15 #'s.  We also saw a couple of large Humpback whales, but they were quite far off.

Yesterday we also fished a morning half day.  We  only had one bite and did not connect.  The Humpbacks were there yesterday as well, but again no closer than 1/2 mile.

Jan. 26th.

This afternoon as I was waxing the boat, one of the security guards came by, jabbering about a big fish down the dock.  He wanted me to give him a hand trying to catch it.  Being in the middle of a project I just gave him some equipment and went back to work.  10 min later he was back with this.

I've got my foot in the pic for a size refference.  I sport a size 11 shoe.  I thought it might be dangerous to eat and talked the gards into throwing it back.  A waiter, at the resturant I am in saw the pic and informed me that they are excellent eating.  Ops.

Jan 25th

A very nice day on Sat., light wind, easy swell, not to hot, but the fishing was very slow.  Never marked much, no float, no birds, etc.  We caught 1 cuda and missed 3 other bites, most likely cuda, maybe one wahoo.

Jan, 21st.

Fished a half day today.  We started out to the south, picking up two Wahoo, a 25 and a 46#er.  Working offshore we picked up a nice gaffer Mahi and missed another Wahoo.  As we boxed a third Wahoo something grabed my right teaser.  As I circled around and after the fish pulled on the chrome dome 2 or 3 times I was able to make a positive ID.. Wahoo.  At this point my deckhand was able to swap out the bait on mono for one on wire and get it in position with the wahoo still under the teaser.  The fish hung between the two before fading off.  It was another nice day of fishing in Punta Cana.

Jan, 13th.

We did not feel the quake at all in Punta Cana.  One of the other boats was out today, it looked like he had a ok catch of Mahi.

Jan. 12th

There is a full slate of tournaments this season.  The Cap Cana Dorado tourn. starts things off, March 24-28.  The Cap Cana White Marlin is May 6-9th.  The Cabeza de Toro White Marlin is the 17th till the 22nd, Cabeza de Toro is 12 or so miles to the north of Cap Cana.  The Puerto Rico Light Tackle Association will be holding a tournament at Cap Cana, May 25-30.  Rick Alverez's International Cap Cana Billfish Shootout will be the 1st - 6th of June.   The Cap Cana Classic  runs July 29th till Aug. 1st.  Starting 3 days after the July full moon, it is sure to see a good Blue Marlin bite.  The tournament season, finishes up with the Cap Cana Shootout, Sept. 23-26.  The Sept. full moon is the 23rd.  If you have an interest in fishing any of these events give me a call.

Jan. 11th

Our group from the 7th wanted to give it another go, with a slight twist.  They wanted Sharks.  I was unable to put them on any toothy critters.  We did mange 12 mahi in the few hrs. we spent on the troll.  My sharkin skill need some improvement.

Jan. 7th

Good Mahi fishing today.  We caught 18 Mahi, 2 Wahoo and a 'Cuda.  A good day to be fishing in Punta Cana.

Jan. 6th

It could not have been any nicer this morning.  We started the day with a few Cudas.  Then a whole lota nothing till around midday, when we lost a nice Wahoo close to the boat.  Then the wind jumped up, and streaks of grass so close together you couldn't keep it off the hooks was everywhere.  Late in the afternoon we saw some big Humpback Whales air out.  I'm talking full body out of the water,  4 or 5 jumps,  one right after the other.  We were a mile or so off, but still spectacular.  Managed to scrape out a 15# gaffer Mahi and a Blackfin Tuna to complete a nice day on the water.

Jan. 5th

A beautiful day today.  We only fished 3hrs., missing a wahoo.  No other bites.

Jan, 3rd 2010

I fished a half day the afternoon of the 1st.  All in all the water did not look good.  I did find a halfway decent rip on the east side of the bank.  We manged a small Blackfin Tuna, a 35# Wahoo and 1 of a double header of White Marlin.   After we released the White the rip have faded out.  The season here for White Marlin is March to June, so hooking a double in Jan. was a pleasant suprise.  Another boat fished today, bringing in a nice Wahoo and about a doz. gaffer Mahi.  The weather in Punta Cana has been good, It is on the cool side at night now.