Many years ago, Kona skipper George Parker made ­headlines around the world when he caught the first certified, world-record grander Pacific blue marlin. Since that 1,002-pound giant in November 1954, Hawaii’s lee eddies have churned up a stream of 1,000-pound blues that continues today. Kona waters usually average two or three granders per year, along with more Pacific blue marlin IGFA records than any other sport-fishing hot spot. That parade of records continues. In March 2013, Alex Nuttall boated a 958-pound blue marlin with Capt. Chip Van Mols on the Kona charter boat Monkey Biz II to claim the IGFA women’s 130-pound-class record.

Kona’s consistent billfish success sparked a worldwide revolution in big-game fishing because these big fish were caught on lures pioneered and developed in Hawaii waters. Meanwhile, big-game fishermen elsewhere had been saying you could catch billfish only with bait. Even those doubters caught the Kona wave and started catching marlin on Kona-style lures. Kona is also the perfect starting point for novices who have never caught a fish in their lives. It happens every day, 365 days a year. Newcomers are well served by a well-maintained fleet of top-of-the-line boats and expert captains.

Plus, Kona’s big fish hunt in deep, calm waters near shore. The 100-fathom line is a 10-minute run from Kona’s two main fishing fleets at Honokohau Harbor and Keauhou Bay. What’s more, the biggest fish of any week is usually a marlin in the 500- to 900-pound range caught by a complete newcomer on a four- or six-hour trip. On any day of the year, a visitor can find a suitable charter and hope to catch one or more of Hawaii’s mighty four: billfish, ahi (yellowfin tuna), mahimahi (dolphinfish) and ono (wahoo).

Billfish of Every Kind

Blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, sailfish, shortbill spearfish and broadbill swordfish — Kona’s waters are home to every billfish found in the Pacific. But each has a different story, and you should know those stories when you make plans.

Big blues are the billfish that pay the bills in Kona. Blues of all sizes are here year-round, but they are usually most common during the summer tournament season, from June through early September. Mid-Pacific currents can supply a fresh run at any time, however. For example, sometimes April surprises offshore trollers with fish heavier than 500 pounds on every day of the lunar cycle. Catches like these show that the lunar cycle has little, if any, influence on billfishing in Kona (unlike the effect different phases might have in other fishing areas).

Kona granders have also been landed in January, March and July. March, which might otherwise be considered the offseason elsewhere, has turned up more of Kona’s historic granders than any other month, and that includes the 1,649-pound Kona all-time record in 1984. The 1,376‑pound IGFA record for 130-pound class was caught in May 1982. Indeed, granders have been caught in Kona waters every month of the year. Licensed commercial fishermen are allowed to sell blue marlin in Hawaii, but professional skippers prefer tag-and-release for clients who want to let vital fish go. In any given week, more of Kona’s blues are tagged than kept. Visitors should make their wishes known when setting up a charter.

Hawaii’s Striped Marlin

Striped marlin cruise through Kona water’s year-round, but the big run extends from December through March. The Hawaii state record, 212 pounds, turned up here at the end of March 2011. That’s big for a north Pacific stripe, which is noteworthy because South Pacific stripers max out at more than double the weight of their northern cousins. Striped marlin are most attracted to Kona when winter waters cool down into the mid-70s. During those “chilly” times, the luckiest trollers might get up to a dozen striped marlin bites, and hook about a third of them.

Those same striped marlin ­conditions also attract shortbill spearfish of world-record size. Kona’s frisky shortbills ­presently hold 16 IGFA marks for tackle as light as 4-pound-class, and even on fly gear. Record-seekers troll hookless teasers to draw a spearfish within range, and then present a lure, fly or bait on the most sporting gear available. For most visitors, however, the spearfish is a surprise catch when trolling for blues and stripes.

For black marlin, Kona is outside the normal migration range. The entire Kona fleet sees only a handful each year, and these are much smaller than the giants of the Great Barrier Reef far to the south. Old-timers will remind you that the state record weighed 1,205 pounds, but that once-in-a-generation fish was caught in 1980.

Broadbills are the secret sensations for fishermen who know when, where and how to catch them. Most of Kona’s rod-and-reel swordies are caught at night during ika-shibi (traditional hand line) trips that target tuna. With its giant staring eyes, the broadbill is readily attracted to lights at night and to the squid schools that gather in the glow. The state record 503-pounder took the bait in June 2006 at the start of what are usually the three best swordfish months. Only a few boats cater to the night-fishing trade.

Hawaii Tuna Fuel Jet Revolution

More than fifty years ago, Hawaii troller Henry Nishikawa ignited the jet revolution when he caught a world-record ahi on a metal-headed lure drilled through and through with holes. His 269-pound yellowfin didn’t last long in the record books after anglers in the eastern Pacific discovered a tribe of bigger tuna off Mexico. Yet the IGFA record book is still overwhelmingly Kona on the ladies’ side: Kona catches made by women hold the 16-, 20-, 30- and 50-pound-class marks.

Though Kona waters attract ­resident schools of yellowfin year‑round, ahi are most abundant in late spring and throughout summer. As schools migrate west to east through the islands, the big runs reach Kauai first by Mother’s Day in May and Kona by Father’s Day in June. When the action is wide open, lucky boats can catch as many as 10 a day, all in the 100- to 220-pound range, by trolling or live-baiting with aku (skipjack tuna) or opelu (mackerel scad). During the rest of the year, ahi specialists target them with green-stick gear, and continue to catch a few each trip.

Hawaii’s state record ahi (a July catch) of 325 pounds is unusually large for central Pacific yellowfin tuna. Kona’s biggest ahi each year normally hits 250 pounds (258.5 in 2013). The state record bigeye (277 pounds in July 2013) and the biggest albacore (89.2 pounds in April 2011) both were caught on the Big Island’s windward (eastern) coast. The albacore weighed more than any on the IGFA record list but did not qualify for world-record status because it was caught on commercial-fishing gear. Kona ­fishermen regularly catch albies (tombo ahi) in the 60s and 70s on sport fishing tackle.

Mahimahi, Hawaii’s Gift to the World

Almost 70 years ago, Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club official George Perry set the 130-pound-class IGFA world record for dolphinfish with a 72.5‑pounder. That record didn’t last long, but the name “mahimahi” is Hawaii’s gift to the world, because it replaces the confusing name “dolphin” on restaurant menus. Though Hawaii has no current IGFA mahimahi records, the state-record 82-pounder confirms the potential. That record fish was a September Kona catch, but mahimahi are available any time the current drags a “floater” within trolling distance.

Mahimahi live up to their name (it means “very strong”), and the brightly colored, agile acrobats do their muscular tricks in Kona waters year-round. Occasionally huge schools gather around flotsam and jetsam for a wide-open bite that can go on for days. Then, skippers gear down to match the catch with sporting 20- and 30-pound-class rods. Unless a Kona skipper finds a floater, mahi are incidental catches on marlin and tuna trips.

By the way, the mahimahi record aside, Perry went on to catch the largest blue marlin in each of the first two Hawaiian International Billfish Tournaments (HIBT). The HIBT became an annual Kona fishing feature in 1959 and soon inspired dozens of other Kona tournaments. During the most popular tournament months of June, July and August, events compete with each other every week

Ono Blitzes, Summer Phenomenon

A Guide to Big Fish off the Big Island

Ninety years ago, a mysterious fellow known only as “J.B. Stickney” caught a 124.75-pound wahoo in Hawaii waters to set the world record. That was five years before the IGFA was founded, a time when records were compiled by Van Campen Heilner of Field & Stream and Francesca R. La Monte of the American Museum of Natural history. Ono — what wahoo are called in Hawaii — average 30 to 40 pounds, which makes J.B.’s catch even more extraordinary.

Big ones do show up now and then — state-record-holders Tom Brandt and Sky Mullins surprised their 133.2‑pound ono off the windward coast of the Big Island in December 2000. The major ono run reaches the Big Island in May of each year and hangs around into early September. Some ono are caught year-round, with early morning being your best chance. Kona skippers typically troll the 40-fathom line at the start of each trip to pick up any ono that might be harassing the nearshore bait schools.

To ward off the ono’s sharp teeth, skippers rig their special ono lures with single-strand stainless leaders. Ono slash at heavy-headed subsurface lures like weighted jets and lead-head feathers. On a typical trip specifically for ono, a successful boat might catch three or four fish. In years when ono blitz the summer currents, boats are known to hook as many as 40 on a single trip.

Other fishing areas might see the diversity of big-game fish that Kona has, but few have them in the sizes regularly seen here. In Kona, your next strike could come on any day of the year, in any phase of the moon, at any turn of the tide, on routinely comfortable seas, and be one of the Pacific’s biggest and most exciting game fish.

Shore Fishing off the Big Island

The post Kona Hawaii Offshore Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

A long-awaited week in Papua New Guinea proved a good bit windier than we’d have liked. But in retrospect, I shouldn’t gripe. A couple of weeks before we arrived, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake rocked New Britain Island, its epicenter near our final destination. A couple of weeks after we departed, Mount Ulawun—also on New Britain—erupted, forcing evacuations and closing the airport for some time.

Amazingly, the big temblor was barely a blip for the usual operations of Baia Sportfishing, which was all systems go just afterward. And even the eruption of that nearby volcano failed to delay normal operations for long. I guess when an entire nation lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, such cataclysmic events are the norm.

But outside of such events, and away from Port Moresby (which is also the capital city, on the main island), PNG remains a remarkable forgotten land of steaming jungles and unexplored coasts. And in these rivers, found in few other places on Earth, lurks the powerful Papuan black snapper (known locally as “black bass”). Its almost mythical reputation among anglers, along with its extraordinarily limited availability and accessibility, makes the Papuan snapper truly an ultimate bucket-list target.

A quest to check this fish off our own lists brought my amigo George Large and me halfway around the world to New Britain Island, northeast of the main island of Papua. A multitude of the rivers that cut through its rugged, verdant coast remains mostly or completely unexplored by anglers.

But we had heard that these fish can be tricky—to find, hook and, of course, land. Would we have the chance?

Delayed Reaction

We were wondering that very question while we cooled our heels in Port Moresby for an unplanned overnight. The Air Niugini flight from Brisbane, Australia—our first stop from the United States—into Port Moresby was inexplicably delayed for a couple of hours. We ended up reaching Port Moresby in time to wave goodbye to the afternoon flight to Hoskins, on West New Britain’s north coast near Liamo Reef Resort, and where the 72-foot, wave-piercing mothership Ultimate One waited. That meant we would have to spend the night in Port Moresby. Given the city’s reputation, we’d rather have avoided it. But it proved no problem. Air Niugini arranged for us to stay at a nearby, quite passable hotel, and we could catch a flight out early the next morning to join the anglers waiting to leave with us on the ship. But wait: There was no morning flight on that day. So we ended up finally reaching Ultimate One just before dark, more than a day late.

But we were there, joining four other anglers, including my friend Scott Thomas, editor of Australia’s Fishing World magazine. Large and I had time to work on our jet lag as the boat steamed northwest through the night and into the morning to reach Narage, one of the Vitu Islands, well out in the Bismarck Sea. The plan called for two or three days of fishing reefs and offshore waters, then three days back on the coast for river action.

During our 120-mile overnight journey, conditions that began in tranquil waters had become considerably more challenging, and by the time we anchored in a bit of lee near the small island, it was obvious that many of the reefs in the vicinity would be difficult, at best, to fish with poppers or stickbaits in the wind, rain and choppy seas.

So from the three small center-console skiffs (built to the specifications of Baia Sportfishing owner Riccard Reimann), the six anglers aboard mostly trolled, and did so in a limited area of reef not far from the lee of the steep, conical island.

Dogtooth Tuna and Black Bass

Despite that limitation, we discovered soon enough why Ultimate One’s captain, Rob McCullough, welcomed us to “dogtooth reef” as we loaded up the skiffs. We were also soon reminded why dogtooth tuna have a reputation for being one of the toughest fish to hang onto once hooked because the small group of anglers was repeatedly humbled by doggies, when they variously bit through leaders or main line, ravaged terminal gear or, of course, bullied their way back over a reef edge to cut us off. Despite all that, the group managed to land 10 or so over a couple of days, but only up to 60 to 80 pounds, not the 150-plus-pounders we’d have liked to have seen (and that we likely had hooked). Some wahoo got into the act as well.

We did get some chances to jig, but for whatever reason, that wasn’t terribly productive on this outing.

We left Narage a little later than planned to let the wind, now gusting to gale force, die back a bit, steaming south to the coast of West New Britain to fish the rivers. Unfortunately, conditions proved less than ideal here as well—not from the wind (which never really let up during our trip) because the rivers offered good protection, but from enough rainfall to wash a muddy outflow into the rivers. Best conditions for bass call for clear, dark water; we had opaque, cafe-au-lait water.

But all anglers did catch bass—both the coveted Papuan black snapper and the similar spot-tail bass (technically known as the freshwater snapper). The latter don’t run quite as large (though the record is 46 pounds) and are often found farther up in the rivers, even well above tidewater. Fittingly, the only repeat angler on this trip, Mal McCully of Naracoorte, Australia (this was his eighth trip), caught the biggest bass—a trophy-size fish upward of 30 pounds. (McCully told me he’s caught some larger; on his best trip so far he released 133 bass over four days. Yeah, the water was clear.)

McCully fishes 50-pound braid with an 80-pound mono leader. At times, even that doesn’t offer enough stopping power in the snag-filled rivers, where the water typically ranges from a few feet to 15 or so. McCully says he’s lost more big bass than he can count. Although a big fan of barramundi fishing in Australia, he says this is much tougher than barra fishing. Certainly Large and I lost our share, but we also caught quite a few bass, mostly the Papuan blacks.

A Surprise Catch and a Surprise Visit

Our best day was the last of the trip. We’d moved east to fish the Kulu River, and the water was, if not clear, at least less turbid. That allowed us to do more cast-and-retrieve fishing versus trolling. Deep-diving crankbaits proved to be the ticket, with Halco Poltergeists and Sorcerers in (not surprisingly) bright, reflective colors most effective that day—and all days—though we also caught fish on Z-Man soft plastics.

Though we focused our efforts on snapper, quite a few other species of predatory fish in these intertidal rivers grabbed our lures, and such diversity is always welcome. Most frequent among these were the aggressive “black cod” (actually white-spotted grouper), but the group also pulled in mangrove jack (similar to gray snapper of the U.S. Southeast), fingermark snapper and Pacific tarpon, as well as species more unfamiliar to me, including wolffish and Pacific sea bream. The biggest surprise, literally and figuratively, was the hefty giant trevally in the 50-pound range that Large hooked up in the shallow muddy water near a riverbank, and which at first we logically figured to be a monster bass.

While in the rivers, we encountered the occasional native canoe—long, narrow dugouts, which often carried families that included two or more children. Beyond friendly waves or head nods, generally there wasn’t a lot of interaction, though more than once we motored up to offer a fish we’d caught, which was most graciously accepted.

Read Next: Journey To a Lost World to Catch The Planet’s Toughest Fish

In running along the coast and nearby small islands, we had passed small settlements of thatched dwellings, usually to much waving, particularly from the younger residents. On one of the outside (offshore) days that was particularly windy, we put up our rods one afternoon to join Reimann and our skiff operators for a boat ride to Goru Village on a small island. The next couple of hours provided indelible images of a people and way of life in a world entirely different from any we knew. Of course we became the center of attention, and the villagers greeted us warmly, and even put on an impromptu show. Any nervousness on our part melted away in the face of so many laughing, smiling, welcoming villagers, young and old alike. Tiana Reimann, Riccard’s daughter and manager of the trip, had come prepared with a load of illustrated books for kids and shovels—invaluable tools—for adults.

As we saw on our adventure to fish New Britain’s coastal rivers, when traveling to these headlands of the Ring of Fire, it’s best to plan for contingencies. That’s part of the challenge and appeal of fishing such remote, unsettled areas. But the chance to fish waters that seldom, if ever, see a fishing lure, and catch gamefish found nowhere outside this region makes the journey worth the effort.

Papuan Black Snapper

More than any other ­gamefish, this is the species for which enthusiasts travel great distances. Their widespread moniker is “black bass,” but anyone who knows snapper can see at a glance it’s a Lutjanid, a species in the same genus as gray (mangrove) snapper and cubera snapper. Indeed, Lutjanus goldiei looks much like some cross between those two species. It’s found primarily in the rivers of PNG.

The IGFA all-tackle world record stands at 47 pounds, 8 ounces, from the Tauri River, taken on a Rapala in 2015.

So are these fish the strongest fighters in the world, per their reputation? From my experience, they are tough—damn tough. But in the reality-check department, will they outfight giant trevally or dogtooth tuna? Not likely. But the black bass wages a particularly intense, right-now, down-and-dirty battle, so either you make it (free from river snags) or the fish breaks it. I would rate the fight of a black bass similar to that of cubera snapper—and anyone who’s tried to put the brakes on a cubera snapper over a reef or rocks knows that’s a high compliment.

Planning a Trip to Fish West New Britain Island

The journey— You’ll need to fly into Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea, typically by way of Australia, with Brisbane being the closest major international airport. From Port Moresby, you’ll fly to Hoskins on the north coast, and be met by Baia Sportfishing for an hourlong drive to meet Ultimate One. It’s best to plan so no overnight is needed in Port Moresby. The city is not known as a kinder, gentler place, but as we found out firsthand, staying in a hotel near the airport should be no problem, and the staff in shuttles and hotels were uniformly friendly and helpful. In planning flights and timing, Baia Sportfishing will assist. By the way, as I discovered the hard way, even if just transiting through Brisbane for hours en route to Port Moresby, you’ll still need an Australian visa, without which you can’t claim your bags in order to recheck them.

The facilities — The 72-foot Ultimate One is a luxuriously appointed mothership (and its ice-cold air is more than welcome each day). Trips run either six or eight nights out, and might include an emphasis on rivers, reefs, blue water or some combination. There’s also the option to stay at Baia Lodge, versus the mothership, for a variety of fishing and exploration. Fishing guides are all native (which is good); their English varies from passable to nearly fluent, and all will bend over backward for their anglers. Bring a large selection of deep-diving lures such as Halco Poltergeists.

What to expect — Well, the unexpected, to start with. But you can count on warm weather—this is ­equatorial with a capital “E.” Yet we agreed that it wasn’t as stifling as we’d expected, and fishing the rivers can be shaded at times. We visited in June but, because it’s almost on the equator, there’s little seasonal change. Obviously you’ll want sunscreen as well as rain gear. And strong insect repellent, but a word about that: One of our greatest surprises was the total lack of mosquitoes. I’d been taking my daily dose of doxycycline for malaria prevention, but it turned out we didn’t need it, at least on this trip. Nor were we bothered by sand flies or other biting nasties. I had also figured on dodging the sort of big, bold “salties” (saltwater crocodiles) I’ve experienced in Australia, but we saw only a few, not so large nor so bold.

For more information or to book a trip: Contact Riccard or Tiana Reimann at Baia Sportfishing via baiafishingpng.com, or by email: baiafishingpng@gmail.com.

The post Fishing Remote New Guinea for Legendary River Snapper appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

An Ultimate Bucket-List Inshore Fish
While many saltwater anglers have never heard of Papua New Guinea’s black bass, for some it is an ultimate bucket-list inshore gamefish. It’s not a black bass at all, but a true snapper (similar to a cubera), found only in some parts of PNG and nowhere else, dwelling exclusively in lower rivers. Most often called Niugini black bass or Papuan black bass, Lutjanus goldiei may reach weights more than 40 pounds and is widely reputed to be the hardest-pulling gamefish in the world, dwelling around sunken snags in heavy currents.

I finally got a chance to travel (for two days) to West New Britain Island north of Papua New Guinea and fish for these black bass recently with Baia Sportfishing. Look for the full feature article in 2020; meantime, this gallery will share that experience.

Read Next: Remarkable Fishing Images from Unexplored Papua New Guinea

The post An Expedition to Find Papua New Guinea’s River Snapper appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Although these 13 hot spots aren’t the only places in the world to go for great sailfishing, they’re among the best bets to find the best sailfishing in the world. By any measure, in various respects, each deserves close consideration.

Note that the destinations have been ordered not by relative merit, since our goal is not to rate these spots but to help you compare them and what each offers. I’ve divided them into three groups per the oceans where you can find the best places to catch sailfish, within each grouping more-or-less based on distance from the United States.

Atlantic Ocean

Florida — Southeast to Upper Keys

While some of the best sailfish action occurs in remote or exotic locales, in fact, you don’t have to travel across the globe for great fishing. The Florida Keys winter/spring fishery can offer world-class action, at times truly spectacular. Consider a winter tournament with 24 boats tallying 424 sailfish releases over two days. Serious sail anglers look for north winds driven by frontal systems. The conditions get pretty rugged but that’s when you’ll find sails in abundant, scattered packs tailing down-sea. From Stuart north, anglers generally troll ballyhoo; to the south, live baits fished under kites or slow-trolled are the norm.

Why You Should Go: Hot sailfishing without leaving the country from January into May. The run to fish is often within 10 miles; for some areas (Palm Beach and adjacent) it might be just two or three. No shortage of charters, marinas, etc. At times, many exciting sight-casting/pitch-baiting opportunities.

But… Most sails run 30 to 50 pounds, so fish light. Weekends might get a bit crowded in popular areas offshore.

Contact: Capt. Randy Yates in West Palm Beach; Capt. Ray Rosher in Miami; Capt. Greg Eklund in Islamorada, Florida Keys (Note: There’s a wealth of many excellent skippers/charters up and down this coast.)

Mexico — Isla Mujeres

Just off the Yucatan Peninsula, this small, personable island is a short ferry ride from Cancun. For many years, its waters have produced fabulous underwater photography showing hordes of sailfish decimating huge bait balls; anglers look for just such scenarios during the January-to-June peak season for sails.

Why You Should Go: When bait abounds, action on the grounds can be dramatic and ferocious. Long runs to fish are rare. Minimal time commitment or cost is required to get here, generally (just two hours from Miami).

But… Winds can be blustery and seas rugged when sails are thickest. Isla sails are generally of modest size. Fishing live baits is illegal for foreign boats, so most troll ballyhoo.

Contact: Capt. Anthony Mendillo Jr. at Keen M International

West Africa — Senegal

On the Cape Verde Peninsula, this westernmost, French-speaking city offers the potential for great action all summer and well into the fall.

Why You Should Go: Anglers can rack up big numbers of sails off Senegal while enjoying a relatively safe and very exotic African experience. Charters generally work at modest rates and the run to fish is often short.

But… You’ll need a day plus to travel to Dakar, and $3,000 to $4,000 for round-trip airfare from Miami makes it rather costly among Atlantic sailfish hotspots.

Contact: Atlantic Evasion

West Africa — Angola

When it comes to Atlantic sailfish, Angola has long been associated with big fish since the current all-tackle world-record Atlantic sailfish of 142 pounds, 6 ounces, was taken here in 2014, along with most of the 100-plus-pound records. This is one reason that interest in Angola remains high among sailfish enthusiasts. Globe-trotting anglers say these sails fight noticeably harder than Pacific sails of similar size.

Why You Should Go: Triple-digit sails aren’t at all unlikely. Seas are usually flat and the run to fish short; sport-fishing pressure is light. Blue marlin in the 500-pound range prowl the same waters (and frequently take sailfish baits).

But… Not a place for numbers like Guatemala or Malaysia, but an angler can expect two to eight shots typically, and 10- to 20-shot days are definitely not unheard of (and these are big fish). While good to check the U.S. State Department’s travel advisories for the latest, in recent years Angola has been listed as a level 1 (“normal precautions”).

Contact: Iain Nicolson in Luanda)

Pacific Ocean

Mexico — East Cape, Baja California Sur

Baja’s East Cape doesn’t offer sails in numbers like some Central American hotspots; however, it’s close and easy to reach, and generally has far better odds for big sails than most people realize plus, of course, outstanding mixed-bag fishing.

Why You Should Go: An affordable option for shots at triple-digit sails, commonly 60 to 120 pounds, in waters very often very calm. A long season runs most of spring through midautumn. Super slams are possible with black, striped and blue marlin common here. Travel costs are reasonable, and fishing packages at resorts can be excellent.

But… Not a spot to rack up numbers. Charters often run some distance — 10 to 30 miles — to the fish.

Contact: Jen Wren Sportfishing and Hotel Palmas de Cortez

Guatemala — Iztapa

No spot in the world is more renowned for its sailfishing than Guatemala. That’s not surprising when given the often-phenomenal and at times nonstop action anglers can enjoy here.

Why You Should Go: On better days (and these are often), you can expect at least 20 shots and sometimes many, many more. And these are big fish – running 80 to 105 pounds for the most part. But wait, there’s more: Most of the time, the Pacific here is calm. Travel costs from the states will set you back neither an arm nor a leg. Outstanding boats and crews, experienced for light-tackle and fly-rod bait/switch action.

But… Expectations can run too high; even here there are no guarantees, and off-days do happen. The run to find fish might be quite close but at times could be 20 to 40 miles or more.

Contact: Casa Vieja Lodge

El Salvador

El Salvador offers sailfish action comparable to its neighbor, Guatemala, though far fewer boats fish these waters, which has been mostly off the radar for American anglers.Why You Should Go: During the long (October through March) season, expect 15 to 20 shots on a typical day, mostly with light winds and big fish (the same size as Guatemala’s). You’re unlikely to see any other boats fishing sails. Excellent concentrations of marlin at times.

But… Unlike Guatemala, good and reliable charters are few. The run to fish can be 30-plus miles.

Contact: Blue Sail Sportfishing Charters

Costa Rica — Los Sueños

From December through August (excluding May, which is often slower), sailfishing can be hot off the central Costa Rica coast. In fact, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast offers great fishing opportunities throughout the year, from Golfito in the south to Papagayo in the north, with an abundance of great resorts, marinas and charters.

Why You Should Go: Again, expect very big eastern Pacific sails to be the norm, up to 120 pounds and sometimes much larger. Ocean conditions vary widely by area and season, and while they can be rough, more often the Pacific is tranquil. Costa Rica prides itself on being accessible and inviting to tourists, with travel generally easy and safe. Plenty of options await for other big-game pelagics, in particular at times for tremendous blue marlin action around seamounts in the summer.

But… Seasonal incursions of cold or green water can shut down sailfishing at times anywhere along the country’s coast.

Contact: Will Drost at Maverick Costa Rica

Panama — Piñas Bay

Time it so you’re here when sails are whacking sardines (mostly likely to happen May through July), and you’ll enjoy triple and quad hookups. December and January are good alternative months for sails. Just watch out for grander marlin (both blacks and blues) here as well — Tropic Star boats hook ’em. Many line-class record sails, to nearly 200 pounds, have been weighed in here.

Why You Should Go: Calm waters, big sails and often very short runs to lines-in all make for world-class sailfishing when timed right. Staying at famed Tropic Star Lodge is a bonus. Quick flight down to Panama City at affordable rates. Outstanding boats/crews for anglers looking to sight-cast, pitching baits or casting flies to sails.

But… Fabulous lodge though no bargain rates, nor are there less-pricey alternatives in the area. Overnight in Panama City generally required en route and sometimes when returning to the states as well.

Contact: Tropic Star Lodge

Tonga — Vava’u

A search of Google Maps will show the geographically impaired that the Kingdom of Tonga lies northeast of New Zealand, about halfway to the equator. For most of us, that’s a long way to go to catch a sailfish, but some of the world’s biggest reputedly prowl these waters. Effort for the species remains minimal.

Why You Should Go: Not a bad place to look for a world record; the men’s 50-pound line-class record of 210 1/2 pounds was taken here, with sails larger than the all-tackle record 221 pounds (from Ecuador) probably caught but never weighed. The run to start fishing can be fairly short and often begins working along steep reef edges — where you may catch big yellowfin and wahoo as well (and of course closer to the reefs, dogtooth tuna and giant trevally).

But… During the best sailfish season (winter in the southern hemisphere), 15- to 20-knot tradewinds blow constantly. Also, given Tonga’s remote location, figure many hours of travel to get there (via Auckland or Sydney).

Contact: Capt. Steve Campbell at Blue Marlin Magic Sport Fishing Adventures

Indian Ocean

East Africa — Kenya

For decades, anglers have come to Watamu on the coast of Kenya in pursuit of western Indian Ocean sails. The warm northern Kaskazi winds blow October through March, maintaining water temps favorable for sails, and around shallow ledges (Malindi and Mambrui) and Watamu Banks, baitfish aggregate attracting sails as well as other pelagic gamefish.

Why You Should Go: Don’t like long runs to fish? Here, lines can go in as little as a mile from the beach. Seas stay calm mostly and crowds are nil. These waters are also known for nighttime swordfishing. Charters are cheap.

But… Not so cheap is the airfare to Nairobi, which will set you back in the vicinity of a couple grand.

Contact: Hemingways Watamu

Malaysia — Kuala Rompin

With conditions on the South China Sea off Malaysia’s ¬southeast coast seldom rougher than your average farm pond, Rompin is very possibly the world’s calmest sailfish hot spot. And hot it has been, since gaining fame as one of the best places on the planet for sailfish (running 50 to 80 pounds) within the past decade years (Sport Fishing was one of the first to feature the fishery in its March 2009 issue).

Why You Should Go: Enjoy quiet fishing, drifting live baits with engines off. Most days you’ll see birds and sails on top of the mirror-smooth sea, and enjoy many multiple hookups. Package trips include ground transportation (from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur), accommodations, meals (with to-die-for dinners) and fishing (including top-quality conventional reels) generally with guides who speak English fluently — and priced to make this one of sailfishing’s best bargains. Plus you’ll experience a ¬fascinating and hospitable corner of Asia.

But… The fairly short season lasts from mid-July through October. The shallow, expansive sea offers minimal bycatch of other large game fish. Some operations rely on traditional wooden, open boats that offer shade and space, and work well for fishing here; however, if your taste runs to convertible sportfishers, such operators are also here, now. Allow day plus and two grand for travel.

Contact: Dom Pereira at Billseeker Sportfishing (specializes in fly and light tackle); Blue Oceans Adventures (for larger boats)

Western Australia — Broome

Although known historically more for pearls than sailfish, in angling circles, this small city (pop. 18,000) on Australia’s northwest coast offers reliable odds for memorable Indian Ocean sailfish action during the season, beginning sometime in May and running into November.

Read Next: Top 100 Game Fish

Why You Should Go: Great light-tackle action; many skippers play the bait-and-switch game, so sight-casting opportunities abound. No worries about competition on the grounds here. It’s also a gateway to the amazing Kimberley in Australia’s far Northwest with breathtaking scenery and barramundi fishing. Also check out multiday trips to the incredible Rowley Shoals, 160 miles offshore.

But… Expect a long run of 10 to 35 or more miles over shallow waters to reach sailfish grounds. You’ll find good numbers of fish but of moderate size, running 30 to 70 pounds. And you’ll drop a couple thousand to get here, logging 30 to 40 hours of travel time (about 10,000 miles) from the U .S. each way.

Contact: Capt. Chris Nisbet at Broome Billfish Charters

The post The World’s Best Sailfish Spots appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The quality of fishing must be noteworthy for anglers to venture into these islands — and they do — where winds often sweep in with gale-force intensity, where there are no accommodations or facilities of any sort, and where the nearest port is the Western Australia coastal community of Geraldton (roughly between Perth and Exmouth), more than 40 miles across the Indian Ocean.

The Abrolhos are in fact unusual in many respects, including their geography, at a confluence of tropical waters from the north and a cooler flow sweeping up from the south. The islands are home to the most southerly significant coral reefs in the Indian Ocean.

Entering the Islands
“Why don’t you try fishing the Abrolhos Islands with us?” Ben Patrick, who oversees Australia’s iconic Halco Fishing Lures, suggested. “I think you’d find it really interesting.”

I’m always eager to share discoveries of new fishing grounds, and this opportunity sounded like it would certainly fill that bill.

So nearly a year later, I touched down in Perth on a Cathay Pacific flight out of Hong Kong early on a Sunday morning in March, after a long journey starting in Florida. Before I could blink, let alone nap, I was buckling up in a Toyota Land Cruiser with Tim Carter, Patrick’s colleague at Halco. Also on board for the 4½-hour drive north to Geraldton: Scott Thomas (editor of Australia’s Fishing World magazine) and a Halco pro staffer, Curtis Waterman.

There, Patrick waited aboard his 48-foot custom sport-fisher, Mandalay. We loaded up more gear and supplies, and cast off to start the run to Middle Island in the southern group of the Abrolhos. The cruise seemed longer than the two hours it actually took us, thanks to 25-knot headwinds most of the way.

It seemed clear that we’d have heavy winds the next day — our first fishing day. But with several days in total, I figured we’d have at least one day with conditions that would give us the chance to really fish the Abrolhos.

In any case, our anchorage was protected and secure. (Patrick pointed out that we sat very close to one of many historic wrecks, in this case a ship that sunk on Half Moon Reef in 1726.) The four of us enjoyed a good meal with wine and beer on Mandalay — since any vessel visiting these islands on more than a day trip must be a liveaboard and completely self-contained — and went to bed early.

Baldies and Spaniards
The morning promised no letup in the breeze, with the wind whipping even the inside waters into a ferocious little chop despite the limited fetch. But we’d come to fish, and fish we would.

Though the blow had rendered most of Patrick’s favorite and proven areas unfishable, he piloted Mandalay to some clear shallows (in 20 to 80 feet of water) that offered a respite from the blow, where we could drift comfortably.

Read Next: Australia’s Coral Coast

We cast Halco Madeye soft plastics on jig heads and quickly began connecting, not with anything particularly large but fun fish on light gear — feisty coral trout, emperors and snapper. (Note that these snapper — very popular among anglers in the temperate waters of southern Australia and northern New Zealand — are actually a large, tough-fighting and tasty species of porgy.)

A few fish into the morning, something slammed my pearl Madeye Paddle Prawn and put a serious bend in my spinning rod. It proved to be a bit larger (at 12 to 14 pounds) than other fish we’d caught, and a lot angrier.

“Nice baldie!” announced Carter.

Southwestern Australia anglers consider the tough, tasty baldchin groper something of a prize. Despite its name, it’s in fact a wrasse — closely related to wrasses popular among U.S. anglers (none of which are called wrasses either): tautog, hogfish and California sheephead.

A bit later, we nosed out a bit into more open, deeper water despite the rugged sea awaiting us there. In short order, we hooked a couple of ­narrow-barred mackerel of 30 pounds or so and another that had to be 40-plus, trolling a Halco Max 190. Think king mackerel, though I find these kingfish cousins (known as “Spaniards” Down Under) a bit wilder on the hook and tastier on the plate. On a somewhat calmer day, we might have realized a wide-open bite from these schooling predators here.

Murder on Morning Reef
Back at a quiet anchorage that evening, in the cockpit, we enjoyed a meal of fresh fish with a side of Abrolhos history, courtesy of Patrick, who has been coming to these remote islands for many years — since he was 8 years old — often for many weeks at a stretch. At times, Patrick’s kids even attended school on the islands (back when there was a school), while the family lived on the boat.

Today, the Abrolhos are mostly uninhabited beyond a few dozen commercial fishermen targeting western rock lobster until an annual quota fills. The austere terrain and its lack of fresh water, plus a law prohibiting camping, mean that anyone overnighting must stay on a boat. (Limited camping might be allowed in the future.) However, one can enjoy a cold one at the pub on Pigeon Island, as we did.

Besides lobster, the Abrolhos are best known for shipwrecks; throughout recorded (and particularly pre-GPS) history, the treacherous reefs that punctuate these waters have taken a great toll on ships — none better known than the Batavia.

The Dutch East India Co. vessel ran aground on Morning Reef in 1629 and, to cut to the tragic chase, more than 130 men, women and children were murdered, courtesy of a bloke named Jeronimus Cornelisz, while the ship’s commander sailed off to get help. The Batavia is one of almost 20 historic shipwrecks identified around the Abrolhos.

The Dhufish Blues
By day four of our five-day Abrolhos adventure, the forecast offered no hope of even a slight letup in the winds. That meant Patrick would have no chance to put us on his usual spots, and some of this area’s prized targets would certainly elude me on this trip.

Read Next: A Great Barrier Reef Fishing Adventure

One of those species is the West Australian (aka Westralian) dhufish (Glaucosoma hebraicum), an iconic species among anglers of Western Australia, the only area in which it is found. Dhufish live on nearshore reefs, usually in less than 150 feet. Beyond being superb eating, the prized species is slow-growing and site-specific, and so is not surprisingly managed carefully as a recreational and commercial target. For anglers, that means a daily one-fish-per-angler or two-per-private-boat limit, with a minimum size of at least 500 mm (about 20 inches). Dhufish may exceed 50 pounds in size, but are uncommon at more than 15 or so pounds. Though Abrolhos’ waters are an outstanding area to score on a big dhufish, it remains one on my bucket list.

The mix of tropical and temperate waters here means that many other species can be taken around these islands. These include the yellowtail kingfish and samson fish (relatives of and similar to amberjack), red emperor (Lutjanus sebae, a beautiful, large true snapper), shark mackerel, trevallies, spangled emperor (a long-nosed reef fish not related to snappers), groupers such as Rankin cod, tailor (Oz-speak for bluefish) and others. Those who are able to venture out to blue water can find yellowfin tuna, marlin (blues, blacks, stripes), sailfish and wahoo.

Carpet Python, Mutton Birds and Squid
Speaking of tailor, they became the target of a rock-fishing adventure one morning when we all climbed into Mandalay‘s little dinghy and motored to the shallows off a beach on West Wallaby Island. From there, we hiked 20 or so minutes to a stark, picturesque shoreline in the lee of the hard breeze to cast to tailor, which we found in their usual aggressive feeding mode.

During the hike back, we chanced upon an 8-foot carpet python coiled in the morning sun to warm up in the overnight chill, an impressive, beautiful serpent.

We tied up next to Pigeon Island for the evening. Surprises the next morning included three mutton birds — a type of shearwater determined to live up (or down) to the “birdbrain” tag: They had landed in the boat overnight and, while able to fly, didn’t seem to have any idea how to leave the cockpit until Carter picked them up and tossed them over (and then proceeded to do a major deck washdown).

A more welcome surprise were numerous large, colorful squid cruising back and forth around the boat under the lights until just after daybreak — long enough for us to catch quite a few in anticipation of a calamari feast for dinner.

I can only hope to get back to fish the Abrolhos someday when the wind takes a break. That is somewhat more likely during the months of February through June and September/October, though even during the winter months, there might be periods of variable winds in between the year’s fiercest gales. For those wanting to experience this unique fishery, Carter recommends Blue Lightning Fishing Charters’ liveaboard trips in the Abrolhos starting in January and running into June.

Even limited by conditions as we were, I would say that anyone lucky enough to visit and fish the Abrolhos Islands will remember experiencing a part of Australia that few anglers from this continent or any other ever get to see.

Five Stars Ease the Angst of Long Flights
Flying from Florida to Perth is no small undertaking, requiring close to a day and a half of flight and airport time. Cathay Pacific flew me from Chicago to Perth with only one stop (in Hong Kong). Besides appreciating the surprisingly few flights needed, I was interested to fly to Oz on an airline that consistently receives the highest rating (five stars) on Skytrax, an airline-review site I’ve used for years. After my flights on Cathay Pacific, I could understand all the positive reviews. The airline is hard to beat for anyone flying Pacific routes.

Where Lures Come From
A slogan like “Halco lures: Designed by Fishermen for Fishermen” came to mind the morning I watched Ben Patrick don snorkeling gear and tumble off the transom of his anchored sport-fisher. Tim Carter began casting and retrieving a small red-and-white lure just in front of Patrick, whose head swiveled as he watched it go by. Patrick made careful observations of how this prototypical Trembler 70 swam; anything less than perfect would require some tweaking back at Halco HQ in Perth before Patrick would add the lure to the Halco line.

The post Fishing the Remote Abrolhos Islands Off Western Australia appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

From the artist’s web site, Maui Fish Printing:

“Gyotaku reflects a part of Japanese history. Gyotaku, or fish printing, is an ancient, time-honored, traditional Japanese art form. Over a century ago, freshly caught fish were painted with a non-toxic ink and covered with a piece of delicate rice paper.

The paper was then carefully smoothed down, and depending on the amount of pressure applied … it creates an exact-size imprint of the fish.

Once the print was completed, the fish could be washed and prepared for a meal. Over the years, gyotaku has grown to be recognized as its own art form.” — Brian Heustis

Yellowfin Tuna

Rusty Jobfish

Wahoo

Flyingfish

African Pompano

Striped Marlin

Mahimahi

Hogfish

Cornetfish

Green Jobfish

Red drum

About the Artist

Brian Heustis, owner of Maui Fish Printing, moved to Maui about a decade ago and was there first exposed to gyotaku. “My love and passion for the ocean is the core reason for expressing myself and nature through fish printing,” he says. “Every fish I print is special, no matter how big or small. Each one has a story to tell, and I consider it my honor to be allowed to tell it.”

The post Gyotaku Fish-Printing Art from Hawaii appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

If the recent experience of a Kona, Hawaii, charter skipper is any indication, a live spearfish could be the next hot marlin bait.

Of course no one would intentionally use a live spearfish for bait; the small, brilliant-blue game fish are the least common of all billfishes (but less uncommon in Hawaii, where anglers often attempt to catch one to complete a billfish slam).

But as Kona Fishing Chronicles author and respected veteran of the Kona fishing scene Jim Rizzuto says, the recent experience of Capt. Kenny Fogarty on Hula Girl offers a good reminder that marlin, like many fishes, are cannibalistic.

Fogarty, with this brother “Stretch Fogarty, found a nest of shortbill spearfish just offshore, and their angler — Robert Gage — had shots at four. But only the fifth hookup was solid enough to get the fish to the boat, Rizzuto says, with “The spearfish acting more wary than usual,” as if something had spooked them.

Typically, the small, slender spearfish are reeled in pretty easily on standard marlin tackle, aimed at much heavier fish. “You can usually reel them right in with no jumps, and you may not see them until they’re right at the boat. This one made a real fight of it, splashing at the surface and swimming erratically from side to side.

“Then its tail popped out of the water at an odd angle. That’s when Kenny and Stretch saw a large, dark shape swimming below the frantic spearfish.”

The shape proved to be a marlin upwards of 500 pounds, according to Kenny, who told Rizzuto: “The marlin exploded on the spearfish, ate it and started running off with it. Before we could figure out what to do, it had pulled the spearfish off the hook and disappeared!” Perhaps free-spooling the “bait” back for the marlin to swallow would have enabled the Hula Girl to hook it. Rizzuto cites another incident a few years ago when, “A Kona boat came in with an oddly scarred 700-pound blue marlin. On close inspection of the fresh wound, you could see the broken off weapon of a bigger than average shortbill spearfish. Perhaps the dangerous dagger of the spearfish had warned the marlin away? Not so lucky. The spearfish, without its bill, was nestled in the marlin’s belly.”

In fact, Rizzuto adds, the interest that Kona marlin have shown in munching their smaller brethren hasn’t been lost on enterprising Kona skipper Bryan Toney, who’s been putting out a 42-inch rubber shortbill spearfish teaser! Catch the details here.

The post Billfish Attacks Billfish appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

According to a report published in various Asian news sources, the woman was killed it “attacked her with its sharp bill.” The 39-year-old woman died in the hospital.

However, toward the end of the brief account, is this: “…the black marlin that attacked the victim was the size of a man’s arm.” Lacking any visual identification of the fish, and given that the unprovoked attack occurred near a sandy beach, it may well have been an entirely different species. Large needlefish (houndfish or longtoms) — as shown in the second photo — for example have been known to seriously injure swimmers, presumably while darting along the surface after prey or to escape a predator.

Could this have been the culprit?

The post Was a Snorkeler Killed by a Black Marlin? appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The post Action Photos from Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

There be Monsters

Desolate Coast

In from Jakarta and Out to Base Camp

Paradise Found

Home Sweet Home

Strange Fish-Catching Devices

Curtains of Rain

… And so It Begins

Muscled Away from the Coral

Red Bass Galore

Beautiful Bluefin

Another Kind of Monster

Another Popper Surprise

Massive Lure Muncher

Shallow-Water Wahoo

Steep, Current-Swept Drop-offs: Where the Big Boys Prowl

Junkyard Dogs of Papua Reefs

Dogtooth Attack

Maw of the Mackerel

Missile Launch Site

A Mack in the Hand

Suffering Stickbait

Mild Mackerel: Sashimi Surprise

Hangin’ with the Locals

Out of the Rain

Room with a Water View

Close to Home

Tricky but Rewarding

Unseen Leviathan

Massive Mackerel

Making Friendly with the Sharks

About the Photographer

The post Adventure into Wild West Papua: Exploring the Rugged Reefs appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.