BIG FISH ONLY
By: Dean Travis Clarke
There is a special breed of angler who is driven by the total pursuit of grander-size billfish. You see them at airports paying over-weight charges for big reels and custom equipment. They are always on "standby" waiting for a call from a remote operation saying the big ones are in because they never want to hear, "You should have been here last month." They don't "hope" for big fish; they plan and prepare for them. Selecting a top boat and crew is critical. Budget is not an obstacle. In addition to the giant black marlin fishery found on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, consider the following:
1. Azores/Madeira
"If I had to buy one airline ticket for a big blue marlin trip, I'd go to the Azores," says Dennis Braid, president of California's Braid Products and world-seasoned angler. The Azores, a Portuguese possession about 800 miles northwest of Madeira, are on the main highway of the big blue marlin migration that also leads to Madeira. There are four major sea mounts that hold blue marlin within 18 miles of Faial, and in recent seasons the Azores have outperformed Madeira, with grander females showing on a regular basis. "The huge blues are there, but we also had a great time with bigeye tuna over 300 pounds and bluefin tuna," adds Braid. Excellent charter operations are available through the local Xacara fleet, as well as with Capt. Don Merton's Capri, a 40-foot game fisher. Capt. Roddy Hays will be skippering the Shanghai in the Azores as well this year. Season: July to October. Sea condition: calm to moderate. Madeira rejuvenated big blue marlin fishing with its celebrated run of granders in the mid-1990s. Although the pace has slowed over recent seasons, Madeira is still number one with many top anglers. New charter operations, majestic scenery and a friendly culture add to the Madeira experience. Season: June to October. Sea condition: calm (on leeward Madeira).
2. Brazil
Perhaps no other new destination in the world currently shows more promise of big blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish than the Royal Charlotte Bank, a huge, rectangular-shaped bank that juts 50 miles into the Atlantic off the coast of Bahia, Brazil. Isolated and hard to reach, this region is now being tapped by Tim Choate's 30-foot Coyote, and hopefully more charter operations will follow because it needs to be explored. Blue marlin average 400 to 500 pounds, with granders a definite possibility. Season: October to May. Sea condition: moderate to heavy. Just down the coast is another big-fish opportunity: Cabo Frio, Brazil. On the verge of becoming a mecca for grander blue marlin, this peninsula that juts into the Atlantic about 60 miles north of Rio de Janeiro won't be a secret much longer. The blues average 600 pounds here, with granders being caught in growing numbers as more boats enter the fishery. It is rare when a blue under 400 pounds is caught. If expert charter crews were available, the numbers would be even more impressive. The fishery is composed of mostly weekend anglers based out of Rio. Unlike at most big-game tournaments, grander marlin show up at the Cabo Frio Marlin Invitational (held in January) as if they were invited. Last year a 1,096-pound fish topped the scales, and this year a 1,206-pounder took first place. Charters are becoming more available out of the Yacht Club of Rio. Season: December to March. Sea condition: calm to moderate..
3. Bermuda
If you're looking for grander blue marlin (fairly) close to home, Bermuda is the place to go. A quick flight from the U.S. brings you to Hamilton, the capital of this quaint, small island that's home to the second-largest blue marlin ever caught in the Atlantic - a 1,352-pound behemoth brought to the transom of Capt. Allen DeSilva's Mako 4. In addition to that fish, Bermuda's Challenger and Argus Banks have produced numerous other granders over the years, including five 1,100-plus-pounders weighed by Capt. Alan Card, who used to run the charter boat Challenger. Though no granders have been caught in the past few seasons, several close calls - including a 996-pounder by DeSilva this summer - keep anglers optimistic. Giant-sized wahoo and yellowfin tuna reaching 100 pounds offer a line-pulling challenge between marlin strikes. Season: April through October for all species, with blue marlin peaking in June and July. Sea condition: calm to moderate.
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