Captain's Report July 2011 - MARLIN ‘GROUPIES’ TRAVEL THE GLOBE FOR THEIR SPORT

There is something about the deep sea fishing experience that strikes a chord with many people, putting them back in touch with their ‘inner hunter’.

Perhaps it’s because they get to eat a lot of what they catch – and so soon after landing it.

On board the Gwendolyn, Grandslam’s flagship, they carry everything needed for a world class sashimi - right down to dipping sauces and wasabi

I’ve often enjoyed tucking into a magnificent tuna that was swimming in the ocean only minutes earlier – landed and prepared for the plate in a matter of moments. It’s right what they say - you can’t beat fresh fish.  And it really doesn’t come any fresher than that.

As captain of the smaller, faster Wahooo my own favourite way of bringing a great day’s fishing to a close is to head for a secluded sandy beach and build a barbecue on a bed of conch shells.  It’s possible to snorkel in the clear waters while a few yards away on shore the day’s catch sizzles over the coals.  The aromas are fantastic and there can be no better way to wind down than with a plate of fish, cooked to perfection, accompanied by a nice cool beer.  It’s my idea of a perfect family day out.

Rest assured that scenario will be acted out repeatedly over the coming months, as boatloads of anglers hook tuna, groupers and snappers that flourish in the warm waters surrounding the islands

I must be feeling peckish while I’m writing this because I’ve just realised I’m giving the impression that everything we catch, we eat.  That just isn’t the case.  I reckon most of our clients have a more serious objective – to land The Big One.

And what better quarry than the truly magnificent blue marlin that are beginning to be in plentiful supply in the islands’ waters at this time of year.

Marlin are the kind of fish that command the total devotion of their fans, to the extent that many game fishermen are more than happy to travel the world in pursuit of them.

The average weight for these fish is between 300 and 450lbs and you must remember that they are perfectly designed for the element in which they exist. That’s an everyday weight for a marlin, and quite a handful for most anglers, as you will know if you have ever had one on the line.

But there are also some real monsters lurking down there, weighing in the region of 900lbs - the Mike Tysons of the deep – and these are real scrappers that require almost superhuman effort to land.

Get a hook into one of those and you’ll need to strap yourself into the chair for the ride of a lifetime, but I promise you it will be the experience you will never forget. The adrenalin gushes like an open fawcett – and that provides the ‘rush’ that keeps them looking for more.

Ironic, isn’t it, that it’s not just the marlin that get hooked!

Hunting – and landing – these magnificent creatures can be a real challenge, but on a boat like mine - with all the equipment necessary to land really big fish, we are never caught unprepared.

Happy fishin’ to you all.

Captain Kermaine Lightbourne

Master of the Wahooo

*Grand Slam Charters is the official weigh station for Turks & Caicos, recognised by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). Based on the island of Providenciales, Grand Slam is the only charter currently to hold this status.

THE PHASES OF THE MOON

New Moon – 1 July / 30 July / 28 August

First Quarter – 8 July / 6 August
Full Moon – 15 July / 13 August

Last quarter – 23 July / 21 August

THE BEST FISHING IS NEAR THE NEW MOON AND THE FULL MOON