 The Magnificent Frigate Bird - an accurate title if ever there was one. |
There is nothing, repeat nothing, like a bill-fish to get the pulse racing. At least, that's my view on the matter. The first time I ever remember becoming aware of these magnificent creatures was as a very young boy watching an old black and white movie (I suspect it was a Hemmingway story) and watching awe-struck as the marlin were teased up and then hooked and fought. "There she is!" was the cry. I never forgot it, but until pretty recently was never in a position to contemplate going on such an adventure. But you're only on this planet once, and you must follow your dreams. Once I started catching salmon regularly, I wanted to catch a marlin. Simple as that. So I started fishing for marlin seriously in 1998 - the year I turned 40. It took me two trips before I finally got my first, in Tobago, but I learned fast how to tell a good fishery from a not-so-good one. For my money, Venezuela is the very best. Mauritius has BIG marlin, but it is a "tourist" fishery, not a serious sport fishery. They are also far too keen to kill the fish for my liking. That apart though, I'd still recommend Mauritius to anyone - it's a wonderful place with, occasionally, world record fishing. And then there's Florida... If it had more marlin, I'd move there tomorrow.
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