C-ville, fishing

[Phil Bondie]

The fishing has not been very productive the first part of Jan. Last week the guys were bringing in some decent numbers of wahoo, black fin tuna and grouper not many mahi mahi. The fishermen on the windward side are starting to catch more mahi mahi from Speyside down to Studly Park. I talked to Frothy (HardPlay Fishing Charters) a couple of days ago and he said his charters were getting some nice catches of mahi mahi and wahoo. Phil

[Andy K]

Phil,

it seems the flying fish season kicks in a bit later than usual.
We started to hold Wahoo and Mahi Mahi only recently several miles off the north coast of Trinidad, not
in big numbers and mostly around floating debris, where flying fish are likely to lay eggs.
Expect gradually more Mahi Mahi during the course of February.

Greetings from Trinidad,

Andy

[Phil Bondie]

Today, 26 Jan., had some nice catches of Mahi Mahi. Most were out quite far around some floating palm branches. Phil

[Andy K]

Congratulations, Phil !
Yes, that is exactly where they are. Debris, logs, branches etc. And what fishermen put together and anchor it
as a FAD (Fish Aggregating Device).
As a sportsfisherman i don't put out FADs, but i don't mind finding them accidentally
This time of the year they are always good for some nice Mahi-Mahi.

Cheers,

Andy

[Steve Pitts]

We started to hold Wahoo and Mahi Mahi only recently several miles off the north coast of Trinidad, not
in big numbers and mostly around floating debris, where flying fish are likely to lay eggs.

Andy

I don't know if you managed to catch the episode of BBC's 'Life' Paul mentioned a few weeks ago.
http://www.mytobago.info/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7408

It featured ultra high-speed film flying fish 'flying' in HD and was stunning viewing.

At the end of each program the production teams are featured filming a selection of sequences in 'Life on Location' and the story behind the flying fish shots were featured at the end of the program.

Basically, it took several days of bobbing about in a boat between Trinidad and Tobago to get the right shots, with the sea conditions worsening all the time.

A single palm frond and shoal of flying fish was found and pretty soon the fish were spawing on the frond, then when it sank under the weight of spawn they started spawning on the marlin board along the stern of the boat in such numbers that the skipper was fearful that the weight of eggs could capsise the boat.

It was incredible to watch and I couldn't help but admire the tenacity of both the camera crew and the humble flying fish.

Cheers
Steve

Edit: Just found the clip on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0Z7mxCd ... re=related

or you can watch the whole program by downloading the 6 parts of the program in the following order -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oNVab1k ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zow919zC ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuNCZWkU ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeEHjQYl ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNDRFsN2 ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0Z7mxCd ... re=related

[Andy K]

Thanks Steve for info.
After initial problems i got to watch it. Very impressive. I mean we see flying fish here all the time,
but never in slow motion
I also didn't know Barry St.George and M/V "Hog Snapper" were part of the show. Fun to see Barry on TV.

We learnt why Mahi-Mahi can triple their size and weight in one flying fish season by circling around
rafts and debris. And therefor why we should be fishing there