Comercial Fishing

Martin Haynes · Post by **Martin Haynes** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:39 pm

Does anyone know where and what time you can see the local fishermen unload their catch of the day. I am not a fisherman, in fact my last piece of fishing gear consisted of a small green net stuck on the end of a bamboo stick. However I would like the chance to see the local fish being off loaded. I'd really like to have a go at see fishing but previous topics seem to imply that you have some prior experience, so unless they are willing to take account of me landing a 1/8th ounce stickleback, I'm not too hopeful.

Jane H · Post by **Jane H** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 6:48 am

Hi Martin,

We stayed at the Inn on the Bay in Little Rockley Bay this year. Every afternoon, the local fishermen unloaded, sorted and cleaned their catch on a little stall just across the road from the hotel. It was always interesting to see what they had brought in. Although the catches were never that large, we saw parrot fish and barracuda as well as kingfish and numerous smaller varieties.

We know the quality of the fish was good, because one of the kitchen staff always went across and bought fish for that night and the following day. There was also a steady stream of locals driving down to choose fish for their evening meals.

When we stayed at Grafton Beach a couple of years ago, again there were fishermen landing catches, and also using the seine nets off the beach, mostly in the relatively early morning.

If you go to Charlotteville, you are sure to see fish coming in, and being sold in the little fish co-op. This year we saw an absolutely HUGE barracuda that had been landed. (So big it wouldn't fit the ice boxes available!) Fish seems to come in all day there.

I'm sure that Steve - our resident fishing expert on the site - will be able to give you details of sea fishing trips that are avaiable from the island - and there is also information in the "Fishing" part of the directory which I'm sure you will find useful.

Martin Haynes · Post by **Martin Haynes** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:51 am

Hi Jane,
Thanks for the info especially the bit about Little Rockley Bay, 'cos you'll never guess where I'll be staying on the 24th June for 2 weeks? Yes you've probably guessed, The Inn on the Bay.
This will be my first time to the Island so I,ve been swotting up on this fantastic web site. I can't take my PC with me so I'm slowly filling up an old excersise book with all the useful info, places to go and things to see and do.

Cheers Martin (4 days to go and counting)

Anne Sykes · Post by **Anne Sykes** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 4:55 pm

We stayed at Rex Turtle Beach beginning of May this year. Most days (generaly morning - breakfast time) the locals are down there pulling in their huge nets full of fish onto the beach. Some of the guests helped pull the nets in too - including my husband! and the fishermen were very grateful for this. It takes a good hour and a half to two hours to pull the nets in and they are extremely heavy!! Even the women get stuck in. The locals also rod fish off the jetty at Plymouth. They all have basic gear, but they take it very serioulsly. There are also huge great tarpon in the bay as well as barracuda. My husband took loads of strong gear with him this time, but he just couldn't catch them. He did have a barracuda off the jetty a couple years ago when we were there last time, but it snagged him. He had to get into one of the small rowing boats moored up down there (with the help of the local lads on jetty) to retrieve his gear - all good fun though!!

Try 'Stumpy - Tuna Man' who will take you out on his (basic) boat for sea fishing trips. You will also find him on the RTB most days. He'll take you out for half a day and I don't think you have to be that experienced, I know he took a family of 5 out one day and the 7 year old lad caught tuna!! Don't think he's too expensive either. He also does snorkelling trips to Bucco Reef and Nylon Pool and looks after you if you are a nervous swimmer. The local tour guides all do sea fishing trips too. You'll find them all on the beach on the day of new arrivals - Woodies, Frankies. They should do you a good deal and they carry all the gear too. There is also a boat called Hard Play but this is very expensive - something like US$800.00 for the day and I think you may need to fully know what you are doing to get out on that one. We went out on it a couple of years ago as guests so it didn't cost us anything (phew!) but we caught very little too!!!

Being your first visit - oooohhh, you will love it. We never wanted to leave the first time we went and we couldn't wait to go back again this May.

Enjoy your trip - the weather here at the moment is easing you in gradually ready for when you land in Tobago!!! HOT, HOT, HOT!!

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:16 pm

Hi Martin

Have you checked out our Fishing article yet? Its available from the Out & About/Activities menu. That will give you a good run down on the fishing situation.

As Jane said, you will see a small group of guys bringing a catch in every day at the beach directly in front of the Inn On The Bay. It turned my stomach in January to see the bxxxxxxs bringing in and gutting seaturtles out of season, but I guess that's life. Mind you, there's a lot more goes on under that little group of trees than meet the eye. Our first floor room was not 50 foot away and I spent the best part of five days sitting at a table writing our reviews and watching what goes on there. The place seems to be run be a very friendly and exotic looking old guy called Pirate. Comes across as a beach bum, but he's apparently got property in both Tobago and Trinidad and given what I saw, I'm not surprised. Don't risk going out in his boat. He's as blind as bat. Took some guys out last year, lost site of the shore and was found three days later off Venezuala.

A great place to see the catch, provided you've got transport, is the beach facilties area at Mount Irvine. The boats start coming in from about 4pm. You can't miss the place - the benches are right between the beach and the road and there's always cars double and triple parked with everyone trying to get the best cuts.

Jane H · Post by **Jane H** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:39 pm

Hi Steve,

I'm sorry to hear that the fishermen opposite the Inn on the Bay were catching turtles - thank goodness we didn't see that in April. You're also right about lots of "business" being transacted across the road under the trees and in the shed. We could never quite work out what was going on (may also have been due to the rum punch/Carib at lunchtime!) - but there were some interesting packages transferred between vehicles at one point!

Jane

PS Martin have a great time - I'm envious that you're off in 4 days. I'm sure you'll love the Inn. It's a really friendly place and the staff are wonderful. As for the rum punch and pina colada

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:56 pm

I forgot to say that they hunt the turtles with a speargun. It really was horrible to witness because most of them were alive when brought ashore.

I couldn't believe how many drivers would pull up and exchange 'dodgy' handshakes with the lads who sat under the trees all afternoon. All the dodgy handshakes made me wonder if it was a masonic lodge.

Pirate is so well-named. He looks and acts the part and is actually a very charming and interesting chap - as long as you catch him when other 'business' is not going on. He looks such a rogue, but I know someone who met him at the airport once. Pirate had shaved his beard and had his long hair cut. He was wearing a suit - on his way to England for a funeral or something. They said he looked a behaved more like a solicitor than a conch shell seller (???). Mind you...

Steve Pitts · Post by **Steve Pitts** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 2:34 pm

Hi Martin

I can’t add much to the earlier posts, but have also seen those tables at Little Rockley Bay piled high with fish (mainly stop-light parrot fish). All were spearfished from the local reef. On four consecutive days there were more than could be sold and many went to waste, but at least the Lambeau pot hounds were satiated. I have no idea how long they’ll be able to sustain this level of exploitation, but they’ll probably target another species once the parrot fish are wiped out.

Other places to visit for more sustainable examples of ‘commercial’ fishing are the fisherman’s co-operatives at Castara, Store Bay, Buccoo, Pigeon Point Rd and of course Mt. Irvin, as Steve mentions.

All other fishing villages around the coast will see fish landed throughout the day, but the fishing co-ops mentioned will attract most of the fish that are destined for sale, as opposed to being for personal consumption by local fisher men, women and children.

If you’re looking for a fun day’s fishing for a small group of novices, then Alibaba Tours, or Frankie’s Tours (both depart from Mt. Irvin beach) are your best bet, bearing in mind your location, little more than a ten minute hop across island from the Inn on the Bay. Check out the fishing pages in the out and about section, for what to expect and a few cautionary notes.

Have fun!

Steve