Help – fishaholic needs a fix (pictures/diaries)…

[Thomas Maigaard]

Hi all…

I’m going to Tobago next year from 13th to the 28th of February, and I’m planning to spend as much time as possible fishing (I have to spend some time with my family as well )...
Currently – when I’m not searching for and/or buying gear for the trip – I’m drooling over all the great pictures and fishing diaries that are on this website already, but... I need more!!!

That’s why I would like to encourage all who’s already experienced the fishing on Tobago to upload their fishing diaries and pictures (maybe to this thread), so I can get my fix... until it’s finally my turn (127 day)......

Cheers,
Thomas

[Steve Pitts]

Hi Thomas

Have you seen this? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR1NTukzdwE
The first two minutes is Tobago and the remainder Belize.

There are other clips on YouTube if you search for Tobago fishing

Cheers
Steve

[Thomas Maigaard]

Nope, I hadn’t seen those… should keep me going for some days at least...

Thanks, Steve...

Cheers,
Thomas

[Steve Pitts]

Nope, I hadn’t seen those… should keep me going for some days at least...

When you've finished, you could drop in on Mike Ladle's website.

He has a diary section which covers trips to Tobago - http://www.mikeladle.com/archive/index.html

There are also some articles in the Tack-tics section - http://www.mikeladle.com/tackle/index.html

As you'll see - Mike is retired, so gets to go fishing abroad a lot more that I do!

Cheers
Steve

[ToniNelson]

Hi,
i have some pictures and ideas. i was there for fishing on my last tour. You can PM me for pictures or send me your email address. Well i will hope you will really enjoy

[Thomas Maigaard]

Hi Toni

Sounds great… I didn’t know how to send you a PM, but here’s my e-mail…

thomas_maigaard hotmail.com

(I’ve left out the “at sign” to avoid abuse from spam machines.)

Best regards
Thomas

[Steve Pitts]

I've been away for two weeks and not only has the format of the forum changed, but I had to log in with user name and password. Must have been abscent for longer than I thought!

Anyway fishaholics - This is not about Tobago, but thought I'd share a few pictures of our catches from the Indian Ocean. We had 10 days on a 48ft catamaran and ventured 200 miles from land.

Similar in size to the jacks we catch on Tobago (same family) are the bluefin trevally



Somewhat larger are the Giant Trevally (GTs)





But the highlight of the trip was when we were paid a visit by two whale sharks, which came to the back of our boat and stayed with us for half an hour, allowing us to swim with them for some of the time.


Cheers
Steve

[Brian Taylor]

lovely pics, steve... your smile looks a bit frozen, heavy that one?
seems you had a splendid time!

steph

[Carol Townsend]

Wouldn't my husband like to catch something like that!

[David Watkins]

Forget about catching it,eating it is far easier

[Paul Williams]

Hello Steve
Some great photos, where did you go from this time?.
We have just come back from Kenya and swam in the Indian Ocean but did not fish this time, on our last trip I did though and the best I caught was a 45lb Mahi Mahi which I have to say put up a tremendous fight and I was kn.....ed by the time we got it on board.
If this was a filming trip let us know about the DVD but if not and you get your photos onto a web album I would like to see them.
Regards
Paul

[Thomas Maigaard]

God damn, that’s some nice fish, Steve…

Those GTs are true monsters, they put up a great fight – I’d imagine..? Did you catch them on poppers as well..?
I have to say I’m a bit jealous…. Although I’ve had a super start the to the pike-season, winding in trevallys on Indian Ocean looks “a bit” more attractive, than sitting in a small boat on Danish lake on a cold November day…

Keep the pictures coming…

Cheers,
Thomas

[Steve Pitts]

David
Giant Trevally are one of the top predators of other reef fish, so are likely to be transmitters of the ciguatera toxin. Maybe a fillet off one would be OK to eat but I couldn't manage a whole one.

The yellowfin tuna made great sushi and tuna loin steaks though and much safer to eat.





Paul - we fished south of Mahe, the main island in the Seychelles.
Had GTs, Yellowfin tuna, jobfish, wahoo, barracuda, big two-spot snapper, rainbow-runner, bonefish.
This GT was caught off of the beach on one of the tiny coral atolls that we came across.
Using big surface poppers the takes are explosive!



Thomas - back to cold England and some pike fishing through the winter......until next time

Cheers
Steve

[Johanna Y.]

Steve,

Thank you for sharing those photos...they are great! I'm now certainly going off the topic but despite of that I'll post my question. I'm traveling with my husband to Seychelles in March 2008 for two weeks and we are both interested in fishing. The thing I've been wondering is that do you happen to know do people fish from the shore (beach etc.) in Seychelles or is it just from the boat. I know this may sound a little bit akward but there might be some regulations regarding fishing perhaps? Or something else?

Sorry guys going so much off the topic ... I haven't find a "mySeychelles -forum" in english yet, so it's kind of hard to find information sometimes. As a result I'm appreciating this forum even more if possible, keep up the good work Chief Anorak!

Johanna (from very dark, cold and wet Finland)

[Steve Pitts]

The thing I've been wondering is that do you happen to know do people fish from the shore (beach etc.) in Seychelles or is it just from the boat. I know this may sound a little bit akward but there might be some regulations regarding fishing perhaps? Or something else?

Hi Johanna

There are restrictions on fishing - both recreational (sport) and commercial (netting etc.), but this is a good thing. Large areas have been set aside as marine reserves, where no fishing is allowed at all. This includes spear fishing (spear-guns are illegal in Seychelles) and even collecting by hand, such creatures as lobster and octopus.

Given that there are over 100 islands, spread across 1,000,000 sq kilometers, in the Seychelles this still leaves plenty of places to fish.....and what places!!!

You don't need a licence to fish from the shore or boat. As long as you don't fish the marine reserves you can fish anywhere and fishing is free, although there are some islands like Alphonse, where agreement has been reached with the Seychelles' Government that only a limited number of anglers may fish at any one time. These restriction not only mean that the franchises running the outer-island fishing lodges can command very high prices for their exclusive product (up to €3,000 per week), but the fish do not get pressured and all fishing is done on a catch and release basis.

I'm sure you'll love the Seychelles. Where are you staying?

If you are anywhere near Mahe then a very good guide is a South African guy called Bruce Horner.
He does flats fishing for bonefish and trevally and will soon have a twin-engined 22 footer for inshore/offshore fishing. See his website at http://www.seyfly.com

I doubt that you will see many people fishing with rod and line from the beaches, as many just collect seafood at low tide by cathering shellfish, octopus and small fish from the rockpools.
These local guys caught several octopi and have them on a string.



A nice place to fish


Cheers
Steve

[Johanna Y.]

Steve,

Thanks for your response. Yes, I sort of knew about the marine parks fishing regulations and figured that probably there won't be that many people fishing from shore. Despite of that we'll take our gear with us and give it a shot. People will probably think that we are crazy but who cares ... maybe they are right .

What comes to our stay, first we will stay 5 nights close to Anse Royale in Mahe and then move on to Praslin, Anse Possession for 4 nights and then back to to first place in Mahe for the remaining 4 nights. So, that's our plan and hopefully we'll have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday.

Johanna

[Steve Pitts]

Hi Johanna

There are a couple of flats on / near to Anse Royale where you can catch bonefish to 3kg or so.
Trevally are never far from the reef if you wade out. There is good access to deep water by the fairyland hotel (google the name for the location) for trevally and 'cuda.

Bruce lives just up the road. You could do no better for a guide to the area.

I loved Praslin (stayed 4 days) and the fishing can be good around the airport for bones.
There is a spot where the coast road cuts up across the island and at this 'T' junction is a good flat for bones. Fly or baited lures work well.

Whilst on Praslin, you must visit the Vallee de Mai and also take a ferry ride to La Digue.
Make sure you get to both places early in the morning to experience the forest and beaches in glorious solitude.

There are places on Mahe and Praslin that are sooooo much like Tobago you won't believe you're not in the Caribbeanand the fishing is almost as good .
Talking of which - I've been 'messing about on that bl**dy computer again' as my wife is apt to say and have posted a bit of video on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxvWb3pxxeg

Soundtrack - by Led Zeppelin
Fish - by Mother Nature

Cheers
Steve

[Johanna Y.]

Hi Steve,

In Mahe we are staying very close to the Fairyland hotel; our selfcatering villa is also in Pointe Au Sel so thanks for the fishing tips, I appreciate them.

Yes, we intend to visit Vallee de Mai during our visit in Praslin and also pay a day trip visit to La Digue. These are the plans I've made and my loving husband hopefully will follow me .

I have been sort of worried will I ever find a place which can really compere with Tobago. Our trip to Tobago last January was so special and we found Castara just the place for us. I'll bet there are maybe even more beautiful beaches in Seychelles but will I find kind and caring people with the right attitude such as Tobagonians?

Johanna

[Steve Pitts]

I'll bet there are maybe even more beautiful beaches in Seychelles but will I find kind and caring people with the right attitude such as Tobagonians?

Johanna

You'll find both in abundance Johanna.

The Seychelloise are good-natured people.
The Creole spirit and laid-back, fun-loving attitude are very similar to the Tobagonian vibe.

With such a beautiful environment to live in on both islands, the similarities shouldn't surprise you .

Cheers
Steve

[Carol Townsend]

The " Fairyland Hotel"?
Who owns it? Disney?