Golf course fishing?

[Norman Smith]

Hi all,

My wife and I have booked to visit Tobago next September mainly for the fishing. Guided fishing trips are expensive so we will have several days when we will be fishing on our own.

We have heard that there is a golf course that has stocked its lakes with tarpon etc and charges a daily fee to fish them. Can anyone give us any information about this?

Norman

[David Watkins]

Never heard of this on Tobago.There are two golf courses,the major one Mt Irvine ,definitely has no lakes,and the other,Tobago Plantations(aka Hilton) has a stagnant pond that can barely support mossie larvae!
Sorry old chum you must have the wrong Tobago,
David
somebody will prove me wrong

[Steve Pitts]

Sorry David......

Hi Norman

David is correct in identifying the lake (large pond) at The Hilton as a possible site for tarpon fishing.

As I understand it - local charter skipper Frothy de Silva has stocked the lake at the entrance to the Hilton with a few tarpon and snook. He then charges anglers to be 'guided' and uses a small rowing boat as a means of access to the lake's fishy attractions.

As I said - this is what I have heard from another well-respected Tobago charter skipper and guide and I have no idea what the fishing would be like....other than like fishing for over-sized goldfish in a garden pond.

There are good tarpon to be caught (for free) at Crown Point, so I know where I would fish

Cheers
Steve

[David Watkins]

nice one Steve,at last some body agrees with me about the pond
Cheers David(we will meet some time!)

[Steve Pitts]

nice one Steve,at last some body agrees with me about the pond

Hi David

At the risk of boring you - tarpon can live in stagnant water, as they have a rudamentary lung and come to the surface to gulp air, if there is insufficient oxygen in the water.

There are at least two sites on Tobago where tarpon can be found, that most people would imagine were lifeless, because of the state of the water.

The saltwater lakes on the Kilgwyn estate (follow the track to the cement works on the Milford Rd) hold small tarpon, despite the fact that the salinity must be off the scale and the fallen mangroves stands and rotting leaves on the lake bed must purge the water of any oxygen.

Similarily, there is a lagoon at the old entrance to Pigeon Point, where the hair braiders and glass-bottom boat touts hang out, just about opposite the Manta Dive shop.

This stagnant, festering, primeaval swamp is alledgedly home to tarpon to 40lb in weight, but I have never been able to bring myself to fish there because of the marsh gases that smell like rotting eggs and the ferocity of the mozzie hords. Becoming a communal blood donor and running the risk of contracting a dose of dengue isn't my idea of a good day's fishing

There is a small rowing boat for hire at this 'lake' at an exhorbitant rate, but I would imagine that if anyone fell in they would need their stomach pumped and a hefty dose of antibiotics to survive the ordeal .

Cheers
Steve

[Norman Smith]

Thanks for that one Steve. I will certainly give this evil sounding pool a look. After thirty five years of living in Spain I am a pretty tough cookie and mossies don't bother me too much. The water does not sound too different to the ones over here. I hope there is someone out there that can give me some other leads but you can all be sure that I will report back on how we get on.

Norman