myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

My family will be visiting Tobago for the first time for 2 weeks from the 13th of April this year. I would be grateful for any advice on fishing in the Black Rock area, where we will be staying. I have three young children and as previous experience has evidenced, I will not be able to travel around too much to try various venues with them.
I will be bringing a telescopic beachcaster and a telescopic spinning rod. Advice on hot spots in the area as well as successes with spinning compared to bait fishing would be great.
Syd.

Syd,don't know the technical bits but most people I have seen fishing fish off Black Rock itself,that's to the left of the bay as you look to sea-practically under Fort Bennet.
David

David,

Thanks for the tip. Probably the best place to start.
Syd.

Syd,had another thought(it must be the rum )at the Plymouth end of the beach is a long jetty,I've seen people fishing off there also.I should think it's about 20mins walk from Birdies'/Dukes end.
David in Sunny,Sunny Castara

Hi Syd

Although I've stayed close to Black Rock on a number of occasions, I've never caught much localy (probably my lack of skill).

I you haven't already done so, trawl throught the various queries on this section of the forum or enter the word 'fishing' into the on-site search facility at the top right-hand corner of this page.

Best of luck

Steve

Dave,
Thanks for the update.

Steve,
Seen the info, very useful.
Will post an article after my trip.

Cheers, Syd.

Hi Syd
re your email fishing at black rock, have had some sucess there but the jetty and point at plymouth will produce!!.there are some good fish out there i fished too light my first time and paid the price.i am going out too april 14 might see you" throughin a line".
regards Dan.

Hi Dan,
Thanks for the reply, sounds very promising!
How light was your tackle and were you using lures or bait?
The jetty sounds ideal as my boys could also access it without too much bother.
Would be great to meet up for a spot of fishing whilst we're out there.
Are you staying in the locality?
Feel free to drop me a line via my email if you like.
Cheers,
Syd.

Hi Syd

The jetty at Plymouth is a nice spot to dangle a line - especially with the boys.

There are some very big tarpon (100lb plus) and huge stingrays that hang around the pier sometimes. Fishing for the big boys is futile, due to the numbers of pirogues moored around the peir. Should you be lucky (?) enough to hook a big tarpon, it will wrap you around the numerous mooring ropes and its loss is almost inevitable. Even if you were lucky enough to avoid the boats, ropes, old bits of pier pilings and tree stumps, getting a big fish up on to the peir will be impossible, best to walk the fish back down the pier and onto the beach towards the Courland river (Rex Turtle Beach).

There are however, a miriad of smaller fish to be caught, from snappers and grunts, to snook and pompano. I've hooked jacks off of the pier too, on small rubber shads. If they head off parrallel to the beach, then you stand a chance of landing one. If it should head out towards the rocks, then I'm afraid its likely to end in tears.

Here are the first few paragraphs of an article, which appears on a CD to accompany our latest film project - Fishing in the Caribbean.

Our first trip to Tobago, now some years ago, whetted our appetites for tarpon. In fact it was on the first day of our visit. My son Richard and I drove over to the fishing village of Plymouth for a wander along the dilapidated pier. We did not even have fishing rods with us as we strolled along the concrete deck peering into the water at the masses of baitfish crowded beneath.

Several small fishing boats were moored between the pier and the low cliff to the west and a few hundred metres offshore the pelicans and boobies were plunge diving into the sea – presumably where there were feeding predatory fish.

We walked back and followed the cliff-top path to try and get a better view of the action. Suddenly Rich pointed down towards the moored boats and said “look at that!” Below us, a huge silver shape was rolling on the surface and scattering hundreds of little baitfish before it. “Tarpon!” we said at the same instant. As we watched, one massive fish after another rolled and splashed. We looked frantically for a way down the cliff to access a suitable fishing spot – but there was none. Those tarpon have stayed in our minds eyes ever since. Glorious, giant fish with massive silver-mirror scales and streamlined bodies – oh to catch just one!

I'll ask steve to post a photo of three of my mates on Plymoth pier. I've entiltled the pic 'Three little boys' From left to right,Steve, Mike and Alan, their ages were 48, 64 and 54. Kids eh?

Cheers
Steve

Steve,

Sounds like a pier I fished on Sanibel Island Florida. Hooked something that took off like a freight train leaving me stunned and gazing at some loose line wafting about in the breeze!
From your post it appears that care will have to be taken to target landable species.
The article captures a snapshot of what drives us sea hunters and the 'child' within.
Look forward to seeing the pic.
Thanks for the post,
Syd.

Hi Steve,
Had a fantastic time in Tobago on our first visit and am hooked in more ways then one!

Didn't have any results beach fishing, but learnt a fair bit for the return.....
Courland Bay didn't produce for me, apart from a close call on Plymouth Pier on my last morning, as if to tease me back. Fished with a mini shrimp rig to catch live bait. Caught a little silver fish with teeth, which latched onto my finger with needle like teeth and drew blood!. Cheecky beggar, retribution, as it was the live bait. A few minuites after casting out there was an almighty swirl as a fair sized fish struck at the bait, but with no result. It didn't return and when I reeled in, found a large leaf attached to the hook!

Saw most potential at the lagoons at Pidgeon Point, where although unsuccessful, saw tarpon breaking the surface well within casting distance. They just didn't fancy the surface poppers that day.
Had an evening out with Kester on the inshore small boat, as the large one was booked. We fished at Buccoo with live bait. Dan Miners who was staying at Birdies Nest with me, shared the cost. We caught Ladyfish, Jacks, Tarpon and snapper. A really enjoyable day.
Will be better prepared next time. Live bait for me!

Syd.

Thanks for the report Syd - I'm glad that you enjoyed your holiday and saw some of the potential that Tobago has to offer the angler.

It's also nice to have something to look forward to next year

Cheers
Steve