Every good fisherman knows you have to go where the fish are – and in the British Virgin Islands, you’ll be surrounded by them! Whether you’re offshore hooking into a trophy marlin or wahoo or combing the shallows fly fishing for world-class bonefish or tarpon, you will not be disappointed when fishing in the BVI.
The Virgin Islands are indeed one of the world’s most frequented destinations for sport fishing. A popular fishing area in the BVI is the” North Drop,” a shelf that descends 200 feet off the east side of Virgin Gorda. This drop is teeming with gamefish. Here are just a few:
– is an appropriate name for this speedy fish because that’s what you’ll holler when you hook it! This gamefish is known for its long, hard runs at speeds up to 45 mph. Your boat may troll up to 10 knots for this catch. The Wahoo is noted for its beautiful blue vertical stripes. The wahoo is a highly prized sport fishing catch in most of its range.
It indeed reaches a good size, is often available not too far from land, and is an excellent fighter on light to medium tackle. It’s known in sports fishing circles for the speed and strength of its first run. The flesh of the wahoo is white to grey, delicate to dense, and highly regarded by many gourmet chefs.
This highly prized game fish of warm seas typically reaches a great weight. The marlin is a member of a group of marine fish known as “billfish and is closely linked to the freshwater trout. A marlin has an elongated body, a spear-like snout, and a long rigid dorsal fin extending forward to form a crest. Marlins are known to be speedy swimmers, reaching speeds of about 68 mph.
The larger species include the Atlantic Blue MarlinThisis huge fish (up to 1800 pounds) and is known for heaving itself skyward in a seemingly inexhaustible display of strength as you fight it. Certainly, hook this beauty, and you will have so fantastic memories of a fight well fought. Marlin is not eaten in the BVI, and so they are released back to the sea after unhooking.
– A large and active predatory schooling fish of the mackerel family. Found in warm seas, it is extensively fished commercially and is a popular game fish. Tuna are ocean-dwelling predatory fish and fast swimmers — they have been clocked at 43 mph. Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, tuna flesh is pink to dark red, which could explain their nickname name, “rose of the sea. Numerous tuna species are caught with rods and reels, but Blue-fin, Black-fin, and Yellow-fin are the most popular fishing targets for anglers.
– also known as “Broadbill” in some countries, are large, highly migratory, predatory fish characterized by a long, flat bill. They are a popular sport fish, though elusive. Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. They reach a maximum size of 177 in. and 1,400 lb.
Swordfish are vigorous and robust fighters. When hooked or harpooned, they have been known to dive so quickly that they have impaled their swords into the ocean bottom up to their eyes. Although there are no reports of unprovoked attacks on humans, swordfish can be very dangerous when harpooned. They have run their swords through the planking of small boats when hurt.
Remember, it’s advisable not to eat most fish species due to the toxin ciguatera, which can cause fish poisoning. Some fish are safe to eat, such as yellow-fin tuna and mahi-mahi. But, in general, catch-and-release is advisable unless you are fishing with someone experienced in distinguishing the different species in the local waters.
Removing any marine organism from British Virgin Islands waters without a recreational fishing permit is illegal for non-BVI Islanders. Learn More About How to Obtain Your BVI Fishing License.
Contact BVI & Caribbean Yacht Charters for more information on Fishing in the BVI at (321) 777-1707
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