Big Game
Fishing
When it comes to
big game fishing, bring a hefty rod and reel, plenty of bait, and a
strong back. This kind of fishing is not for the faint of heart OR
the weak of body! If the term ‘big game’ evokes images of hunting
lions, tigers, and bears (Oh my!) on dry land, it should make you
think Marlin, Tuna, Dorado, and Billfish on the open waters.
If you’re in North
America, big game fishing can mean either the Atlantic or Pacific
Oceans. Either way, the big boys in the big blue include Marlin,
Tuna, Sailfish, Billfish, and Swordfish. Prepare yourself for a lot
of fun and a lot of work, because any fish in that group will
certainly provide you with a bunch of both!
Fishing for big
game on the Atlantic side offers charters leaving from many
locations. The hot spots include Key West, most of the Caribbean
islands, and a new “must fish” destination – Ascension Island in the
South Atlantic.
Tracking big game
fish in the Pacific also includes plenty of charter opportunities.
Hawaii is a perennial hot spot, as is Baja, Mexico. Bring lots of
sunscreen and cold beverages. The fishing tends to be hot, fast, and
furious in those waters.
Swordfish,
Sailfish, and Marlin often get the limelight in the world of big game
fishing because they’re flashy and do a lot of leaping once hooked.
However, pound for pound, Yellowfin Tuna may be the hardest work in
all of fishing (and therefore, the most fun when you’re successful).
At the end of the
day, perhaps no type of fishing is as physically satisfying as
bringing some big game aboard your charter vessel. The fight can
often last from 20 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the fish and your
skills.
If fly fishing is
the pinnacle of intellectual fishing, landing a big game fish is the
epitome of the physical side of our sport.
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