Margarita Island, Venezuela

[gary knowles]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum and looking to see if anyone has visited the island of Margarita in Venezuela. If so any tips on methods, types of fish to be found etc would be greatly received.

I'm planning on taking medium and heavy spinning gear, some bait fishing gear and maybe a beaccasting type rod in case i decide to have a go in the surf at night.

Thanks in advance,

Gary

[PanamaJack]

Hi Gary
And firstly welcome to the forum.

There are a number of earlier posts regarding Margarita, and that general area of the Caribbean, which may give you a starting point. Just click on each of the links below in turn - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68882&highlight=Venezuela and http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69891&highlight=Venezuela. Other forum members though may well also reply with their personal observations over the next couple of days. If on reading the threads though you find anything of particular interest or relevance you can always contact those members personally through the site's Private Message facility.

Just one last point could you please post a report of your experiences once you return. Any and everything helps others who subsequently go to these venues.

Thanks
Dave

[gary knowles]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the response. It doesnt look great does it, fishing at night is dangerous and during the day illegal !

Still, I'm sure I'll find something somewhere.

I'll certainly post a report on my return to try and help anyone else going out there.

In the meantime i'll keep my fingers crossed for more responses on the forum.

Cheers

Gary

[Spitfire66]

Gary - heres a link to a charter out there (they might be able to let you know more)

http://www.margaritaislandfishing.com/index.htm

[gary knowles]

thanks mate

[Spitfire66]

Please let us know how you got on (pics are appreciated too)

[gary knowles]

I emailed the charter ages ago but got no response...

They must not want my business !!!

[Spitfire66]

try calling - telephone infrastructure down there is awful (what I can also advise is to call the concierge at one of the bigger hotels there & ask them for some numbers of local charter boats)

tbh. with some light travel tackle and plugs and hooks you cant go far wrong.

[sport53]

Rather than trying to charter a boat out of Margarita I would fly to Caracas and charter a boat to fish La Guaira bank. The marina is only a 5 min drive from Caracas airport with lots of charter boats available.

The fishing out of La Guaira is simply amazing. Lots of blue marlin and yellowfin tuna at this time of year. Sailfish, wahoo and dorado are always there in big numbers.

Last time I was there (October 2007) we caught, 6 dorado, 2 wahoo (lost about another 6 due to bite off's), 2 sailfish, 1 barracuda. We also had at least 12 blue marlin strikes that we could not get to stick, one was at least 500 lbs but we only had it on for a few minutes.

[Spitfire66]

Rather than trying to charter a boat out of Margarita I would fly to Caracas and charter a boat to fish La Guaira bank. The marina is only a 5 min drive from Caracas airport with lots of charter boats available.

The fishing out of La Guaira is simply amazing. Lots of blue marlin and yellowfin tuna at this time of year. Sailfish, wahoo and dorado are always there in big numbers.

Last time I was there (October 2007) we caught, 6 dorado, 2 wahoo (lost about another 6 due to bite off's), 2 sailfish, 1 barracuda. We also had at least 12 blue marlin strikes that we could not get to stick, one was at least 500 lbs but we only had it on for a few minutes.

the fishing was poor then lol

[sport53]

"the fishing was poor then lol "

Believe it or not that's exactly what the captain said, we were targetting white marlin and tuna, but I wasn't complaining. lol.

It's not unusual to get over 30 white marlin strikes in a day during the run in October. They are increadibly difficult to hook up.

Heading back in march for blues and yellowfin.

[gary knowles]

Rather than trying to charter a boat out of Margarita I would fly to Caracas and charter a boat to fish La Guaira bank. The marina is only a 5 min drive from Caracas airport with lots of charter boats available.

The fishing out of La Guaira is simply amazing. Lots of blue marlin and yellowfin tuna at this time of year. Sailfish, wahoo and dorado are always there in big numbers.

Last time I was there (October 2007) we caught, 6 dorado, 2 wahoo (lost about another 6 due to bite off's), 2 sailfish, 1 barracuda. We also had at least 12 blue marlin strikes that we could not get to stick, one was at least 500 lbs but we only had it on for a few minutes.

Ohj yeah..the missus would love that. i'm off now love flying to another island fishing for a day or two....she'd have my b**** off !:love:

[Rfish]

Just returned from Margarita and thought useful to provide update on shore fishing for those thinking of visiting.

I had no problems fishing at night from beaches or rock walls. Felt perfectly safe - local fishermen often come over to chat and give tips. Lots of smaller fish from rock wall in Playa Tirano (snappers, wrasse, flatties, catfish etc with the occasional monster around (or so I was told!)).

Best baits - sardines, bonito or cabaña. If staying in Playa Tirano you can buy bait early morning by the fishing boats (from about 6am till 9am).

If spinning take white/silver jelly shads. Had a few bitten in half whilst spinning off beach north of El Agua. No hooks up though!!!

Lots of tarpon in the lagoons. Playa Zaragoza lagoon looks good - went there the day I promised the missues I'd leave the rod at hotel!

Manzanillo beach is the place to go in the evening (locals rave about it). If staying in Playa Tirano easy to get to via bus from main supermarket or taxi for about £5.

Sun is seriously strong - lost two days with bad sun burn after focussing on fishing and not sun block being washed off! Wished I had taken white cotton trousers for spending whole days wondering around rocks spinning.