Tobago

[Sarnie]

Hi to all those of you who some months ago answered queries and gave me information about fishing in Tobago. If you can remember I was taking my partner there for his Birthday. Well have just got back and am just dropping in to let you know that we had wonderful time with Frothy and his skipper Junior. My partner became a celebrity by catching, amongst other things, a 70-80lb Sailfish which for the time of year and location was a good size. Frothy and Junior gave us a superb days fishing and even put up with me 'chumming' for a good part of the day, I'm not good on water!!!! Frothy and Junior are supreme in what they do and we couldn't have asked for better. the rest of the stay was also excellent as the people of Tobago are friendly and accomodating and it seems that their aim is to make visitors happy. Would thoroughly recommend anyone, fishermen or not, visit and learn how to truly relax. Thanks again for all the advice received.

Cheers

Sarnie

[PanamaJack]

Thanks for that recommendation Sarnie, 'Frothy's a renowned captain, and it's good to get feedback. Although sorry to hear about the bout of 'mal de mer'. Still 'brownie points' for not insisting your partner took you back to shore!

For anyone else holidaying on the island that an excellent guide that additionally covers shore fishing on this url - http://www.mytobago.info/fishing08.php. This is 'Frothy's web site - http://www.hardplay.net/ and details of other charter boats are on this page - http://www.mytobago.info/fishing04.php.
Dave

[makomartin]

Hi Sarnie,

Glad you had good trip, it’s a nice place. The jetty at Pigeon point must be the most photographed wooden jetty in the world. You see pics of it everywhere. I had my first serious crack at bluewater fishing there in 2000. It was ok but a lot of things I would have done differently given the benefit of hindsight, I suppose we all would.

Some cracking med weight fish to be caught Kingfish, Wahoo, Dorado and Blackfin. I fished in November and lost a blue marlin which came off after about 5 minutes, had a few to many caribs the night before and would probably struggle with it anyway. I never fished inshore but believe there are some tarpon and bones and some other bits and pieces to be had.

Don’t know if the guys is still around but he was called Kester, decent wee guy who tried hard in open boat on a few days pretty much well offshore where we shouldn’t have been in that particular boat. We fished on Frothy’s boats for the week but not with him. One of the things I soon learned was that if you book up directly and you have the choice I would now insist that I fish with the owner/operator as you will get a better return on your investment as is normally the case where ever you go. I booked up pretty much via the most publicized UK world fishing operator at that time. I regretted it. There was supposed to be two on the boat, there were three, no fly tackle and things not quite the way it was pitched etc. A lesson learned but it was ok as it was all new at the time.

Might visit again and as I have done since use the internet and the tools we now have at our disposal.

Mart

[marktheshark]

Hi Sarnie
Thanks for coming back with the feedback ... it's good to read how other people have fared.
Mart, the other skipper is Kester Herbert, who has an excellent reputation for skippering inshore for tarpon, bones etc.
Having gone with Hard Play on both visits in the past three years, I'd recommend the quality of all their skippers. Frothy is a master, but the Amann brothers are excellent too, and I won't forget Peter's calm seamanship when we got caught by a horrendous storm on one trip. It's at moments like that that you realise the money you pay doesn't just go towards expertise in catching fish.
Anyway, good to hear positive feedback. There have been some dire rumours about the island this year.
Mark

[tarpon1]

Hi Sarnie
Thanks for coming back with the feedback ... it's good to read how other people have fared.
Mart, the other skipper is Kester Herbert, who has an excellent reputation for skippering inshore for tarpon, bones etc.
Having gone with Hard Play on both visits in the past three years, I'd recommend the quality of all their skippers. Frothy is a master, but the Amann brothers are excellent too, and I won't forget Peter's calm seamanship when we got caught by a horrendous storm on one trip. It's at moments like that that you realise the money you pay doesn't just go towards expertise in catching fish.
Anyway, good to hear positive feedback. There have been some dire rumours about the island this year.
Mark
Hi mark,
what rumours do you mean? i was thinking of going there this year.
regards mark

[marktheshark]

Hullo matey
I don't want to be alarmist but there have been some pretty clear warnings about violence against tourists in Tobago since 2006. It's not rumour, there have been muggings and rapes, and about two years ago the foreign office in UK issued a warning to tourists.
Having said all that, my wife and I went in 2006, drove all over the island, and in my case, fished alone at night from the beaches. We found nothing but kindness; the Tobagans are by and large wonderful people and insist the problem is caused by Trinidadian criminals coming over on the ferry.
The only hint we got of trouble was the platoon of armed soldiers patrolling Englishman's Bay (one of the better beaches, but remote), and second-hand stories at the hotel bar. If you want more recent updates, have a look at the Tobago forum on Tripadvisor.com. To get a truer picture though, try to sift the facts from the rumours.
It's a great fishing place though!
Mark

[tarpon1]

Hullo matey
I don't want to be alarmist but there have been some pretty clear warnings about violence against tourists in Tobago since 2006. It's not rumour, there have been muggings and rapes, and about two years ago the foreign office in UK issued a warning to tourists.
Having said all that, my wife and I went in 2006, drove all over the island, and in my case, fished alone at night from the beaches. We found nothing but kindness; the Tobagans are by and large wonderful people and insist the problem is caused by Trinidadian criminals coming over on the ferry.
The only hint we got of trouble was the platoon of armed soldiers patrolling Englishman's Bay (one of the better beaches, but remote), and second-hand stories at the hotel bar. If you want more recent updates, have a look at the Tobago forum on Tripadvisor.com. To get a truer picture though, try to sift the facts from the rumours.
It's a great fishing place though!
Mark

Hi Mark,
Should have said i too was there in 2006, stayed at the cocco reef. Thought something had happened what i hadn't heard of. Caught my first Tarpon (55lb), i fished off Grand slam with Kester and Kevin, i hooked about 10 over two weeks but only managed to land the one. fished cuba last year and caught 3 nice red snapper and a couple of good jacks. i'll try and upload the ones i caught of the Meilia pier, might be going back this May.
regards mark
p.s dont know how to upload pics

[PanamaJack]

p.s dont know how to upload pics

Mark
You can use one of the free hosting services like Photobucket – there’s an excellent tutorial on this thread - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63449. Once added you just need to include the url on your post for it to link through.

Or for images on your hard drive you can add them using the Manage Attachments button, just below the reply’s text box. The only issue here can be one of file size – there’re limits. But I’ve found you can re-size easily, to get in under the limit, using a piece of freeware like IrfanView. There’re masses of others though that you can find through the Internet Search Engines.
Dave

[tarpon1]

Mark
You can use one of the free hosting services like Photobucket – there’s an excellent tutorial on this thread - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63449. Once added you just need to include the url on your post for it to link through.

Or for images on your hard drive you can add them using the Manage Attachments button, just below the reply’s text box. The only issue here can be one of file size – there’re limits. But I’ve found you can re-size easily, to get in under the limit, using a piece of freeware like IrfanView. There’re masses of others though that you can find through the Internet Search Engines.
Dave

dave,
Thanks for the info.
mark

[frostman]

Just reading this thread, i was over in tobago in november, my friend has a house there. Captain Frothy is a top skipper went out with him a few times and caught some nice fish. Going back to tobago in july where again i will be booking captain frothy. Tobago is a mad place, once you get used to it is fantastic, there is trouble to be had though. At the beginning of january my friends next door neighbour was held at gunpoint in his own house and robbed, the culprit then robbed a restaurant the day after and was shot dead by the police, turns out the culprit was an of duty policeman from trinidad. I agree with marktheshark, you have to be carefull, very carefull. My friends lived there for 3 years now and he could go on and on about the muggings and rapes. Tobago people are lovely and i cant speak highly enough of them.
The brits do tend to go over there and not realise that a gardener or houskeeper in tobago will earn £30 for a weeks work.
So with our wallets full of tt dollars its hardly suprising we become a target.
However its worth the trip to stick my teath into the doubles at the airport or spend the evening as sunday skool at buccoo.

Frostman