Caribbean fishing holidays Best islands in the Caribbean for big game fishing
Deep-sea fishing is incredibly popular in the Caribbean with many tour companies offering deep and sport fishing adventures to some of the best fishing spots on the islands. Some of the territories known for great deep-sea fishing include The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Jamaica, and Barbados. With its warm waters, beautiful landscapes, and incredible variety, the Caribbean is one of the best deep sea fishing regions in the world. Marlin, swordfish, barracuda, dorado, grouper, snapper, mahi mahi….the list of species that grace the Caribbean goes on and on.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas are known for their big game fishing especially around the tropical waters around Grand Bahama. Just off the coast, the clear waters are good hunting grounds for snapper, grouper, yellowtail, wahoo, barracuda, and kingfish. However, anglers from around the world look for the large species such as marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi, and sailfish.
The best time of year to go is from October to May when the sea temperature is cooler which means the fish are in shallow waters plus the weather is dry which makes it more fun.
Saint Lucia
Sitting in the Windward Islands south of Martinique, the French Creole speaking island of Saint Lucia boasts big game fish such as sailfish, blue marlin, wahoo, and blackfin tuna which it why it attracts anglers from around the world.
There are many fishing charters to choose from with most of them being based in Castries, the capital of St Lucia. Charters can be for a few hours or for several days. Costs vary but a 4 hour charter typically costs around $750 whilst an 8 hour trip is circa $1300.
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands are a great all-around game fishing destination where you can catch tuna, barracuda, blue marlin, mahi mahi and wahoo to name a few. The Cayman Trench is well known throughout the angling world. Sitting between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate, the trech drops down to a depth of nearly 5 miles and is the deepest part of the entire Caribbean Sea.
There are plenty of great fishing charters which depart from Grand Cayman, giving anglers, beginners to pros, a chance to experience the depths of the Cayman Trench and catch some of the prize game fish.
Turks & Caicos
The stunning islands of Turks and Caicos are located on a marine plateau so you can find exceptional game fishing spots within minutes of leaving the shore. Big game fish such as mahi mahi, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, shark and wahoo can be found in abudance especially in May.
There are many deep sea fishing charter operators throughout Turks & Caicos with prices ranging from around $1,600 for a private 4 hour fishing trip up to around $3,200 for 8 hours.
Dominican Republic
This warm waters around the Dominican Republic boast the top five game fishing sites in the Caribbean. Depending on the season, you can find White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Mahi Mahi (Dorado), Barracuda, YellowFin Tuna, Sailfish, Amberjack, Wahoo and Bonito. Between March and June is the best time as the fish stock are at peak levels.
The Dominican is ranked as the second place in the world to catch bill fish which includes sailfish, swordfish and marlin. The resort of Punta Cana is the best place on the island to catch the bill fish because of its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean as is the 40 mile Mona Passage between Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.
Scuba diving extras
Whilst on your big-game fishing trip in the Caribbean, you may want to go scuba diving. If you are looking to upgrade or scuba gear, buy your first kit or just want to find out more information on a particular piece of equipment, then our partners at Divein can help. Just click on the product images and get professional tips, advice and reviews