If all men measured up to the standards of true sportsmanship, there would be no need for game, fish, and forestry laws. Neither would there be so much need for the laws that regulate human affairs in general.
But, in the fishing game, it is the true sportsman, with a love for the great outdoors, a wholesome respect for the welfare of others, and consideration for living and growing things, who sets the good examples for the youth to follow. In reality, fishing games differ a lot from the other types of games that man has come to know.
A fishing game is not a mere reflection of the activity itself but more of the love for fishing. In fishing games, the angler does not go hunting or fishing only to gain the privilege of boasting over slaughter or material gain. He loves the lightning-like flash of the trout, the leap of the bass or muskie, the tug on the line, the whir of the reel, the thrill of battle with some "denizens" of the deep, and the companionship of other true sportsmen.
The Concept of Fishing Games The most common type of fishing game is known as the "offshore game fishing." In this type of game fishing, the anglers aim for the big lean fishes like the marlins and the tunas and the fishing is done in the sea. Offshore game fishing is usually conducted as one type of recreational activity.
Though, there are instances wherein this type of fishing game is also employed in competitions like the sports fishing. Because of the energy being utilized in this type of recreational activity, offshore game fishing usually requires the biggest fishing boats. These fishing boats generally range from 30 to 50 feet in length.
The object of the game is to reel the fish in once it is properly hooked on the line. This can be a daunting task since the fish, especially if it is a big one, will have the tendency to pull away from the boat. The challenge is to reel the fish in while keeping the fishing line maintained on its specified tension. The fishing game is not more of a competition for a true angler.
Whenever they are doing this kind of activity as part of the game, what the angler really wants is to get in touch with nature, to breathe the clean, pure air, and muse in solitude in the wilds of nature’s playground. Hence, in fishing games like offshore game fishing, the anglers like to play the game in strict accordance with the rules of reason and fairness at the same time conserve the value of fishes in the community.
Deep and productive waters only 15 minutes from shore, well-equipped sport fishing boats and scenic views add up to a quality fishing experience in Jamaica. Visiting anglers have a chance at landing blue and white marlin, wahoo, tuna and dolphin (dorado) in deep water that drops to thousands of feet beyond the reefs.
Blue marlin is the mostprized big game fish and catching your first marlin in Jamaica is well within reach. The Cayman Trench creates conditions of one to two knots of consistent current which helps clump together seaweed to form "weed lines"- these are every offshore angler’s dream.
Heavy rainfall also erodes riverbanks causing trees and other debris to drift out to sea. This floating matter attracts baitfish and tripletail sea bass seeking shelter from the sun, which in turn attracts bigger fish.
Entire ecosystems exist under these weed lines which can spread out for miles and contain all manner of sea life, including large numbers of game fish. During the summer months when the wind is fairly calm and the sea is relatively flat the weed lines get bigger, which therefore means more marine activity beneath the surface.
On the south coast there are quite a number of banks and cays where you can find a great number of bottom fish, namely snapper and grouper. The largest bank along the south coast is the Pedro Bank. This bank is home to a variety of fish such as yellowtail, mutton and red tail snapper as well as grouper and shellfish. Fishing for wahoo and kingfish is excellent along the south coast due to the presence of these banks.
The North coast also has quite a few banks and the three main banks located off the coast of Port Antonio are Henry Holmes, Grappler and Shipwreck. There is also a popular bank located 15 miles off the coast of Montego Bay called the Buckner bank.
Strictly speaking there are certain periods of the year when different species of fish are more common. The dolphin (dorado) season runs from January through April, the black fin and yellow fin tuna season run from April to August and the core marlin season runs from August to December.
Despite this, you will find that it is quite common for any of these species to be caught in Jamaica’s waters year-round. So if you are in Jamaica right now, it’s a great time to go fishing. Charter boats can be booked for full-day or half-day trips in most resort areas (see listings in Jam-boree’s golocal pages).
Prices vary little but be sure to enquire about whether beverages are included and who keeps the catch. Mounting of prize fish is available and some boats will arrange to have a fish cleaned and even cooked to order. A day of fishing in Jamaica is about more than just lines, bait and fighting marlin.
It is a unique opportunity to experience the island’s topographical beauty and coastline from offshore aboard a comfortable sportfisher with a professional crew that will ensure that whether you catch the "bigone" or not you have a wonderful experience. Listen to some music, enjoy some refreshments and keep an eye out for porpoises and sea turtles that frequent Jamaica’s coastal waters. Fly fishing and light tackle fishing The river estuaries, flats, lagoons inshore sea grass beds and mangrove forests of Jamaica are home to many popular species of game fish including tarpon, snook and barracuda.
Opportunities abound for exciting fly and light tackle fishing charters led by experienced guides. Most fish species are available all year. Salty Vic provides fishing charters to several areas of the island including river, inshore and deepsea habitats, as well as technical fly-fishing lessons for adults and children. Contact Salty Vic at (876) 863-1599 for information and bookings.
Cayman Trench Fishing in Jamaica is world-class due in part to the presence of the Cayman Trench that extends from the Windward Passage at the southeastern tip of Cuba toward Guatemala. At about half a mile off the coast of Montego Bay, the drop off begins, starting at about 400 feet and gradually sloping down to 3000 feet further offshore.
The relatively narrow trough trends east-northeast to west-southwest and has a maximum depth of 25,216 feet (7,686 m), the deepest point in the Caribbean Sea. This area is teeming with sea life as nutrients are carried up the wall from the abyss to make the waters uncommonly rich for tropical seas.
Tournaments Several annual blue marlin tournaments are held in Jamaica, attracting world-wide anglers. The Port Antonio International Billfish Tournament, usually held in October, is one of the most celebrated and prestigious in the Caribbean. Each year this event attracts up to 50 boats, including anglers from the U.S.A. and neighboring Caribbean islands. Other tournaments are held in Montego Bay, Falmouth, Discovery Bay and Treasure Beach. **for more information visit www.jam-boree.com, Jamaica’s visitor website, the complete source for travel and tourism information featuring hand-picked deals on vacation packages, hotels, villas, flights and car rentals**
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