Reefcat news & reports
Tuesday 31st July 2007Family fishing
We have had quite a lot of demand to offer some less specialised fishing trips, aimed at small family groups and often with young children. So we have introduced a "Family Half Day" fishing trip.
The idea is to get the whole family out to sea for an inshore trip trying to catch mackerel and cuttlefish. Fishing for cuttlefish is a lot of fun, few people have seen them up close, and the way they can change colour is amazing to watch. They do have a tendency to squirt viscous ink all over you when they are being handled, so don't wear white T shirts. We have found that young children love to catch fish, and looking a cuttlefish in the eye will be a memorable experience.
As always we are there to help you enjoy your time on the water, so if you have any other requirements, just ask.
Bob & Tony
Wednesday 11th April 2007Fishing Licence in Portugal
Portugal has now introduced a fishing licensing system for all types of sea fishing. The rules are complicated, and there are limits to the size and quantity of fish that can be kept. Most of our fish are tagged and released, so the quota system does not affect us so much. However, all anglers will need a fishing licence.
We can now supply day licences on the boat for 3 euros a day. If you are with us for more than 3 days, it is cost effective to buy a monthly licence from an ATM at the local bank, you will need your passport number, and we can help you do the deed.. We understand that the cost is 10 euros for a month.
2006 Season Roundup
Reefcat was launched just as the Algarve water temperature was reaching the magic 23 degrees C. So while we were doing sea trials, we had to tow a lure or two. Third week in August and we saw a few white marlin free jumping, they were definitely here, but so far, not taking baits.
Last week of August and first week of September - WOW - white marlin crawling all over the lures, several double headers, and some very spectacular aerial display. We were lucky enough to capture one or two on camera, check out the gallery. What fantastic fighting fish these are on relatively light tackle. As a charter boat we usually use 30lb gear for these fish, but one of our more experienced clients had a go with 16lb stand up tackle, what fun. When it's good it's very good, 14 marlin raised in one day, three tagged and released, that's good fishing anywhere in the world.
Early to mid September, we had heard of some nice blue marlin catches along the coast, and with a few experienced clients on board, we decided on a few days way offshore to see if we could get one. So, out with the 80lb tackle and some monster marlin lures, we're towing 30 cm lures most of the morning and into the afternoon, and we're catching very aggressive white marlin. These fish average 90lbs or so, and having hooked up a few on 80lb tackle they can't give of their best on such heavy gear. A quick discussion of tactics with our clients and we decide to switch back to the lighter rods. Yep - you guessed it, 20 minutes later a body like a small submarine crashes one of the lures and heads off to the horizon. Our angler gamely fights the fish on stand up, for the first 90 minutes, before heat exhaustion gets to him, and he hands the rod on to another angler. We have the leader in sight so many times, just tantalisingly out of reach, it's getting dark, we have fought the fish for over 4 hours and we wind the lever drag to sunset. Well something had to give, and eventually the line parted with a crack, so near and yet so far. The fish was estimated at over 800lbs, would have been a nice fish for Reefcat's first blue marlin but not to be.
We have 2 more blue marlin hookups in the following weeks, one was so nearly a double header, one blue hooked up, and another fish following a lure to the transom as we were clearing the lines. Fantastic stuff, a constant air of anticipation every day.
I've not even mentioned the dorado, these fantastically coloured fish chase the lures with amazing ferocity. Hooking up 4 at a time was common, when you pass over a shoal you can see literally hundreds leaping after the boat to be the first to grab the lure. Very entertaining for our clients, and also wonderful to eat.
So all in all a great start for Reefcat, we tagged and released 14 white marlin, and were so so close to a very big blue. We had been unsure when Reefcat would be ready, so had done almost no advertising, some of our clients had heard we were catching fish, and came straight on over at very short notice. So a big thank you to all, I hope you all had some great fishing, and I know we'll be seeing many of you next year.
Happy christmas from Bob and Tony