The traditional Marlin fishing season begins in early July and peak season lasts until the end of September. During this time the weather is usually warm and calm. The season comes to an end in October when the first autumn gales can make fishing not only uncomfortable, but dangerous as well. There may still be plenty of big pelagic fish to target, but high winds and rough seas curtail our fishing activities.
The most productive banks for the larger species are the Azores Bank, Condor Bank, Princess Alice Bank and the North Coast of Faial. These banks are located at various distances from the harbor. Each day Captain Ian Carter makes the decision on which bank he thinks will provide the most productive fishing, taking the weather conditions and the state of the sea into account.
Sea temperatures vary between 16 degrees in the winter time and 24 degrees in the summer.
Fishing Methods:
Trolling artificial lures is the proven method for catching Blue Marlin.
"Bait and Switch" using live or dead bait, is another popular method for more advanced anglers and those keen to learn, because it allows you to present large tackle to big fish and light tackle to smaller fish. It is also a lot more fun - but no time for sleeping!
Please also have a look at the section about fly fishing.
Records
Many world records have been caught in the Azorean waters. These include a 1189 lb blue marlin caught on 80 lb line from on board the Xácara by Jacky Debrel and a 974 lb Bluefin Tuna caught on 80 lb line (woman's world record) by Jeannine François with Captain Ian Carter at the helm.
Leo Cloostermans holds a number of records in light tackle classes for both Blue and White Marlin. The most outstanding of these is a 573 lb Blue Marlin caught on 4 lb line.
World record Bluefish, Hammerhead and Sixgill Shark have also been caught in these waters.
