Average size of St Thomas Blues

[Walman]

This one is out to you guys in St Thomas or those who have put in alot of hours on the North Drop.

What are the average size of the blues that you guys are catching up there.

I am writing from Trinidad and Tobago and I would like to get ideas on how your marlin sizes compare to the averages that we catch here in Tobago.

Most guys here in the southern caribbean fish between 6 and 8knts using bait/lure combinations eg(Islander/Ballyhoo) and i am wondering if this is the reason that most of the fish caught are in the 100 - 200lb size. The occasional 400 - 600 lb fish has been caught but manny are lost due to what I beleive is inexperience and small leader sizes used with these rigs.

My crew has been using strictly large to medium lures with a pitch bait option for the past 2 years and the average sizes of the fish we are catching is increasing more towards the 200 - 400 lb size.

Any of you guys from up on that end please give views and opinions.

Thanks

[T JUNK]

Wal like this forum lacking people who fish the N drop

[doggman]

Wally,

Wha you sayn'? Dellas cousin or uncle runs a charter out of St. Thomas. He would probably be able to get some info from him.

His name is Johnathon Gatcliff. I was to fish with him earlier this year but he go tied up.

Hope that helps. See you in a couple of days.

[Sea-Ya]

We ran all lures and 300-400lbs leaders and on average about 350lb blues with several over 600lbs. Trolling at 8 knots no pitch option and average 3-4 a day with best 5-6 one day pulling no dredges and 4 teasers. It was our first time there this year and for 3 months only fished about 25 days. We are a private boat touring the Carribean for the first time fishing no tournements. Right now we are in Venezuela since Sept 15 and are leaving the beginning of Nov.

Later

Geo

[T JUNK]

By the way, how was the fishing in Venezuela and did you fish with baits there. I know the majority of boats fish baits or bait lure combos there. Anyway are you fishing in any islands on the way up?

[gssk7179]

I would say the average fish was about 200lbs. Later in the year the size went down. May- july the fish generally are a little bigger. WE pulled mostly teasers with one long rigger bait.
Our average was 2 shots a day. If you are seeing 4 fish a day, good on ya'. Our best was 13 bites and saw about 18 one day in october.

[T JUNK]

i really thought the avg size in st thomas would be bigger than that. guess its the same as tobago and any where else in the caribbean

[JT]

There is no average size in St. thomas.Over the years 5 blue marlin over a thousand have been boated includings the long time world record at over 1200 until broken by a 1400 in Brazil.Almost every year someone releases or does battle with a fish est. at grander status. In many years June brings large fish., over 500 and in the fall...Sept.-Oct.smaller fish but you may see 3 to 4 in a row 100 to 200 and then a couple or more over 400.Several boats have released fish over 800 in the fall so any given day you may see or release big fish thus no "average size" blue marlin in St. Thomas. Capt. Mike Lemon on the Revenge has released over 1200 blue marlin in the past several years..all in St. Thomas,clearly a remarkable acheivment.

[get 'er done]

i mated on the Revenge for two seasons and have been lucky enough to fish a moon phase every year since with them as ride along.........Capt. Lemonhead has a blue marlin hallo over his head

I was there for the boats 1000th fish which was a wonderful experience. But to get back to your question, May & June are your best bets for decent fish but slightly less numbers seen in the spread. As the summer progresses the smaller fish show up in numbers.............I would agree with gssk7179 200-250lbs he has also spent a good amount of time on the drop.