Jamaica / Special Interests / Sports Fishing

With the Cayman Trench a mere 5 miles off the north coast of Jamaica at its nearest point, where the sea floor drops off into literally thousands of feet, Jamaica offers good hunting grounds for big game fish. Species such as blue and white marlin, sailfish, wahoo, kingfish, mahi mahi (dorado), tuna (yellow fin and black fin), mackerel and skipjack can be found in its waters. The best fishing is on the north shore, out of Ocho Rios and Port Antonio, and here you will find boats that you can charter for the day.

Fishing for the prized blue marlin happens year round, but it is best at the end of summer and into autumn/fall, when the fish are larger. This is when the biggest tournaments of the year are held. The highlight of the sports fishing calendar is the Port Antonio International Blue Marlin Tournament in October. Running now for over four decades, it attracts over 50 boats from around the Caribbean and even the USA. Other tournaments include the Montego Bay International Marlin Tournament (also over four decades old now), which is held in September, the Pier 1 Marlin Tournament, also held out of Montego Bay, and the Falmouth Yacht Club Fishing Tournament. Discovery Bay and Treasure Beach also have tournaments – see Jamaica's Calendar of Events for dates.

Deep sea fishing boats available for charter and marinas include:

No Problem Fishing Charters, Montego Bay - They run two boats, E-zee, a 41ft Viking and No Problem, a 39ft Phoenix Sport Fisherman, owned by Chokey Taylor, a local reggae musician, offering full and half day charters. They can also do leisure cruises to include snorkelling.

Suzie Q Fishing Charters, Glistening Waters Marina - A 52ft custom build which takes fishing parties of up to 14 for half or full day charters. Also available for snorkelling and general beach trips for up to 20 people.

Glistening Waters Marina, Falmouth - Base for sports fishing charters with slips for 30 boats.

Stanley Deep Sea Fishing, Negril - Changing Wind, a 32ft Luhrs that trolls offshore for marlin, mahi mahi (dorado), wahoo and tuna including yellow fin. They support the Billfish Foundation’s tag and release programme. They offer half, three quarter, full day and shared charters.

Angling

If you would like to try out angling in inland waters, then a number of locations including Cranbrook Flower Forest and River Head Adventure Trail (both near Ocho Rios) and Negril Royal Palm Reserve have fishing ponds. Also a former commercial fishing farm now operates as the Goshen Wilderness Resort. It is set in 447 acres in the hills above Ocho Rios and offers fishing in 37 fish ponds stocked with tilapia. Goshen is off the beaten track so be prepared for a bumpy ride. The park will have your catch cooked for you to eat for lunch. Besides the pond fishing, there is horse riding, guided ATV tours (adults only), nature trails, kayaking and paddle-boating in one of the ponds. Closed on Mondays.