Bermuda Fishing - The Catches
The catches in Bermuda are varied as they are plentiful. On the reef you’ll find snapper, grouper,
little tunny, Bermuda chub, and yellowtail, to mention only a few. In the
deep waters beyond the reef are the
great gamefish. Besides the sailfish, the
king of fish is perhaps the blue marlin,
but they are few and far between. When
you do find one, you’re in for the experience
of a lifetime. The “big blue” typically
ranges in size from 100 to 200 pounds or
more. Fish of three, four and five hundred
pounds have been caught in more
southern waters and stories of “the one
that got away” tell of fish in
excess of 1,000 pounds.
Bluefin tuna is another exciting blue-water catch. Fish weighing in at 100 pounds or more are not uncommon, and catches between 500 and 800 pounds have been recorded in the western Atlantic. Blackfin and yellowfin tuna are smaller, but no less fun to catch.
Other excellent deep water species include the kingfish, or
king mackerel. They can be caught year-round, although
peak seasons are the spring and summer. Then there’s dolphin.
No, not Flipper; he’s a mammal. This dolphin is a fish.
Dolphin are usually found fairly close to the shoreline, weigh
anywhere from five to 20 pounds, and are excellent to eat. Wahoo weigh 15 to 30 pounds and, in rare cases, as much as
60 pounds. They too make tasty dinners and are highly
prized by sport fishermen. Wahoo are most often found lurking
in the deep water off the edge of the reef.
Amberjack is another
prized sporting fish
found most often in the
cooler, deep waters
just off the edge of the
reef during the summer
months, and
closer to shore the rest
of the year. Amberjack
can run anywhere from
20 to 40 pounds. Other
species include white marlin, almaco jack, skipjack tuna and rainbow runner.
Sharks, too, are common throughout the waters of the
Bermudas and can be found in both shallow waters and
deep. Makos, blues, hammerhead and tiger sharks abound.
The truth is, however, that the fight usually lasts only as
long as it takes for the shark’s razor-like teeth to bite
through the wire traces that hold him. Even so, you’re sure
to remember the battle for a long time. This tiger shark was caught off Bermuda in August 2008.
The wily barracuda is found in large numbers, in shallow or
deep waters, and can often be seen swimming close to the
surface in the clear waters
over the reefs and sandy
banks. Barracuda range in
size from a few pounds to
about 15 or 20 pounds and,
small though they might be,
you’re sure of a good fight if
you can get one on the hook.
Grouper is a tasty fish, often
found swimming lazily, close
to the bottom on the reefs all
around Bermuda. Catches
average 15 to 25 pounds, and fish of 30 to 45 pounds are not
uncommon. Likewise the snapper. He, too, may be caught
on the reefs throughout the islands. Most common are the
red and gray variety.
Bermuda - How to Get There:
For visitors arriving by air, Bermuda is served by most US airlines and by international airlines from Canada and Europe. Bermuda is also a major destination for the cruise ship industry
Use the link below to look for the best hotel deals for your visit to Bermuda:
Know Before You Go!