Capt. Alvin Turbe and crew are off to a hot start in the 2015 Virgin Islands tournament circuit earning first place in their first tournament of the year. The annual Dolphin Derby, hosted by the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club (VIGFC) on May 3rd, featured a total of 19 boats and 76 anglers, all competing for the largest Mahi and a shot at a $25,000 grand prize. Rough seas and the recent influx of Sargasso weeds made for difficult fishing conditions, but Capt. Alvin and crew were able to cover some ground and locate the cleaner water where the bigger Mahi’s had been passing through. Angler Gilbert Laban of the Capt. Alvin Fishing Charters team hooked the largest fish of the tournament, a 30lb bull Mahi on live-bait. This marks the third year in a row that Capt. Alvin Fishing Charters has earned a top finish in the VIGFC Dolphin Derby. Next up is the Anegada Memorial Day tournament, the Bastille Day Kingfish tournament and the July Billfish Open.
The spring Mahi run has gained momentum entering into the first week of May. Unprecedented Sargasso weeds to the south, east and north of the island resulted in an inconsistent offshore bite throughout the month of April. We’ve put together a few solid trips when clean water passed through, but smaller Mahi’s and Wahoos in the 10-15lb class travelling with the Sargasso patches have been the norm in the past month. We frequently switched over to the Billfish spread and hammered the weed lines, which has been productive as of late, going 3/3 on White Marlin on our most recent trips. The one positive of the Sargasso and smaller Mahis/Tunas is the early influx of White and Blue Marlin. We’re confident a strong Billfish and Yellowfin season along the North Drop will soon overshadow this mediocre Mahi run.
Inshore trips have primarily targeted reefs/wrecks on the northside of the island, out of the prevailing spring SE tradewinds and in cleaner water. Kingfish, Pompano, Yellowtail Snapper, Horseye Jacks and Barracudas are all in the mix this time of year. As we get closer to the summer months, Tarpon and larger Kingfish will start to move in closer along the coastline.
We hope you’ll get out on the water with us if you’re planning a visit to St. Thomas or St. John this spring or summer! Our May, June and July availability is filling up quickly so be sure to reach out to us if you’re looking to get in on the upcoming summer Yellowfin and Billfish bite along the famed North Drop!
Remember, you can keep up with all the St. Thomas fishing action on our Facebook page or Instagram page where we post the latest pictures and reports from our inshore and offshore charters:
Capt. Alvin Fishing Charters – Facebook
@capt_alvin_fishing – Instagram
Tight lines!
Capt. Alvin Turbe
340-626-4220
capt.alvin@fishinginstthomas.com