Plenty of fishing excitement here in the US Virgin Islands! The USVI tournament circuit is underway and late spring marks the convergence of Mahi-Mahi and Billfish season. Capt. Alvin and crew are off to a great start – earning the Best Boat Award and the Calcutta winners in the 2014 Virgin Island’s Game Fishing Club’s Dolphin Derby held on Sunday, May 4th. A total of 12 Mahi were caught aboard the 37’ Calypso “Emanuel,” totaling 238lbs. Tamika Turbe with the 6th biggest fish and Gilbert Laban with the 8th biggest fish of the tournament.
The relentless winter trade winds have finally dissipated, and spring ushered in a nice stretch of calmer conditions offshore. The Mahi migration to the south of the island has been average to good, with a typical class of 20-25lbs. Mahi schools rounding the east end of St. Croix are spread out and moving quick. This requires a little more of the run and gun style but we are catching them up as they haven’t been able to resist fresh live-bait and rigged ballyhoo. We’re still picking up an offseason Wahoo here and there along the drop-off, but they have been on the smaller side as of late. We’ve raised a number of White Marlin and a couple of Blue Marlin lately, and plenty of boats in the Dolphin Derby had reports of Blues coming up into the spread. This kind of early activity is a great sign for the upcoming USVI Blue Marlin season in July-September.
The inshore bite has picked up with a fresh influx of bait, but still lacks the consistency we’d expect for this time of year. Barracudas have been very cooperative in taking the bait, along with some big Kingfish lately. The Yellowtail bite has also improved, but Tarpon, Blackfin Tunas and Rainbow Runners have been tough to get on the line.
We’re very excited for the spring and summer season and hope you’ll get out on the water with us if you’re planning a visit to St. Thomas or St. John!
Make sure to check out our Facebook page where we post the latest pictures and reports from our inshore and offshore charters:
Capt. Alvin Fishing Charters – Facebook
Tight Lines!
Capt. Alvin Turbe
