The travel season here in the US Virgin Islands may be slowing down, but the summer bite is just starting to heat up! So far the inshore fishing has been best in the morning and late afternoon hours, the key being to escape the midday heat. Offshore is getting more consistent as we get later into the summer, due large in part to a strong tuna bite along the North Drop. But the most exciting part of our summer so far was our recent 2nd place overall finish at the 2014 Northside Sportfishing Club’s Bastille Day Kingfish tournament! A total of 57 boats participated in this year’s tournament targeting primarily Kingfish as well as other summer inshore species like Barracudas, Jacks and Spanish Mackerel. Capt. Alvin and crew earned the Best Boat award with 19 fish caught, totaling 190lbs. Crew member Tamika Turbe earned Best Female Angler award for the second year and row and caught the 2nd largest Kingfish of the tournament. And crew member John Clark caught the largest Jack species of the tournament, weighing in at 15.15lbs. A memorable day for the Capt. Alvin Fishing Charters crew and many thanks to the Northside Sportfishing Club for putting on such an exciting tournament experience!
The Offshore scene in June caught the tail end of the Mahi migration to the south of the island, but we only had a couple weeks of consistent action in the beginning of the month. A few out of season Wahoo in the 20-30lb range were taken along the South drop, but they have been sparse since mid-June. Our most recent guests all wanted a piece of the hot Tuna bite up on the North Drop, with a flurry of schools of Yellowfins and Blackfins moving in and out of the drop off during the afternoon hours. But our focus now shifts on the Blue Marlin bite the rest of the summer and we eagerly anticipate the Marlin trips we have lined up for July and August! Reports and photos to follow!
Inshore so far has been all about the Snapper bite. Yellowtail Snappers and Red Snappers have been providing plenty of consistent action for our Kid’s trips and extended inshore charters. Anchoring up current from reefs and wrecks and pitching live bait during select tides has been key to enticing these fish to the surface and into a feeding frenzy boatside. The Kingfish bite has been decent as well, but we’re catching a smaller class of fish than we experienced last summer. Barracudas and Jacks are in the mix as well, but this time of year they tend to move off the coastline and into deeper, cooler water.
We’re very excited for the 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
