Fishing

In the Cayman Islands, fishing is often called the unofficial "national sport." Prized gamefish like blue marlin, tuna, wahoo and dolphin (Mahi-mahi) are caught year-round. Thrilling catches take place as close as a quarter mile offshore on all three islands, and Caymanian captains and guides on modern sportfishing charter boats take great pride in helping visiting anglers. Whether skilled or novice - they locate, land and most times, release their catch. Light tackle and fly-fishing for bonefish, tarpon and even permit challenge top anglers, especially in the flats off Little Cayman. And for those who like the thrill of competition, local fishing tournaments are sponsored throughout the year by the Cayman Islands Angling Club and Rotary Club. The top event is the Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament, held annually in late April.

Caribbean Gamefish
Popular gamefish such as blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, dolphin (dorado) and barracuda are caught year-round. Occasional catches of white marlin and, very rarely, Atlantic sailfish and Atlantic long-billed spearfish are also reported.

The water temperature varies annually only 8 - 10 degrees and the bait fish are here year-round - which means the bigger fish are too. One of the Cayman Islands' biggest attractions for anglers is that big fish run close to the coastlines of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Year round, good catches take place as close as a quarter mile offshore all three Cayman Islands, where the ocean floor drops off sharply, plummeting thousands of feet and creating a natural thoroughfare for the big migratory pelagic species prized by anglers.

While many popular Caribbean gamefish species are caught year-round, Caymanian captains can identify distinct seasons. Wahoo season runs November through March; yellowfin tuna season follows in spring months. Predictably, small blue marlin (100-150 lbs) can be caught and released year round.

For years, these islands have been known as a destination for anglers seeking billfish action close to shore. Although blue marlin caught in Cayman waters average 200 lbs. or less, they challenge anglers year-round - and marlin strikes occur as close as 450 yards offshore. Local captains promote conservation and sportsmanship by encouraging anglers to release any fish, reef or pelagic, which are not to be eaten, and all billfish unless they are local records or potential prize winners during tournaments.

Shore Fishing
Our calm, crystal-clear waters, abundant marine life, flats and rocky shorelines make all three of our islands the answer to a shore fisherman's dream. Be careful to familiarise yourself with our Marine Parks laws, which prohibit fishing or taking of any kind of marine life in specific protected areas. Among the species anglers can catch (and release!) are small barracuda and bonefish, even tarpon, permit, and pompano.

Bottom and Reef Fishing
Our islands are surrounded by hundreds of square miles of healthy reefs which offer good fishing, both with natural baits and artificial lures. Bottom fishing is an activity for the whole family in the Cayman Islands. You can bring your own equipment or simply book a charter that includes all tackle and bait. Our local guides usually recommend natural baits, including small fry, squid and pieces of conch for better action.

Once again, we urge visitors to respect our Marine Parks laws when fishing on their own, and not to waste our marine life resources simply for the sake of pictures. In all three islands, anglers can try for catches of yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, grouper, blue runner (also known as fry jack) porgy, almaco jack, bar jack and jack crevalle.  The jack family are all fierce fighters and provide first-class light tackle action.

Night fishing trips can also be arranged with local guides upon request.

Light Tackle and Flyfishing Action: Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit
Good bonefishing (the fish average 3-8 lbs. in Cayman waters) awaits anglers in unexpected areas of Grand Cayman, including the shallow flats of North Sound, South Sound, Frank Sound and even off Seven Mile Beach according to Captain Ron Ebanks; a Caymanian guide who specialises in flyfishing and light tackle trips. Anglers can also cast for tarpon in select areas.

Little Cayman is most famous for bonefish action - mostly in the coastal flats, including South Hole Sound Lagoon, off Little Cayman. Cayman Brac also offers some good action from small bonefish along the shallows off the southwest coast.

Visitors should be aware that guides revive and release bonefish (as well as tarpon and permit) in the interest of marine conservation, and to provide action for future anglers.

A little known fact to most visitors is the abundance of tarpon in Grand Cayman's mosquito control canals, also called "dykes." These fish are even found in land-locked brackish ponds island-wide, and average 4-5 lbs. Although we've seen them much larger on the North Wall and west coast grottos of Grand Cayman.

Sportfishermen
Sportfishermen will also discover the thrill of catching and releasing small tarpon, (powerful light tackle fighters found in many of these same areas), but especially in Grand Cayman's North Sound canals and Little Cayman's landlocked, mangrove-surrounded Tarpon Lake.

Excellent guides are available on all three islands, but Little Cayman is recognised as the best island to sample all three types of light-tackle gamefish action; from bonefish to small tarpon and permit, weighing up to 35 lbs. While good deep sea fishing exists right offshore for gamefish including blue marlin, dolphin, wahoo, tuna and barracuda, Little Cayman's main attraction for anglers is light tackle and flyfishing.

Flyfishing
This type of fishing requiring special skills and tackle is still not widely available in the Cayman Islands and anglers are urged to bring their own equipment.

On Grand Cayman, Captain Ronald Ebanks specialises in flyfishing and light tackle fishing trips to secluded fishing spots around Grand Cayman. Charterboat Headquarters and Bayside Watersports will also be able to provide information about any other guides available to escort anglers on flyfishing trips along Grand Cayman's flats in North Sound and South Sound and inland canals.

Fishing Tournaments
Local fishing tournaments are sponsored throughout the year by the Cayman Islands Angling Club and attract an enthusiastic following of resident and visiting anglers.