Let's get hooked on deep sea fishing off Guam

Some people call Guam a fishing paradise. Fishing licenses aren’t required, allowing anyone to enjoy throwing out a line year round. And while the variety of fishing on and around Guam allows you to cast from aboard a boat, atop a pier or right from the beach, you need to head out to sea to catch the “big one.”

Tuna, marlin, wahoo and sharks aren’t likely going to be lurking off the local pier. These big fish live in the deep ocean blue, so if you are looking to hook one of those, you need to hop on a deep-sea fishing boat. 

Recreational fishing charters on Guam offer full-day or half-day deep sea excursions, and can also  customize a trip to your desire. These companies know the regulations of the fishing area, but most of all, they have the latest information of where the fish are. 

According to World Fishing Net Work, deep sea fishing – also referred to as offshore boat fishing, sport fishing or big game fishing - takes place far from the land in a water depth of at least 90 feet. But on Guam, you don’t necessarily have to ride on a boat for hours to find the perfect deep sea spot.

“Because Guam is a mountain top, we can hit the deep water immediately after leaving the harbor, said Alan Ainbinder, owner of Anna Marie Fishing Charters on Guam.  “The water depth goes down so quickly here. If you fish in other places (around the world), you have to travel for hours and hours.

“There is no continental shelf in Guam. It’s just deep,” said Ainbinder, who caters to the military community and foreign tourists. “So, as soon as you leave, you can start to catch deep sea fish.”

What fish are biting, according to Ainbinder, depends on the season.

“Wahoo and mahi are good till April and May,” he said. “In the summer, we start to target marlin and tuna. But right now, they are catching good size mahi and wahoo.” 

For Ainbinder, who fished on Guam for 15 years and has run his charter service for the past six, the excitement of the catch has never stopped. His biggest and most memorable catch? A 440-pound blue marlin.  
     
“You can fish for six hours and not even get a bite when you are fishing for marlin,” he said. “On average when Marlins strike, maybe you catch two out of five. It’s really hard to get to hook them.”

Ainbinder’s boat departs from two locations depending on season: Hagatna in the summer and Agat in the winter.

Ainbinder said he recommends children be at least 10 years old if they want to head out to sea. He said younger children get bored and, frankly, can get in the way. He said he can customize a trip for a family with small children.

And if you do head out to sea, expect to be put to work.

“On my boat, you do quite a bit. You help with everything,” Ainbinder said.  “There are other charter boats where you just sit there and watch and they tell you when to reel in. But on my boat, you are helping me. Sometimes, you have to drive. You will be involved in my boat and be a part of the process.”

So, step off the pier and get on a vessel for a deep sea fishing adventure.

Deep sea fishing charter boat services in Guam

Fish Hook: http://fishhookguam.com/
Anna Marie Fishing Charters: http://www.annamariecharters.com/default.html
Lucky Strike Sport Fishing: http://www.luckystrikeguam.com/

5 important Deep Sea Fishing Tips

1. Be One With Nature
A deep sea fisherman needs to establish some intuition and learn how to read into signs that a novice may not catch. For example, if you sea birds like gulls hovering over a particular area, that might be a good sign that there are smaller fish an a particular area, which means that the larger fish can not be too far either.

2. When Fishing For Tuna, Look Out For Dolphins
The two species often school together, so the dolphins often mark the tuna. Careful though, dolphins are protected so make sure you do not try to catch one.

3. Fish Near A Reef
There are many smaller fish that live on the reef, so the large fish go there to feed. This can be a potential gold min.

4. Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is an important factor to consider if you are a novice who has never gone out deep sea fishing. The purpose of the trip is supposed to be exhilarating fun. It will turn out quite differently than expected if you are prone to motion sickness. There are medications you can take to alleviate some of the symptoms, but if you are really prone to it, then reconsider the trip.

5. Go With Experts
It is always a good idea to have at least one person on board who knows a lot about deep sea fishing. A novice group should never travel alone, as this is a sport that holds a lot more danger than the average fishing trip. There are plenty of excellent deep sea fishing guides who can make your trip both fun and safe. It is also a recommended to find as much deep sea fishing info and learning materials as possible before heading out.

Source: World Fishing Network
(www.worldfishingnetwork.com/tips/post/deep-sea-fishing)