Cruising Forums

millardus · 07-12-2012, 09:47 AM

Hi all

I'm delving into the sailing world, and reading up as much as possible not only on the technicalities of sailing, but also the lifestyle and so on.

I was reading a fascinating account of long term world crusing by an American family, a very thorough website they have. One thing though, they claim that if they had to live off the sea they would probably starve!

According to one of the late teens on board, they would possibly average 1 fish caught every 10 days or so.....! Could it really be that difficult to catch a fresh fish?? Apparently an extended time in the Caribbean yielded zero fish caught. Wow.

One of the massive draws for me of this lifestyle would be the serenity and the potential to live off the sea, wasting nothing. I'm certain that it is possible to do this, perhaps you just need to right equipment for it!

Anyone got anything to add?

Lexx · 07-12-2012, 10:29 AM

Hi,

I have found when making passages over open oceans that fishing isn't very productive although I always troll 2 lines ... maybe a fish or two every few days.

Cruising up the Queensland coast I can usually average between 1 and 3 good fish a day which is excellent as I love fish.

North of here (Port Douglas) the fishing gets better the further north one goes and is fantastic up near Cape York at the top of Australia. I think most fish prefer some kind of structure, rocks, reefs etc. Out in deep water there really isn't any structure to hold fish with the water being too deep so hooking the occasional pelagic (predator) fish is all one can hope for.

Hope this helps,

Lexx

Ceryan Reis · 07-12-2012, 10:49 PM

Hi,
We sailed from Ft. Lauderdale to London recently. It took us about 35 days. Including 4 days in Burma and 3 in Horta. Most of the time we had to lines with lures. One day we caught a small dorado (mahi mahi) , several days later a skipjack tuna (bonito) and two weeks later 5 albacore. That particular day we could catch more but the freezer was full. Ocean is not full of fish!..
Ceryan Reis

capta · 08-13-2012, 03:32 AM

When I circumnavigated in the 70's I could catch fish anytime I put a (proper) trolling line out. So much so that we only had to fish a couple of times a week to have as much fresh fish as we wanted. Pretty much the same thing on Atlantic trips; Newport/Carib, to and from Europe and inter island in the West Indies.
Never caught a fish in the Med, though.
BUT NOW;
On our southbound from Newport to St. Thomas via Bermuda in 2010; 3 dolphin, 1 tuna= 15 days.
Northbound 2011 St. Thomas to Charleston; 1 Blackfin! Not even any flying fish. 10 days
Southbound from Newport to St. Thomas via Bermuda in 2011; 1 dolphin. 14 days
Some fish still in the Carib, but I've found they are mainly windward side of the islands.
Same exact fishing gear, lures & fisherman; me.
So I guess they ARE killing our oceans!
Sorry dude!

haiqu · 08-13-2012, 04:53 AM

Needless to say you didn't eat the dolphins, right?

Rob

capta · 08-13-2012, 05:27 AM

Of course we ate them! Great tasting, too.

redbopeep · 08-13-2012, 05:57 AM

You're talking mahi mahi dolphin fish Mahi-mahi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

capta · 08-14-2012, 04:24 AM

redbopeep
Boy, you sure do take the fun outa teasing these folks.
I wouldn't have let him twist in the wind too long, honest!
Also known as Dorado in Mexico.
One of the prettiest things on earth when they're all lit up, but so great tasting that no matter what, it's the captain's dinner NOT bait, (long story).

gypsypirate · 08-16-2012, 07:36 AM

Hi ,
I have moved on board in Bowen Qld, presently tring to fit all the gear I bought over from Perth, tonight I have fish caught at the mooring, had a screamer get away,
Cheers Pete

Lexx · 08-17-2012, 02:17 PM

Good luck fitting out in Bowen ... I was there a while ago. if you get to Port Douglas look me up ... Travesty, (my yacht), is moored on the pole moorings right across from the yacht Club.

Cheers,

Lexx

ParadiseParrot · 08-17-2012, 10:31 PM

Sad to say.
Oceans are being fished out.
Rainforests are half gone now.

Stock up on the Soylent Green and Sail away.
When your too old to sail you can tell stories to the young ones on how you once saw an actual live wild animal.

Auzzee · 08-18-2012, 01:41 AM

There's still lots of wind and water out there, and a lot of the places where we get to, have communities where self sufficiency is the order of the day. Plenty of fish in their seas, lots of coconuts on the trees, and where every beautiful woman has at least two big, and I mean B-I-G brothers, who would frighten the living daylights out of King Kong.

haiqu · 08-18-2012, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auzzee

There's still lots of wind and water out there, and a lot of the places where we get to, have communities where self sufficiency is the order of the day. Plenty of fish in their seas, lots of coconuts on the trees, and where every beautiful woman has at least two big, and I mean B-I-G

Yes? YES?

Quote:

brothers, who would frighten the living daylights out of King Kong.

Oh.