Vanuatu
Dean Butler, a professional guide who has worked and fished this far-Pacific island destination extensively, says that Vanuatu is "a real newcomer to the grander hot-spots circuit." A lack of serious charters and effort dedicated to big fish have made assessing Vanuatu's potential somewhat difficult. But big fish — very big fish — have been encountered in these scenic islands. Local fishermen working from skiffs have brought in huge marlin in recent years. One was weighed in three chunks and totaled more than 1,000 pounds. The other, caught years ago, was never weighed but from photos appears to be closer to 2,000 than 1,000 pounds! Best chances for big blues and occasionally blacks seem to be May through November, but big fish have been encountered throughout the year. Expect lots of 150- to 300-pound fish after a run out of 7 to 15 miles or so. Seas tend to be moderate, but it can get windy (with southeast trades blowing June and July) — and at such times skippers can usually find lee shores. Three or four full-time charter boats serve Vanuatu; figure on paying $800 to $1,200 per day of fishing. For a diversion, be advised that wahoo action can be tremendous, along with tuna — yellowfin and dogtooth. (For details on fishing Vanuatu, see "Riddle of the Vanuatu Blues" in the August 2002 issue of Sport Fishing.) For general information: www.vanuatu.net.vu; www.vanuatutourism.com.
Ghana
Since 1999, Johan Zietsman's Blue Marlin Fishing Charters has explored the waters off Ghana for blue marlin. The largest taken so far weighed in at 1,283 pounds (1998). Zietsman recounts the loss of a marlin in 1997 that he estimated at boat-side to be 23 feet; after a battle that had the 35-foot Bertram Silvercloud backing for much of 10 hours, the fish was lost at the wire — for about the 30th time. Zietsman is convinced the behemoth qualified as a double grander. Since then, at least eight other granders have been weighed in or estimated and released, with the most recent (at press time), a 1,076 taken last April. Ghana's good for numbers of smaller blues as well. Since 1999, Zietsman says, anglers have caught 616 blues, averaging about 500 pounds, in 707 fishing days. Expect to run out 10 to 30 miles before putting lines in. Prime season: April through mid-June and September through November. Ghana has also become a hot spot for monster yellowfin and bigeye tuna. One landmark in that fishery: angler Candace Meyer's 370-pound bigeye taken last July with Capt. Clay Hensley, a women's 130-pound line-class record. Ocean conditions are usually favorable, barring tropical storms in the spring. Three charters now operate actively, with day rates of $1,000 to $1,600, but packages are also available. Your choice of accommodations is limited to the one hotel on hand, the Manet Paradise. Stars (figure two) and cost (figure $50 per night) are minimal. Recently, surprising numbers of very large yellowfin — into the 300s — have been showing up off much of this coastline, including a pending men's record 385-pounder on 50-pound caught last April. For general information: www.africaonline.com.gh/tourism; www.africaguide.com/country/ghana/.
Bom Bom Island (Principe)
This island in the tiny west African nation of Principe is known for huge Atlantic sails, but marlin estimated at grander proportions have been caught and released, according to Capt. Brad Philipps, who has many years' experience there. Interestingly, he says many of the big blues here were probably sub-granders just because they were so long and skinny — and aggressive, unlike the fat, more lethargic fish he encountered in Ascension. Still, the average is a respectable 450 to 650 pounds, he says. A run of just 2 to 8 miles puts you in range, and conditions are almost always fishable, with seas generally a few feet at most. The prime season is short — late June through August — which leads Philipps to suspect the area's part of a migratory route. Several charter boats should be available, in recent years running about $800 per day for a 32-foot Blackfin. Philipps says he and Capt. Clay Hensley may park the Hooker in Bom Bom next July and August. Bom Bom Island Resort, the only show in town, has garnered a reputation as a first-class treat — clean and elegant with great food and beaches. But getting there requires a considerable commitment in expense and time. For general information: www.bom-bom.com.
And More
The destinations listed here are by no means the only places you're likely to catch a grander. Many other popular fishing spots hold out a real chance at a grander, such as St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) or Mexico (Cabo San Lucas, the East Cape, Mazatlan). Just last July, for example, anglers aboard Cabo's Mucho Loco III fought a grand gal for eight hours, and a large black that may have been in the grander range was taken here this past summer. Even the waters well off our mid-Atlantic states have potential — some big blues have been taken off North Carolina. Then, too, the Cape Verde Islands could produce. Stewart Campbell has never caught a grander around the Cape Verdes, but it was here, in years of global crisscrossing in search of big game, that Peter B. Wright, Charles Perry, Barkey Garnsey and Campbell all got a look at what they say was perhaps the biggest marlin any of them have seen before or since. "And we've seen and/or caught fish over 1,200 pounds. This fish was far bigger," says Campbell. Marlin well over the 1,000-pound mark have been taken off northern New Zealand. In the Eastern Pacific, Panama and Ecuador certainly have potential for marlin of monster proportions.
