"World-class marlin fishing with a European flair" — that's how Andy Hahn (this magazine's senior editor plus an Azores fishing veteran and enthusiast) describes the Azores. The pursuit of memorably massive marlin is generally on the minds of anglers heading out to blue water from Horta on the island of Faial, about 900 miles west of Portugal. "Nine islands surrounded by extensive banks — [as a] holding ground for marlin, [it's] fantastic!" says Capt. Jo Franck, who probably knows these waters better than any other charter skipper.
The Odds: Franck and Hahn agree that 20 to 25 days might be a rough estimate of the time a boat would have to put in trolling for every grander hooked. Franck says the middle of August seems to produce the majority of Azores granders. Hahn points out that this is not a numbers fishery, but it offers quality. When it comes to blues, he says, "Most often, either you raise big fish or no fish." (For details on fishing the Azores, see Hahn's "Granders in the Garden" in the February 2001 issue of Sport Fishing.
Species and Size: The Atlantic blues here average a healthy 600 pounds.
Release: Nearly all marlin are released.
Distance to Fish: Whaddya, kidding? Says Hahn, "There's blue water in the [Horta] marina!" Indeed, lines in can produce strikes just a few minutes from castoff. On the other hand, if granders are your game, Franck says he's likely to run 25 to 50 miles — where several productive seamounts await.
Length of Prime Season (for granders): Three months: July through September. Don't rule out the big gals in October or possibly even into November; ditto June. But December through May isn't the time to look for four-figure fish in the Azores.
Conditions: Hard to average out, Franck says. "We can have four seasons in a day!" So you might enjoy a flat day here — but better to plan on working in some fair seas and hope to be pleasantly surprised.
Charter Availability/Quality: Three full-time charter ops, two of which are top-notch and equipped to handle your grander (one of those operations, to be sure, is Franck's).
Charter Cost (in U.S. dollars): $1,100 per day, give or take.
Accommodations: Take your pick from the three hotels on Faial, and figure on paying around $125 per night.
Other Fishing Opportunities: Think white: In fact, if you like light-tackle billfish sport, target white marlin, which can be so thick that some skippers consider them a nuisance — especially when they hook themselves on the hefty lures put out for big blues.
Cost to Get Here (from Boston): $650 to $700.
General Information: www.azores.dk; www.portugaltravelguide.com/en/horta.htm; www.azores.com.
