Testimonials
Normally, stories about marlin destinations in this magazine rarely go into airport accommodations, custom clearances and whether or not the folks there stare at you. And unless you've spent the last few years in a desert somewhere, you've no doubt heard about the excellent fishing Venezuela offers. No one disputes the tremendous action you find offshore. The problem comes from misinformation about the safety issue.
A recent misunderstanding between the owner of the Reel Tight and the Venezuelan government over private-jet clearance only exacerbated the rumors and innuendo. Before long, you heard folks whispering on the docks from Cat Cay to St. Thomas that private aircraft were no longer welcome in Venezuela — which is totally untrue. Several owners flew in and out on their own planes during our visit.
The fact is, Venezuela is still a great place to bring your boat and go fishing. And several boats prove it over and over again year after year.
Perhaps the longest visitor — and a prefect example of an owner who prefers to stay in a place that he likes — Edwin Pearlstine of Charleston, South Carolina, has kept three Bud Mans down in Venezuela at the Marina Portofino for the past 14 years. His captain, Lee Alonzo, has lived down there during the entire stretch.
"I just think it's a terrific place," says Pearlstine. "It's a shame, but when I tell people I'm coming down here, they look at me like I'm going to Iraq! The Venezuelans are warm, nice people, and we've never had a problem here. And we've never had any government official come here and give us a hard time."
Alonzo says as a captain, he couldn't be happier. "You've got a good shipyard, good mechanics, electricians, even a new prop shop. And diesel costs 15 cents a gallon!" But it's the fishing that really keeps Alonzo smiling. Last year Alonzo caught 140 blue marlin in 75 days of fishing and scored 35 or 40 grand slams. "We actually caught 13 grand slams in one two-day period," he says.
Capt. Butch Cox on the 57-foot Paul Mann Prime Time is enjoying his third season down in Caraballeda, but said he was a little worried when he first came down. "I really shouldn't have been. We had an agent come and help us with the paperwork, and he took care of everything — it was very simple. And then we caught 17 blue marlin in two days."
Another owner who has made a long-term commitment to Venezuelan fishing is Hans Kraaz, owner of the 58-foot Bayliss Vintage. Kraaz has been fishing Venezuela for more than 10 years and owned the original Vintage that Capt. Dave Noling made famous. "You can catch blue marlin here every month of the year," says Kraaz. "We had 40 blue marlin bites this past December when the fishing is supposed to be terrible. I love using the 30-pound stand-up because everything's got to be just right. All the serious anglers make it down here, and we all work together to help find the fish.
"I've been bringing my kids down here for the last eight years," he continues. "We have everything we need, and nobody hassles us a bit. We've got a grocery store, breakfast, lunch and dinner waiting every day, and a girl who does our laundry. It's just fun and easy! And where else can you get 16 blue marlin bites a day just three and a half hours out of Miami?"
Walking down the dock at Marina Portofino, which also enjoyed a recent refit, the boats are few and far between these days, but the load of blue marlin release laundry hanging from the halyards still makes for an impressive sight. Do yourself a favor — ignore the rumors and make the trip down. The fish are still biting, and the good people of Venezuela still need our help.
Outfitters/Marinas
Grand Slam Fishing Tours
877-441-3474
www.grandslamfishingtours.com
Mango Marina
011-58-414-370-5364
familiasolis@hotmail.com
Marina Portofino
www.marinaportofino.com
South Fishing
305-854-4665
www.southfishing.com
