Bonaire - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 183

Fishing
Virgin fishing grounds lie just a half-mile off the coast, five
minutes by boat beyond the reef. These unspoiled waters con-
tain a great variety of game fish such as sailfish, marlin,
tuna, wahoo, and swordfish. In addition, the island is rated
one of the best bonefishing destinations in the world and
offers excellent light-tackle fishing for species such as tar-
pon, permit and snook.
Most fishing by visitors is sport fishing, with a catch-and-release policy.
However, if you have kitchen facilities, you may want to keep a fish from
your bounty to prepare for friends or family. (Marlin is strictly catch-and-
release due to the shrinking fish stocks.) Check with the captain when you
book your reservation to be sure that he will allow you to keep some or all of
your catch. Remember that fresh fish cannot be brought back into many
countries, including Holland, Canada, and the US. It is also against
Bonaire law for a non-resident to profit from fishing, so you are not allowed
to sell your catch.
You may request that your catch be tagged with an official ID from the Bill
Fish Foundation. Then, when your fish is caught again, you will be notified
of the location of the catch and the size of the fish. It's interesting to see
how much a fish grows from one catch to the next.

TIP: Fishing tournaments are held every couple
of months on Bonaire, usually around holidays.
Awards are given by weight and species. For dates
and information on this year's events, check with
Tourism Corporation Bonaire, 717-8322; fax 717-

8408; www.infobonaire.com/calendar.

You can hire a boat and captain for either a full day or a half-day, with
prices running $300 and up (depending on the length and distance of the
trip), including tackle, bait and refreshments. Fishing licenses are not
required for non-commercial fishing; however, if you fish the waters of the
Marine Park, you must purchase a $10 tag. Make your reservation early,
especially during high season. The interest in fishing charters has
increased tremendously over the last couple of years, and many visitors
book more than one trip per week.

Fishing Operators

PISCATUR FISHING CHARTERS & TACKLE SHOP
Kaya J. Pop #4, Kralendijk

717-8774 or 790-0833 (cell); fax [phone]
www.bonairefishing.com/piscatur
Captain Chris Morkos, a Bonaire native, runs a 42-foot customized
Bertram-like boat that docks conveniently in the center of town. It's