f Paria - Ins and Outs of Trinidad & Tobago 2013
f Paria - Ins and Outs of Trinidad & Tobago 2013
f Paria - Ins and Outs of Trinidad & Tobago 2013
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<strong>Tobago</strong><br />
experience<br />
Stephen Broadbridge<br />
Marlin Madness<br />
<strong>Tobago</strong> is a waterman’s paradise.<br />
S<strong>and</strong>wiched by the Atlantic Ocean on its<br />
east coast <strong>and</strong> the Caribbean Sea on its<br />
west coast, <strong>Tobago</strong>’s 120-odd kilometres<br />
<strong>of</strong> coastline, <strong>of</strong>fers a massive playground<br />
for water-sports enthusiasts <strong>of</strong> every<br />
discipline <strong>and</strong> level <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>iciency. From<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional surfer to first time angler,<br />
there is an experience for everyone just<br />
waiting to be enjoyed on “Robinson<br />
Crusoe’s Isl<strong>and</strong>.”<br />
Visitors <strong>and</strong> locals can enjoy the<br />
excitement <strong>of</strong> sailing, windsurfing, kite<br />
boarding, wake boarding, jet skiing,<br />
scuba diving, snorkeling <strong>and</strong> sport fishing<br />
in <strong>Tobago</strong>. On this incredible isl<strong>and</strong>, it is<br />
possible to set out fishing in the morning,<br />
tag <strong>and</strong> release a blue marlin or sailfish<br />
before lunch, <strong>and</strong> return to mooring for<br />
an afternoon surf session in the pointbreak<br />
perfection <strong>of</strong> Mt. Irvine Bay.<br />
Offshore sport fishing is a major<br />
attraction in <strong>Tobago</strong> <strong>and</strong> it can be enjoyed<br />
all year round. The two international<br />
fishing tournaments held there each year<br />
are among the best in the Caribbean.<br />
The <strong>Tobago</strong> International Game Fishing<br />
Tournament (www.tgft.com) is held<br />
in Charlotteville <strong>and</strong> is a favourite <strong>of</strong><br />
Caribbean anglers because <strong>of</strong> its great<br />
local vibe <strong>and</strong> proximity to the marlin<br />
grounds. The <strong>Trinidad</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong> Game<br />
Fishing Association’s (www.ttgfa.com)<br />
Marlin Madness Tournament, which has<br />
been around a lot longer, has created<br />
quite a legacy <strong>of</strong> its own in recent years.<br />
In 2008, fifteen-year-old junior angler,<br />
Sean Mendonca, broke the local blue<br />
marlin record with a fish that weighed<br />
890 lb., during the Marlin Madness event<br />
held that year at Speyside. This catch<br />
became legend as it was later confirmed<br />
by the International Game Fishing<br />
Association (www.igfa.org) to be a junior<br />
world record for this species. One year<br />
later at the Marlin Madness 2009 event,<br />
angler Jovan Jangoo <strong>of</strong> sport fisher, Reel<br />
Fanatic, caught an 825 lb. blue marlin<br />
<strong>and</strong> his team won the tournament. Fish<br />
<strong>of</strong> this magnitude are unheard <strong>of</strong> in the<br />
southeastern Caribbean tournaments,<br />
which normally weigh in fish averaging<br />
400–600 lb., making these two<br />
catches by far the greatest in a regional<br />
tournament to date.<br />
In addition to great fishing, <strong>Tobago</strong> also<br />
hosts world-class surfing potential. A lot<br />
like fishing though, it requires patience<br />
<strong>and</strong> persistence to really score an epic<br />
experience. But have no fear, when you<br />
score in <strong>Tobago</strong> it is like nothing else you<br />
have ever experienced. Aside from having<br />
by Keith Lewis<br />
an array <strong>of</strong> different breaks ranging from<br />
perfect points breaking over coral reef<br />
to challenging beach breaks breaking<br />
on compact s<strong>and</strong>, <strong>Tobago</strong> has the most<br />
incredible beach culture <strong>and</strong> vibe.<br />
Surfers in <strong>Tobago</strong> are like a family<br />
<strong>of</strong> good friends who enjoy sharing the<br />
natural beauty <strong>of</strong> the isl<strong>and</strong>. On any given<br />
day they can be seen casually relaxing in<br />
their hammocks under the almond trees,<br />
cooking fresh fish, sharing entertaining<br />
stories <strong>and</strong> even playing music. There is<br />
always a great mix <strong>of</strong> people, in <strong>and</strong> out<br />
<strong>of</strong> the water, with both pros <strong>and</strong> novices<br />
alike from <strong>Trinidad</strong>, <strong>Tobago</strong>, the U.K., the<br />
U.S., even Norway; families, children,<br />
young <strong>and</strong> old rejoicing in the sun, surf<br />
<strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong>.<br />
There is a great amount <strong>of</strong> respect<br />
among these people, both surfers <strong>and</strong><br />
nonsurfers, for each other <strong>and</strong> the fragile<br />
beach-ocean environment that provides<br />
so much joy. Many <strong>of</strong> the avid surfers<br />
that live in <strong>Tobago</strong> are also dedicated<br />
fishermen <strong>and</strong> many are involved with<br />
sport-fishing charter companies. These<br />
Caribbean watermen also traverse easily<br />
through the many disciplines <strong>of</strong> water<br />
sports possible in <strong>Tobago</strong>, enjoying<br />
whichever is most fitting for the current<br />
swell, wind <strong>and</strong> tide conditions.<br />
The <strong>Ins</strong> & <strong>Outs</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Trinidad</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong><br />
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