Why Bonaire is a deep sea shortcut
Bonaire is the top of an underwater mountain. There is no shallow shelf to cross: the reef edge gives way to a wall that plunges past 1,000 meters within a short run of the marina. That geography changes everything about a charter day. Where other islands spend a third of the trip commuting, we're rigging lines over blue water within about fifteen minutes of leaving Plaza Resort Marina.
Deep water close to shore means pelagic fish close to shore: yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi and barracuda hunt along the drop-off year-round, and blue marlin and sailfish patrol the deep side of the wall. It also means flexible fishing — if the offshore bite is slow we can work the coastline toward Washington Slagbaai National Park without writing off half the day in transit.
How we fish the deep
The core of a Bonaire deep sea day is trolling the drop-off — lures and rigged baits staggered off outriggers, covering water along the edge where bait schools stack up. When we mark fish or reach the FADs (fish-aggregating devices anchored in deep water), we switch to jigging or live bait on station. Light tackle when conditions allow, heavy when they don't.
- Trolling the wall — the searching game: wahoo, tuna, mahi-mahi, with marlin and sailfish always a possibility.
- Jigging deep structure — dropping metal into the dark for tuna and whatever else is holding below the surface action.
- Live-baiting the FADs — the patient, high-stakes option when billfish are in the area.
Everything is aboard already: Okuma Makaira reels, tournament-grade terminal tackle, outriggers, live bait wells and Simrad electronics. You don't need to bring or rent anything.
The boat matters out here
Deep water off Bonaire's lee coast is usually kind, but it's still open Caribbean. The Axopar 29 CCX runs the swell flat and fast, and the Quick MC2 gyro stabilizer takes the roll out of the boat when we stop to fight fish or work a FAD — the exact moment lesser boats start swinging and stomachs start complaining. It's the difference between a long comfortable day and a short queasy one.
What a deep sea day looks like
The signature charter runs five hours, leaving in the morning when the light is low and the predators are up. We troll out along the drop, work the most promising water — edges, current lines, birds — and mix methods as the day tells us. Your catch is cleaned and filleted at the dock, and it's yours to keep; if you're staying at Plaza, the kitchen will cook it the same day.
Want to push further — the far FADs, a full day offshore, or a specific target species? Full-day and custom charters are arranged by phone or email.