The honest version
Let's say it straight, because billfish deserve straight talk: marlin are never a guarantee — anywhere, ever. What Bonaire offers is real, consistent opportunity: blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and sailfish (Istiophorus) move along the deep wall year-round, with the strongest action from April through October. Trophy blues here can top 100 kilograms and go far beyond; sailfish show in better numbers and put on the greatest aerial show in fishing.
What makes Bonaire different is the commute — or the lack of one. Billfish water starts where the wall drops away, minutes from Plaza Resort Marina. You spend the day fishing, not riding.
How we raise them
- Trolling big lures on the deep side — heavy tackle, staggered spread, covering the blue water beyond the edge.
- Live-baiting the FADs — the fish-aggregating devices hold bait, and billfish know it. The patient game, played when the signs are right.
- Reading the day — birds, current lines, bait showers. Raising a marlin is a hunting problem before it's a fishing problem.
When a billfish comes up in the spread, everything changes at once — and this is where a stable, fast boat and a crew that has done it before matter most. The fight can run an hour or more; the Quick MC2 stabilizer keeps the deck workable through all of it.
Released, as a rule
We release billfish. Marlin and sailfish aren't eating fish, and the Caribbean's billfish population is worth more swimming than hanging. Fish are leadered, photographed boat-side and sent back strong. You lose nothing — the photos, the story and the shaking hands come home with you; the fish goes back to the wall.
Make it a campaign
Serious billfishing rewards time on the water. The 5-hour signature charter puts you in the game; a full-day or multi-day custom charter lets us range further, fish the far FADs, and commit to the program. Call +599 786 3733 and tell us what you're after.