The Cayman Islands boasts world-class fishing grounds, with deep sea fishing and top-notch tournaments an attraction for visitors and residents.
Gamefish like blue marlin, tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi are plentiful and can be found year-round.
Best of all, the action is exceptionally accessible – thrilling catches can happen as close as just a quarter mile offshore.
Bonefish and silvery tarpon are sought-after gamefish, and both are found in abundance in Cayman’s waters. People travel far and wide to catch these fighting fish, which offer anglers an exciting challenge. For the serious bonefish hunter, a quick trip to Little Cayman is a must, as it is renowned for its bone fishing waters.
Shore fishing is highly popular, where anglers can cast a line from the coastline, beaches, docks or flats. Expect to reel in permit, barracuda, tarpon, bonefish, grunts, snook and jacks. For visitors, it is strictly catch-and-release.
Reef fishing is also popular. The calm waters surrounding the reefs make it an ideal excursion for families or first-time anglers. Yellowtail, snapper, trigger fish, jacks, blue runner and barracuda can be found.
Booking an excursion through a local fishing charter is recommended as the captains are seasoned veterans who know all the top spots to drop a line.
TOURNAMENTS
Cayman boasts several high-profile fishing tournaments throughout the year.
A premier sportfishing event is the Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament, held annually in late spring. Anglers compete for more than US$100,000 in cash and prizes and, of course, bragging rights.
Among other tournaments are the Hoos Who Shootout in February and the BK Big Fish tournament in March. Another popular tournament is the Brac Jackpot, held in May in Cayman Brac.
Learn more about fishing through the Cayman Islands Angling Club, fishcayman.com.
Visit the Department of Environment website at doe.ky for marine park boundary maps, information on National Conservation Law fishing rules, and to download the Cayman DoE app.