Ep.09 Curtis De Silva: Madeira & Grander Marlin Fishing

Summary

Curtis De Silva, a professional fisherman, shares his experience fishing in Madeira and the Southern Caribbean. He recently caught a grander blue marlin in Madeira and discusses the fishing techniques and spread used. Curtis also talks about his father, Captain Frothy, and their fishing background. He compares the fishing conditions and challenges in Madeira and the Southern Caribbean, including dealing with seaweed in the Caribbean and paperwork in Madeira. Curtis also mentions the differences in migratory patterns and water temperatures that contribute to the size of fish in each region. The conversation with Curtis De Silva focuses on his experiences fishing in Madeira and the Azores. The marine life in these areas is spectacular, with abundant bait, birds, and various sea creatures. The conversation covers topics such as the underwater banks and seamounts in the Azores, the impact of sea surface temperatures on fishing, the decision to pull boats out of the water during the off-season, the challenges of fishing in rough swells, the boatyard in Madeira, and the international fleet in Madeira. Curtis also shares his favorite fishing memories with his father and his passion for billfish.

Fish with Curtis: search @madierasportfishing on facebook or instagram

 

Takeaways

• Curtis De Silva caught a grander blue marlin in Madeira, weighing 1048 pounds.
• Fishing in Madeira is characterized by calm waters and a close proximity to the shore.
• The fishing season in Madeira is from June to September/October.
• The Southern Caribbean has tournaments for sailfish and smaller blue marlin.
• Challenges in the Southern Caribbean include dealing with seaweed and rough weather.
• Fishing in Madeira is relatively easy, with the main challenge being locating blue marlin.
• Madeira has a large average size of blue marlin compared to other fishing locations.
• Paperwork and documentation are meticulous in Madeira.
• The migratory patterns and water temperatures contribute to the size of fish in each region. The marine life in Madeira and the Azores is spectacular, with abundant bait, birds, and various sea creatures.
• The Azores have underwater banks and seamounts that attract fish, including blue marlin.
• Sea surface temperatures can impact fishing, with extreme high temperatures affecting the Azores and Madeira.
• Boats are pulled out of the water during the off-season in Madeira and the Azores due to the slowing down of the marlin migration and the risk of damage from rough swells.
• The boatyard in Madeira is situated under the airport runway and provides services for boats.
• Madeira has an international fleet with charter boats operated by local and foreign captains.
• Curtis De Silva has a passion for billfish and targets big blue marlin in Madeira.
• Fishing with his father and catching his first blue marlin are some of Curtis' most cherished fishing memories.
• Releasing fish is a common practice in billfishing, and recreational fishermen play a role in understanding fish migration patterns.
• Curtis De Silva also runs charters in the Southern Caribbean, specifically in Grenada.

Keywords:

fishing, Madeira, Southern Caribbean, blue marlin, grander, Captain Frothy, techniques, spread, challenges, seaweed, paperwork, migratory patterns, water temperature, fishing, Madeira, Azores, marine life, sea surface temperatures, underwater banks, seamounts, boatyard, fleet, billfish

Transcript:

Katie (00:00.43) Today's guest is my friend Curtis De Silva from Trinidad and Tobago. Curtis has spent his entire professional career fishing between the Southern Caribbean and the island of Madeira. In fact, he has fished the last 15 seasons on the island of Madeira and a few weeks ago, weighed the first and as of July 2nd only grander of the 2024 Blue Marlin season.

In this episode, we're gonna dive into the story about that fish, as well as what it takes to fish the Eastern Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores, how they compare to the fishery of the Southern Caribbean, and looking into a little bit on the relationship between Curtis and his father, legendary Captain Frothy from the Pesca Grossa, as well as why fishing is so important to him.

It's always a pleasure to sit down and talk to Curtis and it's another great episode in the books. You're not going to want to miss