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From the deck

The Fishtales blog

Tips, tactics and tales, your guide to fishing Bonaire.

Sportfischerboot schleppt entlang der tiefblauen Steilkante vor Bonaire

Bonaire Game-Fish Tackle & Technique: How We Rig and Fish Every Target

Off Bonaire the bottom drops into deep blue water along the leeward coast, and that one feature shapes everything we do on the Fishtales. In a single day we might troll the blue for billfish, jig a FAD for yellowfin, pop a reef edge for jacks, and drop a bait into 1,500 feet of water…

A billfish with long bill leadered boatside in deep cobalt-blue Caribbean water, lure visible, during a Bonaire charter. — Sailfish Released Boatside in Blue Water | Fishtales Bonaire

Bonaire Fishing

Catch and Release in Bonaire: Why We Release Billfish

Why Fishtales runs 100% catch and release on billfish in Bonaire, how we revive and release marlin and sailfish, and which species we keep for the table.

Five smiling guests on the back of the Fish Tales Bonaire sportfisher holding a long silver wahoo under the charter banner. — Group with a Big Wahoo on Fish Tales | Bonaire

Trip Planning & Tips

First Time Fishing in Bonaire? A Beginner’s Guide

New to Bonaire fishing for beginners? No experience needed. Here is what a first trip really looks like, what to expect, and how to book with confidence.

Golden sunrise over Bonaire seen past a trolling rod and reel on the deck of the Fishtales big game fishing boat. — Sunrise Trolling on a Fishtales Bonaire Charter

Bonaire Fishing

Deep-Sea Fishing in Bonaire Explained: The Wall and the FADs

Deep sea fishing Bonaire starts minutes from the dock. How we troll the reef wall and jig the FADs for tuna, marlin, wahoo and mahi.

Anglers on the dock at Bonaire's marina holding wahoo and tuna beside the Fishtales boat, with mahi-mahi laid out on the planks. — Wahoo & Mahi Catch at Bonaire Marina | Fishtales

Bonaire Fishing

Which Fish Can You Keep, and Which Are Protected, in Bonaire

Bonaire fishing, what you can keep and what's protected. Captain Yuri's honest guide to eating species, released fish, and STINAPA marine-park rules.

Top-down view of an angler holding a vivid green and gold mahi-mahi dorado on the deck of a fishing boat off Bonaire — Mahi-Mahi Dorado Held Onboard Fishtales Bonaire

Trip Planning & Tips

What to Bring on a Bonaire Fishing Charter (and What’s Included)

Captain Yuri's honest packing list for a Bonaire fishing charter, plus exactly what's included on a Fishtales trip. Travel light, fish hard.

Angler in a green shirt and cap holds a long dark big game fish across both arms on the dock at golden hour beside sailboats in Bonaire. — Angler with a Large Dark Fish at the Dock | Bonaire

Trip Planning & Tips

Best Time of Year to Go Fishing in Bonaire

When is the best time to fish Bonaire? Captain Yuri breaks down the year-round seasons, peaks for wahoo, marlin and mahi, plus wind and calm-water tips.

Four anglers hold wahoo and barracuda in the cockpit of the Fish Tales Bonaire sportfisher over turquoise Caribbean water. — Family Catch Aboard Fishtales Bonaire Charter

Light-Tackle Barracuda & Cero Mackerel in Bonaire

Barracuda fishing gear for Bonaire: spinning setup, braid, wire trace and the flashy lures that trigger reaction strikes along the reef edge.

Angler in cap and sunglasses holds a large amberjack on the deck of the Fish Tales boat at the Bonaire marina dock. — Big Amberjack Catch at Bonaire Marina | Fishtales

Bottom Fishing & Deep-Dropping in Bonaire: The Gear

Captain Yuri's honest guide to bottom fishing and deep-dropping in Bonaire: rods, reels, line, rigs and jigs for snapper, grouper and amberjack.

Two anglers on the Fish Tales Bonaire boat holding a mahi-mahi and a heavy amberjack at the stern in turquoise water — Mahi-Mahi and Amberjack Catch | Fishtales Bonaire

Popping & Stickbaiting for Tuna and Jacks in Bonaire

Popping and stickbaiting for tuna and jacks in Bonaire: the rod, reel, line, leader and surface lures that work, and how to fish busting schools.

Young man on the boat playfully biting a freshly caught golden-green mahi-mahi dorado at sunset off Bonaire. — Mahi-Mahi Catch at Sunset on a Fishtales Bonaire Charter

How to Catch Mahi-Mahi in Bonaire: Lures & Tackle

How to catch mahi mahi Bonaire: the rods, reels, line, leaders and lures Captain Yuri uses to find dorado on weed-lines, debris and the FADs.

Blue marlin lit up gold and blue on the leader beside the boat in deep blue Bonaire water, moments before release. — Blue Marlin Glowing Boatside Before Release in Bonaire

Trolling Tackle for Blue Marlin in Bonaire

Captain Yuri's honest guide to blue marlin trolling tackle in Bonaire: the right reels, line, leaders, lures and how we fish them. Tight lines.

Large tuna hanging from the dock scale under Fishtales banners at Kralendijk marina, Bonaire, with turquoise sea behind. — Big Tuna Catch at Fishtales Dock | Bonaire Charter

Jigging for Yellowfin Tuna at Bonaire’s FADs

Captain Yuri's honest guide to yellowfin tuna jigging gear in Bonaire: the rod, reel, line, leader and jigs that work at the FADs, plus how to fish them.

Billfish leaping with mouth open, hooked on a blue-and-yellow skirted trolling lure, in churning water off Bonaire with Fishtales. — Billfish Hooked on Trolling Lure | Bonaire Fishing

How to Catch Wahoo in Bonaire: High-Speed Trolling Gear

Wahoo fishing gear for Bonaire: the right rods, reels, wire leader and high-speed lures, plus how Captain Yuri trolls the dropoff for wahoo.

Billfish marlin on the leader alongside the Fishtales boat in deep blue Bonaire water, gold and blue flank against the white hull. — Blue Marlin Leadered Boatside | Fishtales Bonaire

Bonaire Fishing

The 7 coolest fish you can catch on Bonaire

Marlin, wahoo, mahi, tuna and more, here's what really bites off Bonaire, how hard each one fights and what it weighs.