I'm posting this on behalf of my mum (who is also a keen angler) to warn people to really choose carefully their charters if you don't want your so awaited trip finishing like this:
Choose carefully your big game fishing trip !!
I booked big game fishing on the Yatch Sant'Anna in Algarve in Portugal, http://www.algarve-seafaris.com, excited to have a very pleasant day. The ocean was absolutely perfect and we boarded from the Marina of Vilamoura at 10.00.
The two crew members were very unfriendly and never show any interest of their passengers.
We didn't receive any advices or safety recommendation. We don’t ever know where we can find the safety jackets in case of emergency.
There wasn’t organisation at all on board and the rods were finally in the water around 1.30. We believe we still have 2.30 fishing at least. What a disappointment!! We were asked to watch a rod and we were not allowed to use the rods by ourselves. The music on board was very loud and completely inappropriate for a fishing trip.
Then a small mako shark was on the line and I assisted at the biggest panic and lack of professionalism I never see in my life. One of the two men jumped and pushed away the guy who was trying to take the rod.
He couldn’t manage the fish which was trying to escape under the boat. The crew members were shouting at each other and the second one carried the fish all around the boat. They succeed finally and pulled up the fish on board.
Then the shark was completely butchered. The hook was ripped off with the hook gaffe. The poor animal which was fighting for his life received kicks and was molested and badly injured by the two men.
It was not big game fishing but big game killing.
There was blood everywhere and they continued to bully the fish.
They didn’t show any respect for this amazing animal and left him dying slowly in a corner of the boat.
Some of us had a very bitter discussion with the crew members who responded aggressively and showed haughtiness. So we refused to fish or more exactly watch the rod we were supposed to. Reminding to the men the blue shark is fully protected and they have to release it or to kill him properly if there is no other choice after badly managed this catch.
The ambiance on board was very bad. I was told to shut my mouth, stop complaining, and one of the two men was threatening and didn’t appreciate my persistence to take the most of pictures I can.
The shark was discarded in the hold and the deck washed.
Another fish had been taken: a beautiful Dolphinfish and the man who was in charge to the rod had no choice as the sailor took the fish and threw it in a bucket where the creature died slowly. They don’t offer to release the fish. Obviously one of the two men was the one who gave the orders in the boat, without any consideration that we paid to be on board to fish and decide if we take or not the fish and kill it properly.
These men didn’t show at any moment a tiny sign of respect even for the ocean as they threw their butts and rubbish in the water. All the balloons used as floats were left in the ocean.
This day was dreadful and I was in a hurry to go back and get through this trip.
But it was not the end!!
They get out the shark from the hold and offered to take pictures. Then they threw the fish in the water and washed carefully the deck of the boat erasing all traces of blood.
I was astonished and on the verge of nausea. Unfortunately I couldn’t take a picture as the two men did a shield and acted very quickly.
No respect of the ocean, no respect of the fish, no respect of the customers.
This entire trip was a bad drama with outrageous actors, and a perfect waste of money. A bad experience I won't forget.
But it wasn’t a waste of time as it is very useful to know that this kind of fishing trip still exists, in spite of numerous actions for the safety of the ocean and the marine wildlife.
Thankfully most of the fishermen are aware about the fragility of our environment, and this kind of behaviour has to be reported.
I hope more and more of us will be involved in the struggle to preserve our waters and the wildlife and fight to ban a boat which offers this kind of fishing experience.
I can add that I am sea, coarse and game fishing for more than 40 years and I have never seen so much shocking behaviour from “professional” charter crew.
Martine. Dublin – Ireland
disappointing
... They talk for themselves and she told me that is not the worst she could have taken if not threatened.
