An own boat for the mediterranean sea and european atlantic. Meaning and chances!?

Ahoy BIG Kai,

dont blame me, man!

Specifications:
a) Sleeping / accommodating two comfortably
= 30 to 35 feet walkaround or express
b) seaworthy
= deep V, diesel inboards, tripple bilge & communications & e-systems
c) Catering / storing / ranging 48 to 72 hours at cruising speed ... 20kn to 25kn
= wow... getting realy tight now
d) distinct fishability at quasi zero crew (eg electric outriggers; joystick/remote control pods drive)
= very few left in the race
e) twin engine / ease in servicability / low emission & consumption
= totally easy choice by now... because the teamsize etc all points towards US standard down in Florida

.... man, Kai, you set close parameters, but none goes just on a trailor and gets towed across Europe.

Cabo 35Express (sets you back 1/2 MN E back in Eurolandia...), if you haggle a bit... they throw in the
pods drive. Bertram 33 was very seaworthy. Viking start at 38ft. Blackfin Canyon Runner. Mako ... dunno
if they produce inboard versions actually.

Not to forget: World Cat twin sponson. You can have them (no inboards) with a sleek cabin to 35ft.

Old World: CATA of Northern Spain produce a magnificent and ultra sturdy 386 with twin diesel inboards.
Enormous cockpit. Any spread on outriggers. Flybridge & bimini top. A/c in the wheelhouse... sounds
too good to be European? Well, they where conceived for Tuna Fishing around Cape Finistere and the Biscayn
Bay... and you have heared about their swell & occasional killer storms?!

Thinking again... Kai, youre right. Sample the regions. Try the charter fleet variety. Come to your
personal favourite choice and have your boat built to your and your Miss's specs.

Anything goes. Live the dream.
Heaven help us here.

... almost forgot: Define "European" regions
Martinique is a District of France, but right in the middle of fabulous St.Vincent&Grenadines

Zitat von Kai

But more interessting is the question how the chances are for a successful fishing and what species to go for!

So what do you estimate (or is your own experience) for fish like

Amberjack, Tunas, Sharks, Billfish, Mackerels,........?

Maybe we can separate it into regions and fishing methods!?

So, best regards, happy new year and tight lines,

Kai

PS: My dream is it to catch a billfish in the mediterranean sea or the northern atlantic on my own, just together with my wife and the own boat.

www.tackle-import.com

Alles anzeigen

Hi Kai
That's the proverbial 'can of worms'! But where to start?

Well Jan's already offered some suggestions as to boat specifications. But, at one level, you really don't need even a 'mini' game boat. Although a centre console craft fishing stand-up tackle would be my personal minimum requirement.

I can recall a Belgian angler who, with his mother, used to fish from a semi inflatable – those with a rigid bottom – powered by an outboard for Marlin and Tuna from Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria. And yes, he did catch the occasional Blue on conventional trolling gear. There though you can fish in ‘flat’ conditions in the lee of the island. Then I’ve also seen photographs of anglers in small, outboard powered rowing boat catching 50 kilo plus Amberjack over reefs fairly close to shore in the Canaries.

So the Canaries would offer you opportunities using small boats in calm conditions but you would need to store the boat somewhere, either on a hard standing or in a marina. I guess the plus side is that there’re lots of low cost airlines that fly there.

Then, sticking with small boats, I’ve light tackle trolled off the westerly end of the Algarve, near Cape St Vincente, for Little Tunny, Bluefish and European Bass. Again you get protection from the high sea cliffs. Blue Sharks are also present offshore. But there’re also Makos and I’m not certain I would want to tackle those other than with a professional crew. To the east of the Algarve, near the Spanish border, they do during September also encounter White Marlin some 10 to 15 miles offshore. So, given calm conditions, that would be practical in a slightly larger centre console craft.

As well, moving into the Mediterranean, how about the Ebro estuary for species like Bluefish and Leerfish? There are still runs of Bluefin, some large, off that coast but perhaps someone else could comment as to its viability.

Moving round, from the Rivera coastline of France, they similarly target Bluefin – some very small – but I think the shoals are often encountered 40 miles plus offshore.

Then you have the Adriatic, from both the Italian and Croatian sides, where, as well as light tackle trolling for Albacore, you can again from smallish boats chum for Bluefin, Blue and Thresher Sharks. They also occasionally encounter Swordfish and Spearfish. And I’ve also seen some graphic video footage of a huge Great White ripping a Thresher Shark apart boatside! But I suspect you wouldn’t want to target one of those!

Any rate just a few more thoughts to add to Jan’s.

Ahoy PanamaJack, old Saltlegs,
leaves us with the recurrent European problem: where to put the boat and how to get it there.
Tug it behind your family sedan... max width on the road 2.50m and not heavier than 2,500 kgs.
Have a big towtruck, still 2.50m width (or special permit and police escort) but up to 4,000kgs
if I am not mistaken, or am I?
Who can help with such basic questions of logistics, please?
- road tax (Mautstrassen in Frankreich; Spanien)
- ferry costs (eg Sardinia, Korsika, Sicilly)

Once you get your workhorse saddled, where to park it, which Marina at what cost?

Once I getto fuel, insurance, upkeep and parts... I'd much rather charter than own...

My Commodore and our team mates "Malta da Kianda" may forgive my blasphemy ,
but I make a lousy owner.

Have a good year 2009 All.

Hi Jan
And similarly let me extend to you and your family my Very Best Wishes for a Happy, Successful and Prosperous 2009.

Ah, the practicalities. I guess I'd skipped over those somewhat.

Really my focus had been on which areas Kai might want to target for billfish from a self drive boat. And in that regard the Canaries with their volcanic structures - access to deep oceanic waters, extensive lee shores - and the Canarian current seemed to offer the best option. Coupled with that there was the availability of regular and cheap flights from Northern Europe, reasonable marinas and repair and maintenance facilities. Then there was also some good opportunities for vertical jigging and the Tuna.

In mainland Europe though the Eastern end of the Algarve and Adriatic were also options.

But I suppose I would always view Kai's venture as somewhat longer term so, rather than trailering a boat, basing it in a marina or on a trailer in a local compound. As to the boat well perhaps a centre console in the 25 to 26' range, powered by twin outboards, and equipped for stand-up fishing. If Kai was 'more comfortable' with a chair then they can very effectively be rigged in the 'pointy' end.

Where to source it? Well, given the severity of the 'credit crunch' and the current strength of the Euro versus the US$, I'd been looking initially at the sites of some of those East Coast (USA) brokers for Bank or Finance House enforced sales for a bargain. And some of those boats will of course be fully rigged for game fishing. Then there are any number of US ports to ship a boat as deck cargo in a container either to the Canaries or Mediterranean.