This was the first of 5 days big games fishing booked on Gavito with Graham Anders and Haiko and will stay with me forever.  My turn on strike as I watched a big marlin follow and then take the lure on the starboard outrigger. The reel screamed and then we saw it jump just the once about 200 yards off the port side level with the boat. We did not see it again for an hour and 45 minutes until Anders had the leader and brought it alongside for unhooking.  In between were mixed emotions of excitement and depression as the 400 yards of mainline that had just taken 20 minutes to get back on to the reel disappeared off again in 20 seconds and you are back to the backing line for another of the 8 runs.  Once alongside the fish’s weight was estimated to be possibly a little over 1000lb.
During the other days we had two hook ups which broke off, a knock down and saw a seal and the usual dolphins. 
Graham and the boys clearly know what they are going and the equipment was top drawer. There were a lot of fish about as we saw some of the other boats also into fish. Calheta rocks!!!

Didn’t catch any fish unfortunately due to unfavourable conditions but enjoyed the trip still,crew were very professional

This was an amazing experience at Calheta on the Gavito together with Captain Graham and his capable mate who were extremely friendly and helpful. We all spent three 8-hour days at sea and it was so exciting waiting for the fish to bite. In fact during the first and second day we had a couple of close hits and then on the third day we hooked a 250kg Marlin with which I battled for 20 minutes when it finally jumped out of the surface and managed to unhook itself. The feeling of having such a big game fish on the rod albeit for a short while has made this experience memorable. This besides continuous sightings of large whales, dolphin displays and sea turtles! all this in the great company drinking beer and food supplied by the boat.

A breezy start on Gavito out of Calheta marina trolling 5 lures and 2 teasers. My target was white marlin so we set the spread accordingly. Lots of dolphins and turtles but no sign of the elusive marlin.! In the afternoon we decided to troll closer inshore when we saw some birds working a disturbance. We headed over and got in amongst it and hooked up on 3 rods.!! Complete chaos until we got squared away and I could work on the fish I had in hand. The fish went airborne on me a few times and tried to throw the hook but we got it to the boat and safely on board. The other 2 fish had managed to throw the hooks which was a shame but that’s fishing.!! It was no white marlin but a nice size Bluefish of 13.5 lbs.!! Happy days.!! A fitting end to another nice day on the water with Captain Graham and First Mate Orlando.