Offshore Fishing, Big Game Fish, Deep Sea Fishing Vacations To big game anglers, nothing beats the thrill of landing a blue marlin. One of the most sought-after marlin species, the blue marlin continues to inspire sportsfishing enthusiasts around the world. Although blue marlin can be found in select areas around the globe, the island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands is one of the most renowned Atlantic blue marlin destinations. Lure fishing, trolling natural baits and bait and switch are all popular blue marlin fishing techniques. The former all-tackle world record for Atlantic blue of 1,282 lb was set in St. Thomas. The Virgin Islands are perched at the edge of the six mile deep Puerto Rico Trench, an area known for having some of the best game fishing in the world. Two famous offshore fishing areas in the Virgin Islands are the North Drop and the South Drop. The North Drop, about 20 miles north of St. Thomas, is unparalled for its blue marlin fishing. It is said to produce more blue marlin bites per boat than any other place in the world. Although Marlin fishing is fine year round in St. Thomas, in the most optimum months of May to October it is not unusual to have five, six, seven even ten strikes every day. Other offshore gamefish around St. Thomas include sailfish, wahoo, kingfish, yellowfin and blackfin tuna, and dolphin (mahi mahi). The South Drop, 8 miles south of St. Thomas, can reach depths of 12,000 feet; its warmer Caribbean Sea waters are the perfect fishing location for dolphin (mahi-mahi), sailfish, kingfish, and wahoo. Inshore game fish include barracuda, bonefish, kingfish, mackerel, snook and tarpon. There are lots of tarpon around the islands and your catch will generally average around 25 pounds, however catching a 40 or 50 pounder is not unlikely! Magens Bay, where Sand Dollar Estate is located, is one of the premier locations in St. Thomas for inshore fishing, particularly tarpon and kingfish. Tarpon over 100 pounds are regularly caught right from our beach, as its clear, sandy bottom makes them easy to spot and provides an unlimited supply of baitfish and crustaceans for them to feed on. Tarpon present no danger to humans as they have no teeth, yet they are one of the most prized gamefish in the world and put up an acrobatic fight second to none when hooked. The photos attached are taken 50 yards off of the Sand Dollar Estate vills's private beach. The Sand Dollar villa location in St. Thomas is also convenient for big game fishing anglers: just minutes from Cyril King International Airport, which offers direct, non-stop flights from many major U.S. cities. Sand Dollar Estate Villa has been the vacation villa choice of U.S. presidents and their families, rock stars and celebrities - this stunning and luxurious 8 bedroom St. Thomas villa and guest cottage is set on over 2-1/2 acres of pristine Magens Bay shoreline, just above the completely private beach. In total, this luxury St Thomas villa rental with its eight bedrooms and separate guest cottage can accommodate up to 22 people, making it the perfect base for big game offshore fishing expeditions. For help in planning the ultimate big game offshore fishing vacation in St. Thomas at the Sand Dollar Estate Villa, please phone (908) 698-2722 or Contact us via email. Offshore Big Game Fishing Species - Deep Sea Fishing in Virgin Islands Species Location Season Bait/Lures Atlantic Blue Marlin STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom line All year, best May-October  Lures, Ballyhoo, Belly strips, Mackerel White Marlin STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom line All year, best April-May Lures, Ballyhoo, Bellystrips Sailfish STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom line October-March Lures, Ballyhoo, Bellystrips Yellowfin Tuna STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom line and all shelf areas All Year Lures, Ballyhoo Feathers Blackfin Tuna shelf areas on all islands All Year Lures, Feathers Skipjack Tuna shelf areas on all islands All Year Lures, Feathers Dolphin Fish (mahi-mahi) STT North & South Drop, shelf areas on all islands October-January (peak season) March-May, July Lures, Ballyhoo, Feathers Wahoo shelf areas on all islands All year, best September-May Lures, Ballyhoo Inshore Game Fishing Species - St. Thomas Fishing - Fly Fishing Species Location Season Bait/Lures Bonito (Little Tunny) most inshore areas and around schools of bait fish All year, best January-May Fry, feathers Barracuda reef & bank areas All Year Lures, spoons, ballyhoo Hardnose most inshore areas and around schools of bait fish April-September Fry, small feathers Bar Jack most inshore areas and around schools of bait fish All Year Fry, squid, ballyhoo, feathers Crevalle Jack STX 100 Fathom line, most inshore areas and around schools of bait fish All Year Fry, squid Rainbow Runner STT North and South Drops, reefs & banks April - September Fry, squid, ballyhoo, feathers Yellowtail Snapper near reefs & bank areas All Year Fry, cut bait Kingfish reefs, most mid-shelf areas All year, best February-May Lures, ballyhoo, fry, skirts Pompano bays and lagoons Spring Jigs, lures Cero Near shore, reefs All Year Lures fry, ballyhoo Shallow Water Fishing - Fish Species - St Thomas, Virgin Islands Species Location Season Bait/Lures Fly Fishing Bonefish near shore, shallow areas, sea grass & sand flats, bays, mangrove lagoons All year, best late March- September Live shrimp, small jigs often baited with shrimp or crab Small flies tied to imitate shrimp, crabs Permit shallow sea grass & sand flats, bays, lagoons, back reefs All year, best April-October Lures, jigs, small live crabs, pieces of crab, small sea urchins Crab patterns Tarpon mangrove lagoons, bays, harbors, deeper water adjacent to shallow flats, around offshore cays All year, best March-October Silver spoons, white jigs, live bait fish Large streamers,  various 'tarpon' flies Barracuda around reefs, channels adjacent to shallow water, mangrove lagoons and bays All Year Live fish, bait fish imitations, silver spoons, feathers Bait fish imitations, needlefish imitations Jacks around reefs, channels adjacent to shallow water, mangrove lagoons and bays, back reef flats All Year Squid, shrimp, cut bait, small spoons, spinners, jigs Small streamers, shrimp imitations Snook mangrove lagoons, bays, harbors, along beaches with sharp drop-offs, reefs, seawalls and man-made underwater structures and pilings All Year Live shrimp, small fish, bait fish imitation lures, jigs Bait fish imitations Note: Information for this section was provided in part by the VI Game Fishing Club, (340) 775-9144 and the Division of Fish and Wildlife, (340) 775-6762 on St. Thomas.