In my last blog I mentioned one of the ‘clients’ on our recent group trip to Belize had been involved in an accident requiring hospital treatment. Actually it was Bob Clements, not a client, but a very good friend. On the night of November 13th Bob became seriously ill, fell from a first floor balcony, and was knocked unconscious and sustained then unknown injuries. We had to immediately evacuate him by boat from Monkey River, first to Independence, then Dangriga and finally on to hospital in Belize City, where he was placed in the hospital ICU ward on a ventilator. There Bob remained in a coma for two weeks, and sadly he never recovered.

Bob accompanied me on over 20 long haul fishing trips, during which time he became an integral and much valued member of our groups. Always a delight to travel and fish with, I have many treasured memories shared with Bob, time spent at various locals around the world, including north, south and central America, Africa, Asia, various Indian Ocean and Caribbean islands and here in Wales. Many evenings were spent sat beneath a star spangled tropical sky sharing a glass or two of rum, Bob invariably puffing away on a Hamlet to keep the mosquitoes away! Bob, we are all going to miss you.

Bob Clements about to set off on a dawn balloon ride across the Masai Mara, Kenya

Recently I spent three days fishing out from Javea in Spain with local skipper Dani Maestre. Previous to this trip I never really knew just what to expect, as like many European anglers I was under the false impression that the Mediterranean Sea is all but fished out. During the trip we caught dorado, bluefish, amberjacks, baby bluefin tuna and numerous other small species. I was shown many images of huge, 600lb+ bluefin that are caught here in the summer months, along with albacore, spearfish, dentex bream and monstrous amberjack. You can read the full account of my trip in the current issue of Sea Angler Magazine, issue number 501

JAVEA, SPAIN

Clearly this is an exciting sports fishery in the earliest stage of development, and I for one am going back on several trips this summer to try and establish just how productive the area is. Javea is reached via a one hour drive from either Alicante or Valencia, both of which are serviced daily by various budget airlines from most regional UK airports. Certainly here is an affordable destination where a two or three day trip targeting a big bluefin or other species is a real possibility. Further, I am going to be visiting and fishing from two other exciting new ports in the region where I am told the fishing is as good or even better than Javea, watch this space!

TROLLING FOR AMBERJACK & DENTEX IN SPAIN

CHRIS NORTHMORE WITH BLUEFISH CAUGHT OFF JAVEA

For more information and to book a trip you can contact Dani Maestre at ‘Área Náutica’ at info@areanautica.com or Tel: +34 607 380480 or +34 653 87521. More information is available on the Área Náutica website, though at time of writing the fishing section is under development: www.areanautica.com

CUTTLEFISH LIVEBAIT; GREAT EATING-TOO!

CHRIS WITH ONE OF THE DORADO WE CAUGHT OFF JAVEA

Now is a good time to get your name down for our annual trip to Bud & Mary’s Marina, Islamorada, Florida in April/May 2015. This is by far our most popular and fish productive trip, and with strictly limited availability the trip fills fast. Check out my blog following previous trips along with the various Florida related threads under the ‘Memorable Trips’ section of this site and you will see just why this May some clients will be joining me on their 6th or 7th trip.

BABY BLUEFIN TUNA CAUGHT OFF JAVEA; MONSTERS ARE CAUGHT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS

There is a possibility we might have one place left for a return trip to Belize in November 2014, check out my previous blog for information on what to expect. We now have several names confirmed for a hosted group trip to Christmas Island in January 2015, popping & jigging for GT’s etc, plus fly fishing for bonefish and various other species. Finally there is a possibility I might be hosting a few trips in Northern Norway this year. For more information on any of these trips contact Anglers World Holidays on Tel: 01246 221717.