Fishing in Jamaica

Port Antonio makes deep-sea-fishing headlines with its annual Blue Marlin Tournament in October, and MoBay and Ocho Rios have devotees who exchange tales (tall and otherwise) about sailfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, dolphinfish, and bonito. Licenses aren't required, and you can arrange to charter a boat at your hotel. A chartered boat (with captain, crew, and equipment) costs about $500 to $900 for a half day or $900 to $1,500 for a full-day excursion, depending on the size of the boat.

The Glistening Waters Marina (N. Coast Hwy., Falmouth. 876/954-3229. www.glisteningwaters.com) offers charter trips from the Falmouth area. Thirty boats moored at the Glistening Waters Marina offer deep-sea fishing charters; the marina also has nighttime boat tours for a look at the lagoon, whose iridescence is caused by microscopic dinoflagellates that become luminescent when they move. For less-serious anglers, Jamaica has several fishing parks. These offer lake fishing as well as nature walks, picnics, birding, and a family-friendly atmosphere. The easiest to reach is Royal Palm Reserve (Springfield Rd., Sheffield. 876/364-7407), about 10 minutes from Negril. Visitors can rent gear and try their luck at catching African perch or tarpon in Cotton Tree Lake. There's an admission price of $10 to visit the park and a $5 charge for fishing; you can also purchase any fish you catch to take back to your villa or resort for the night's dinner if you like.