The plan was to go for a chilled out holiday to Fuerteventura, with my better half, from 15th -22nd November. Flights were booked and after much research we settled on the Geranios Suites and SPA Hotel. There is nothing better than looking forward to a nice break.
So we took off on Aer Lingus EI 0772 from Dublin at 14.00. Bags and fishing gear were packed. Had a pint or 3 in airport and a bite to eat. Sure this was what life is all about.
Flight time just about 4 hours. All going well so far. You know that familiar feeling of getting on the plane, ready for take-off and then ignoring the air hostess preparing you for an emergency.
The plane took off and after about 2 hours we could hear a grinding sound from around the wing. Sure you always here this as the pilot checks the hydraulics before take-off…….yep but not in mid-air!!!! It went on and on and on and…… “hey what’s going on? “ asked the passenger in front of us. “Don’t worry sir the pilot is aware of it” was the answer. Two minutes later and we had instructions for an emergency landing in Santiago…..head between your legs and kiss your ass good bye!!! Did we pay heed to the air hostesses instructions…..you bet we did!
Anyway to cut a long story short the crew were very professional and we landed safely to a line of fire engines.
We were put up in a very nice hotel overnight and given plenty of sambos and free wine. Of course there was still the usual moaners complaining about not having a proper dinner
. Eh, hello be happy to be alive !! 
The following morning we took a new airplane to Fuerteventura. The pilot explained that one of the hydraulic systems had failed and the fluid had leaked onto the wheels and brakes. The main worry was that the plane would go on fire on landing ……. Jaysus Jacinta!! Anyway we made it safely to our destination.
That day and the next we were just chilling out. I talked to Aram who owns “ Gone Fishing” tackle shop and he gave me a few spots to try spinning. Apparently, the main prey would be needle fish… a bigger version of our garfish. Anyway, as usual I managed to successfully avoid catching one.
On the Friday it was time to plan to catch a stingray or an angel shark, as the websites on Fuerteventura would indicate them to be in abundance. Down to Aram to buy a travel beachcaster ( cheaper than checking one in ) and get advice on a suitable location. With is advice we hired a car and headed south. The recommended beach was quiet with just a few nudists wandering about showing off their dangling bits….. not a pretty sight!!
The sun was glowing for about 20 minutes. Then came the black clouds and finally torrential rain. Ah well, it was time for lunch. We went to a local fish restaurant….where else would I see a fish. We ordered a “mixed grill” of fish. The cook toddled out of the restaurant with a big empty plate and came back with it full of fresh fish. We had a meal fit for a king and queen and it cost very little.
When the rain stopped it was back to the beach for another 2 hours. I got one good bite but it took the sardine straight of the hooks.
I was using a pennel rig and the sardine was tied to both hooks with elastic thread. Still the bait was taken? Aram explained that it was a bluefish as my trace was chaffed.On Monday I tried some of local rocks but was actually fishing onto sand. A sardine was cast out with the beachcaster. Then using size10 hooks and prawn I set about catching small fish with the intention of using some for live bait.
- Fuerte Baitfish 1.jpg (16.55 KiB) Viewed 2599 times
- Fuerte mini 1.jpg (20.94 KiB) Viewed 2599 times
Then it was back to catching small fish. It was a fish per cast. The prawn bait was cast out about 20 yards and then jigged up from the bottom. On the way up it was usually attacked with an immediate hook up. The fish were small but good crack on a light rod.
- Angel Shark.jpg (39.88 KiB) Viewed 2599 times
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the beach caster nodding away and then lunging forward. There was no mistaking the ray like fight. The main problem was going to be how to get a good fish up onto the rocks. Suddenly, the ugliest head with a vicious set of teeth appeared out of the water. I had to grab the trace and haul the fish in on a wave up onto the rocks. Local Spanish guys came to help. They kept shouting “Muy peligroso”…..very dangerous
. One of them had a gaff and used it to hold the fish while I removed the hooks. A couple of photos were taken and the fish was returned to swim away another day. The locals informed me that it was “ Un Angeloto” or Angel Shark and weighed about 17 kg. Happy days!!!! - Angel Shark & Me.jpg (28.53 KiB) Viewed 2599 times
I cast back out again and then it dawned on me that the small rod was still fishing. I wound it to find a very pretty bream and a mini-turbot on the trace.
- Fuerte Bream.jpg (31.65 KiB) Viewed 2599 times
One of the locals then showed me a pic of an 8Kg tune that he had caught the previous day. There were 3 others also caught. He then caught a needlefish.
Overall, I think that the fishing on this island is excellent and a further trip is now being planned. Apparently, the best months are September and October.
I would like to thank Aram for being so helpful. He put me on the right marks , showed me the bait and traces to use. I would certainly recommend that anybody intending to fish in Fuerteventura would be well advised to call into Gone Fishing to seek his advice.
I'M glad things worked out well for yis and had a safe holiday with a few nice fish.
brilliant report and pictures Stan, surely you must have enjoyed the trip immensely, well, the little hickup there with the plane did make it all the more of an adventure, didn't it? 
