The islands'leading fishing skippers enthusiastically tell tales of their exploits and recall boating 1,100 pound marlin and 200 pound tuna in this part of the Atlantic Ocean

The waters around Lanzarote reach a depth of about 3,500 m, making it the ideal location for deep sea fishing. Big game sportsmen setting out to test their skill - and stamina - can expect to encounter marlin, wahoo and bluefin, the giant of the tuna family, which can weigh in at anything up to a monstrous 1,000 pounds. From April onwards, these species are traditionally augmented by the arrival in Lanzarote's waters of hammerhead sharks, amberjacks and dorada.

Blue marlin, one of the ocean's largest predators, is much prized. Growing to almost a ton in weight, it is regarded by most sea anglers as the ultimate sporting fish, partly because of its romantic associations with writer Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway's fictional account of a veteran Cuban fisherman's battle with a giant marlin, The Old Man And The Sea, is one of the pinnacles of fishing literature.

It's easy to see why Hemingway and countless men inspired by his writing are drawn to the sea like a seagull to a trawler. Thrill seeker Sport fishing is in another league from river and lakeside angling. What could be more enticing than the prospect of the sun glistening off the water, beers chilling in the fridge below decks and the prospect of a serious day's fishing with a local expert well versed in the waters and its fish? Then, later, comes that heart-stopping moment, when braced against the pitch and swell of the boat, a magnificent rod-snapping creature takes your bait and sparks a battle that can last for hours. No other form of fishing offers this level of primal, atavistic thrill.

Today, Lanzarote, which has an important nautical history, is home to two of the best new marinas in the Canaries, as well as four natural ports. Most of the action takes place from Puerto Calero, the island's major sports marina, just five minutes away from the island's leading main resort of Puerto del Carmen. This luxurious sports harbour provides berths for some seriously expensive yachts and is home to a number of highly professional and personable sport fishing skippers, all offering boats packed with the latest and greatest fishing equipment and gadgetry. Among the best is locally-born Tino Garcia, who has been fishing the waters around his home island for more than 30 years.

His vast knowledge of the many species of fish and their habitats in this region makes him the ideal skipper. His specially-designed mahogany-hulled boats are 14.5 metres long and 4.6 metres wide and perfect for trolling, shark and bottom fishing. Each powered by an eight-cylinder turbo diesel engine, they are outfitted with modern electronic detection devices plus the finest electronic fishing gear and offer the best security for Canarian waters.Aside from great seafaring and navigational skills, Tino can also cook up a terrific fisherman's lunch on board! His charters include free transportation from your hotel or villa to Puerto Calero Marina and back, passenger insurance, and drinks. Fishermen are also supplied with the finest fishing equipment, bait, and any assistance they require to land their catch. With advance notice, departures can be booked from any port in the Canary Island.

In June this year (2007), Puerto Calero's development as a sport fishing and sailing centre was acknowledged with the opening in the refurbished Shopping Gallery, in Paseo de la Moda, of the first Helly Hansen outlet in the Canaries. In addition, a new sculpture fountain by Lanzarote artist Paco Curbelo has been unveiled, adding a touch of style and culture.

Competition
However, Puerto Calero's status as Lanzarote's leading seafaring spot has been challenged since 2003 by the opening of the new 500-slip Marina Rubicon and the nearby five-star Hotel Gran Melia Volcan Lanzarote in the popular beach town of Playa Blanca, further to the south. The marina now hosts the prestigious big game fishing contest, Marina Rubicon Marlin Cup For Champions, a qualifying tournament for the Rolex/International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Offshore Championship. This tournament is dedicated to supporting billfish conservation efforts and qualifying weights are 88 pounds for white marlin and 660 pounds for blue marlin - so competitors have to go for the giant denizens of the deep. Local fishing experts reckon that the first marlin show up among the western Canary islands as the warmer waters begin to arrive.

By September, when tournaments in Lanzarote and neighbouring Fuertaventura roll around, the waters east of the islands and towards the African continental shelf are reckoned to attract the big fish. A pair of offshore seamounts, which are geographically related to the Canaries, rise thousands of metres from the ocean floor but stop short of the surface. The closest seamount, roughly halfway to the African 1,000 metre depth contour, sometimes offers big game fishermen non-stop action - and it is not uncommon to hear reports of 30 white marlin bites in a single day in this area. Lanzarote, most northeasterly island in the Canaries, sits less than 70 miles from the African coast of Morocco. So close to the Sahara Desert, Lanzarote is a true desert island, with a starkly dramatic but vivid beauty, complete with active geothermal areas, caves and grottos and mile upon mile of sun-drenched beaches.

The island lies in the heart of the trade wind belt, where the combination of wind and sun means water temperatures range from an average of 64F in January to a high of 84F in August, with rainy or overcast days a rarity. The ideal location * Puerto calero is situated only 12 miles from the island's capital, Arrecife, and six miles from the international airport. * Its geographical location is ideal for a marina, being sheltered from the island's prevailing winds. The neighbouring island of Fuerteventura and the mountain range forming the coast of Punta Gorda also give protection from the strong waves rolling in from the Atlantic. * Construction of the Marina began in 1986, which also saw the first wave of luxury villas built as well, and the planned 200 berths came into operation in 1989. *

Because of the initial success, a decision was made in 1997 to double its capacity. In just two years the work had been completed, with 420 berths for boats of between 8 metres and 75 metres. * In addition to sport fishing, Puerto Calero is the base for a number of water-based tourist activities, including catamaran trips, submarine excursions and sailing.