Fishing on Your Cruise Stop in Carriacou
Carriacou: Off-the-Grid Caribbean Fishing
Carriacou, the largest of Grenada's Grenadine islands, sits 23 miles north of mainland Grenada. This small island (13 square miles) has a population of about 9,000 and a deep-rooted fishing and boat-building tradition. Small cruise ships and yachts visit Carriacou for its unspoiled character and crystal-clear waters. The fishing here is as authentic as it gets in the Caribbean.
Fishing Opportunities
The waters around Carriacou and the surrounding Grenadine cays are rich with reef fish, pelagics, and bottom dwellers. Offshore trolling produces wahoo, mahi-mahi, tuna, and kingfish. The reefs and drop-offs around Sandy Island, Jack Adam Island, and the Tobago Cays hold snapper, grouper, and barracuda. Bottom fishing in deeper water produces queen triggerfish and tilefish.
What to Know
- Local fishermen often take visitors on trips — ask at Hillsborough town dock
- Trips are affordable: $200-$500 depending on duration and boat
- Traditional wooden sloops alongside modern pangas
- Less polished than mainland Grenada but more authentic
Carriacou is for anglers who value experience over luxury. Fishing with local captains in traditional boats on pristine waters is a Caribbean experience that's increasingly rare. If your cruise stops here, don't miss it.