* * * * FULLTHROTLLE Fishing * * * *

Best Time to Fish:

The North Equatorial Current is feed by the Guiana Current which feeds the Caribbean Current which brushes the coast of Venezuela. Nearly two thirds of the water flowing into the Caribbean from the Atlantic flows through the three passages just north of Venezuela. These passages would be the Grenada Passage, the St. Vincent Passage and the St. Lucia Passage. The current entering the Caribbean is significantly influenced by freshwater discharges from the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers. Areas where currents meet and converge or diverge tend to have concentrations of food. These features create local areas of high baitfish availability that attract and hold large quantities of some of the top big game species.

GAMESFISH CALENDAR

* GOOD ** BEST

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

*/**

OFFSHORE: The prime angling is billfishing with spots sitting just offshore from Macuto. It is here that the ocean floor rises up from the depths to within 50 fathoms at La Guaira and 150 fathoms at Playa Grande of the surface. These banks run several miles and provide excellent opportunity for blue and white marlin, sailfish and swordfish. Blue marlin are caught more in the deeper waters off Playa Grande while sails and white marlin are more common off La Guaira. Trolled baits tend to work better for sails and white marlin with lures being more productive for blues. These waters also offer ample wahoo, yellowfin tuna and dolphin.

INSHORE: Venezuela rates near the top for flats fishing in the shallow backwaters east and north of Caracas. The areas of Los Roques, Rio Chico and Rio Aruca, while not close to one another, offer magnificent light tackle angling for bonefish, snook and tarpon. Favorable tides, currents and multiple tributaries feed these waters with rich nutrients and hardy baitfish such as sardines and mullet abound, allowing for bountiful action.

WEATHER: CONDITIONS MARINE WEATHER OCEAN WEATHER

TRAVEL ADVISORY:

Entry Requirements:
A tourist card and multiple entry visa are available. Contact the Embassy of Venezuela.

Vaccinations: No vaccinations are required to visit this country

Animal Hazards: Animal hazards include snakes (vipers), centipedes, scorpions, black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders, banana spiders, and wolf spiders.

Chagas’ Disease: This disease is endemic to rural areas in the northern one-half of Venezuela. An extensive outbreak occurred in Guarico State in 1986. In some areas up to 50% of the population has been exposed. Chagas’ disease is among the top 10 causes of death in Venezuelans over age 45. Risk occurs in those rural-agricultural areas where there are adobe-style huts and houses that potentially harbor the night-biting triatomid (assassin) bugs. Travelers sleeping in such structures should take precautions against nighttime bites. Unscreened blood transfusions are also a source of infection and should be avoided.

Dengue Fever: Year-round risk is present in coastal and lowland urban areas. Outbreaks of dengue occur regularly in central and northern Venezuela, including Caracas. In February 2002, the CDC reported significant increase in cases of dengue in many regions of the country, including Miranda, Sucre, Merida, and Nueva Esparta (Margarita Island).
• The Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue fever, bite primarily during the daytime and are present in populous urban areas as well as resort and rural areas. All travelers should take protective measures against daytime mosquito bites

Hepatitis: All nonimmune travelers should receive hepatitis A vaccine prior to visiting this country. Hepatitis E is endemic, but levels are unclear. The carrier rate of the hepatitis B virus in the general population is estimated at 2% to 3%, but rates as high as 31% have been found in some aboriginal populations (e.g., the Yucpa Indians in Zulia State). Vaccination against hepatitis B should be considered for stays over 3 months and by short-term travelers desiring maximum protection. Travelers should be aware that hepatitis B can be transmitted by unsafe sex and the use of contaminated needles and syringes. Hepatitis C is endemic.

Insects: All travelers should take measures to prevent evening and nighttime mosquito bites. Insect-bite prevention measures include a DEET-containing repellent applied to exposed skin, insecticide (permethrin) spray applied to clothing and gear, and use of a permthrin-treated bednet at night while sleeping.

Leishmaniasis: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is widespread in rural areas under 2,000 meters elevation, especially in rural west-central areas. Transmission of CL has been reported at elevations as high as 2,500 meters in the Andes. Except for a focus in northern Bolivar State, visceral leishmaniasis is primarily limited to northwestern and northern areas under 500 meters elevation. All travelers to risk areas should take measures to prevent insect (sandfly) bites, whixh occur primarily during the night.

Malaria: Risk is present year-round in most rural areas below 600 meters elevation. Risk of malaria is highest in the western, southern, and eastern border areas. Risk is highest in Bolivar and Sucre States. Most north-central areas, including the Federal District and the states of Aragua, Carabobo, Cojedes, Miranda, and Yaracuy, are risk-free. This includes the major cities and resort areas of northern Venezuela. Elevated risk in most malarious areas occurs with the early months of the rainy season (which usually extends from late May through November); however, in the Orinoco Basin, the period of elevated risk may begin with the onset of the dry season.
• Nationwide, P. vivax accounts for about 75% of all cases, varying from 40% in Bolivar State to 99% in Sucre State. A few cases caused by P. malariae occur. Chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria probably occurs in most malarious areas.
• Prophylaxis with atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone), mefloquine (Lariam), or doxycycline is recommended.
• All travelers should take measures to prevent evening and nighttime mosquito bites. Insect-bite prevention measures include a DEET-containing repellent applied to exposed skin, insecticide (permethrin) spray applied to clothing and gear, and use of a permthrin-treated bednet at night while sleeping.

Marine Hazards:
• Portuguese man-of-war, sea wasps, and stingrays are found in the coastal waters of Venezuela and could be a hazard to swimmers.
• Ciguatera poisoning is prevalent and can result from eating coral reef fish such as grouper, snapper, sea bass, jack, and barracuda. The ciguatoxin is not destroyed by cooking.
• Scuba Diving-Hyperbaric Chamber Referral: Divers' Alert Network (DAN) maintains an up-to-date list of all functioning hyperbaric chambers in North America and the Caribbean. DAN does not publish this list, since at any one time a given chamber may be non-functioning, or its operator(s) may be away or otherwise unavailable. Through Duke University, DAN operates a 24-hour emergency phone line for anyone (members and non-members) to call and ask for diving accident assistance. Dive medicine physicians at Duke University Medical Center carry beepers, so someone is always on call to answer questions and, if necessary, make referral to the closest functioning hyperbaric chamber. In a diving emergency, or for the location of the nearest decompression chamber, call 919-684-8111.

Onchocerciasis: Risk occurs along fast-flowing rivers at elevations up to 1,000 meters in the northcentral, northeast, and southern regions. Up to 90% of the population is infected in some southern regions. Travelers to these areas should take measures to prevent insect (blackfly) bites.

Other Diseases/Hazards: AIDS/HIV (endemic; seroprevalence increasing rapidly among women), angiostrongyliasis, brucellosis, echinococcosis, fascioliasis, leptospirosis, mansonellosis, paragonimiasis, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever, and helminthic diseases (due to hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, and strongy-loides) are reported.

Schistosomiasis: Risk is present year-round. Risk areas are limited to north-central Venezuela, including the Federal District (but not Caracas) and the surrounding states of Aragua, Carabobo, Guarico, and Miranda. Travelers should avoid swimming in freshwater lakes, ponds, or streams. Risk may be elevated in periurban areas.

Travelers' Diarrhea: High risk outside of Merida, Caracas, Maracaibo, and resort areas. Water supplies in most urban areas are filtered and chlorinated, but may be contaminated within the distribution system. Travelers should follow food and drink precautions. A quinolone antibiotic, combined with loperamide (Imodium), is recommended for the treatment of acute diarrhea. Diarrhea not responding to antibiotic treatment may be due to amebiasis, giardiasis, or cryptosporidiosis.

Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in this country. Travelers planning an extended stay should have a predeparture TB skin test (PPD test) and be re-rested after leaving this country.

Typhoid Fever: Vaccination against typhoid fever is recommended for: travelers venturing outside of tourist areas; long-term travelers; adventure travelers; those wishing maximum disease protection. Because the typhoid vaccines are only 60% to 70% effective, safe food and drink selection remain important.

Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis: Mosquito-borne; highest risk located in northwestern areas, primarily Zulia State. All travelers should take protective measures against mosquito bites to prevent transmission of this viral disease.