Why I built this
I've been there: bills late, a stressful job, everything piling on. But once you're on the water, all of that melts away. The fishing takes over and you're not thinking about anything at all. It doesn't last forever, and you still have to go back. But for those few hours, everything goes away. That's why I built this site: to help more people find those hours, wherever their water is.
— BigJoe, Boquerón, Puerto Rico
Meet Captain Big Joe
I'm Joe Arias, "Captain Big Joe." I've had a boat since I was 20, and my kids grew up on the water with me. Today my kids and grandkids still fish with me whenever we get the chance.
For more than 38 years I lived in Chesapeake, Virginia. I fished the Chesapeake Bay, the Outer Banks and the Virginia Beach offshore grounds (the Fingers, Wayne's World, the Light Tower) and ran the Intracoastal Waterway. Now I live and fish in Boquerón, Puerto Rico, on the reefs, mangroves, beaches and blue water of the Caribbean. I'm also an FAA-certified drone pilot, so some of the views you see on our channels come from my own drone.
The site is based here in the Caribbean, but it covers fishing around the world: 115 fishing maps on every continent, tides and weather, rules and species guides for recreational anglers and commercial captains alike.
My philosophy is simple: it's called fishing, not catching. I like light line (12 lb mono is plenty for a lot of fish) and giving the fish a fair chance. We only keep what we eat; the rest go back to fight another day. In Puerto Rico, tarpon and bonefish are catch-and-release only, and every tarpon in our videos was released.
How we check our facts
Every species guide, map and calendar is built from real sources, not guesses: FishBase, NOAA Fisheries, Florida FWC, IGFA world records, Puerto Rico DRNA fishing rules, Sea Grant, iNaturalist observations and official tourism and fisheries agencies, plus what we've learned on the water. Fish photos are credited to their photographers. Rules and seasons change, so always check the official agency for your area before you keep a fish.
See a mistake? Email jiarias@caribbeanfishingwithbigjoe.com and we'll fix it and thank you for it.
BigJoe’s Family
Good friends send good fish. See catch photos and videos from BigJoe's friends and family, like our friends at Outdoor Dog Supply in Chesapeake, Virginia (outdoordogsupply.com).
Fishing first, outdoors always
BigJoe's first love is fishing, but like all fishermen, he also hunts and enjoys many other outdoor activities. That's why the Gear Shop now has Hunting Gear and Air Rifles next to the rods, reels and tackle. In the woods, on the bay, in the mangroves or on the open ocean, the everyday struggles get left behind.
Built around the water
BigJoe Fishing started with the reefs and mangroves of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is still home, but the site now covers fishing of every kind on every continent: North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific: offshore, inshore, reefs, mangroves, flats, beaches and piers, and lakes and rivers from the Great Lakes to the Amazon, Africa and Asia. There are Fishing Hot Spots maps for more than 110 areas around the world, with new ones added almost every day, all free and in English and Spanish.
What you'll find here
Everything on the site is free, with no ads, in English and Spanish:
- Start Here: a beginner's guide to your first fishing trips.
- 782 species guides: what each fish looks like, where it lives, the best bait and rig, and whether it's good to eat.
- Fishing Hot Spots maps for more than 110 areas, with protected areas marked in red.
- Fishing calendars: the best months for each fish, with bait and rigs.
- Rigs, bait and lures and techniques, explained step by step.
- Fishing Conditions: weather, wind and tides before you go.
- Island fish recipes for cooking your catch.
- Free directories of fishing charters and bait and tackle shops.
Questions, corrections or ideas? Contact Captain Big Joe.
Responsible fishing
Local rules, marine safety, conservation, and careful handling belong in every fishing plan. Conditions and regulations can change, so always check official sources before a trip.
Brands & partners
Outdoor, fishing and marine brands can partner with BigJoe: see who we are, what we publish and our promotion policy.