THE Daily Echo's freshwater columnist Mark Simmonds has just returned from the Caribbean island of Tobago, where he completed one of the hardest feats in game fishing, a grand slam of permit, bonefish and tarpon in a day.
Simmonds, who also scored a grand slam in August, fished aboard his own boat "Grand Slam" skippered by Tobagan Kester Herbert to land a 14lb permit, a 7lb bonefish and five tarpon to 6lb during eight hours fishing.
He became one of the few anglers world wide to achieve two slams.
On the same trip, Simmonds took wahoo to 26lb, stingrays to 70lb, bonito to 13lb and kingfish to double figures from the boat, while he ventured further offshore on Captain Frothy De Silvas "Hard Play Two".
He shared a record-breaking day with Irish angler Brendon McKenna when the pair each landed a rare white marling, the first time a boat has taken two whites in a day in Tobago history.
Simmonds also lost a 250lb estimated blue marlin after a hook straightened out.
Simmonds, Wellow carp angler Shaun English and Totton game-fishing enthusiast Pat Paddock, are off to try their luck in Kenya in search of sailfish and broadbill swordfish, to one of the most famous game fishing destinations in the world, Hemmingway's fishing lodge.
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