In the deep waters off the coast of Aruba you can test your skill and wits against barracuda, amberjack, sailfish, wahoo, blue and white marlin (all marlins are strictly catch and release), kingfish, bonito, and black- and yellow-fin tuna. Chartered boats, with captain, crew, advice, tackle, bait, lunch, and soft drinks, usually accommodate four to six anglers. De Palm Tours (tel. 297/582-4400; www.depalm.com) books half-day tours beginning at $300 per boat. The price for full-day trips goes as high as $700. Pelican Adventures (tel. 297/587-2302; www.pelican-aruba.com) half-day rates are about $300; full-day excursions cost $600. Red Sail Sports (tel. 877/RED-SAIL [733-5245] in the U.S. and Canada, or 297/586-1603 in Aruba; www.redsailaruba.com) offers half-day expeditions for $350 and full-day trips for $700 for a maximum of four. You can also try your luck with any of the other individually owned boats docked at the Renaissance Marina, Seaport Marketplace 204, Oranjestad (tel. 297/588-0260); their captains offer similar prices but may have more flexibility.
