During the Summer months when the 'google eyes' (Scad) are there in unreal numbers instead of the Blackfish, the Triggers, you'll find big Amberjack and even Yellowfin harassing them literally on that left hand side of the Pier Head. And floating out baits on balloons (or kites) you can hook (not necessarily land)100lb plus Yellowfin from the shore. Some of our Club members tried that last year. There're the Galapagos Sharks as well that you can catch from the shore.
Offshore the two game boats (um ... there's only one left now. They managed to drop Shy 3 whilst attempting to lift it onto Pier Head a couple of weeks ago.) used to put down moorings in 600' on one of the drop offs. We used to freeline chunks for Tuna there. Or the masochists amongst us used to bottom fish for the Six Gill Sharks. The bottom seemed to be carpeted with them as they came up out of the even deeper water. The quickest bite I recall, once the bait touched bottom, was 39 seconds. And the biggest one of our members released was an estimated 1500 pounder. Big? Well, some of the Marlin hooked were approaching that size! Most were released but the largest I saw weighed went 1146lbs and the first month travel to the island was opened up to 'Joe Public' an American boat landed a fish of 1337lbs.
Yup, you're right an incredible fishery if somewhat expensive to get to - over £900 return via RAF transport. That's of course if you're not a member of the Armed Forces. I sense though its days are 'numbered'. Our Foreign Office in conjunction with the Americans seem to be working to create a strategic base in the same way we 'sold out' the natives on Diega Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The contract labourers are precisely that - what happens about those born on the island might be another matter - and despite the island's administration effortsto expand their economy and sell freehold of property it was blocked by the F.O.
So, if you have the chance get down there SOON. As well as what Dave described the vertical jigging is also exceptional.
Back to the Tuna -and I've (hopefully) attached images of a 175 and 225 pounder - the first time I fished there we had massive strikes, but no hook ups, from what we were fairly certain were Bluefin Tuna, fish in the 7 to 800lb range.
Dave