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In the recent Summer 2004 issue, we introduced Project Far Beyond and
described how it all began. We talked about how an initial idea had
evolved into something much greater, an ongoing adventure of sorts…… To
fully recognize where we’re going with all this, please make it a point
to read the first chapter in this exploratory project. After careful
consideration, we’ve decided the most informative way for us to
describe each trip is to relive the experiences with you, one island at
a time!
Plans to present each leg of the exciting expedition as a feature article for you to enjoy and to learn from are right on target. Our aim with this series of editorials is to open new doors and introduce fresh opportunities to the majority of the sport fishing community, the mid size boat owner. Even if you’re already a seasoned island hopper, we’re sure that somewhere between these lines is something you too will find useful.
Many South Floridians regularly cross the Gulf Stream in search of more promising territory. On most occasions, their first stop is Bimini. Though the South Florida Sport Fishing Crew has already documented a number of distant destinations with even greater results, we’ve decided to kick off the series as close to home as possible. Once in Bimini, some travelers will continue eastward to explore further into the island chain and some will opt to stay. Those that do stay are in for a real treat.
Along with the world class sport fishing opportunities, what makes this destination so attractive is its proximity. Despite being only a short fifty miles from the South Florida coastline, spending any length of time in Bimini leaves you believing you’re a world away. The whole area is tiny compared to some of the more popular islands, though North and South Bimini combine to offer one of the most opportunistic sport fishing destinations on earth. And make no mistake about it; the laid back tropical atmosphere here is all about fishing. Bimini truly is an angler’s paradise!
Our most recent trip kicked off with an uneventful crossing through a crisp 2 foot chop. Running over to the islands is always exciting as your anticipation builds with each passing mile. With the lack of a well defined horizon stretching into the clouds, Bimini’s low profile gradually appears from about 7 miles off.
With our yellow quarantine flag flapping in the breeze, we broke the jetties at Bimini Sands well before noon. Upon arrival, the first step was clearing customs. For those who have never had the pleasure of clearing customs, it can be like a trip to the grocery store the day before Thanksgiving when there is only one register open, and you’re 87th in line! It is not uncommon for the process to take longer than it actually takes to cross the 50 miles of open ocean to get there. It’s a mystery why there isn’t a time-saving computerized system for clearing customs. And some of the questions you’re required to answer on the paperwork, are they for real? Nonetheless, the law is the law. For those who have had the pleasure, I know you’ll agree there has to be a more efficient way! Nevertheless we were there and we were going fishing!
The marina at Bimini Sands is nothing short of first rate, with new floating docks, fresh water and plenty of fish fillet stations. We finally tied up in our reserved slip, stowed our gear and walked through what was to be our residence for the next two days. We were pleasantly surprised stepping into a fully furnished one bedroom apartment with all the amenities of home. The room overlooked beautiful palm trees, a glistening white sandy beach and a turquoise horizon. Not too shabby!
With the approaching full moon, the only thing on our mind was muttons! A short two mile run southwest of the islands led us to our first drop over a large patch reef in 75 feet of crystal clear water. Everyone will tell you the bottom fishing off Bimini is exceptional. Exceptional is really an understatement. The diversity and abundance of life inhabiting the local reef system is unimaginable. Our chum slick was swarming with life minutes after anchoring. 15 minutes later, the scene was pandemonium.
A pair of juvenile sharks on the perimeter of our slick tore apart anything they could sink their teeth into. More cero mackerel than I’ve ever seen raced within clear sight of the transom. Closer to the boat, flag yellowtails swarmed like bees around a hive. Beneath them, brilliantly painted queen triggers made short work of any remaining morsels. As electrifying as the scene already was, below all of this surface activity the mutton bite was on fire!
There are two tricks for bagging slob muttons in this Bahamian wonderland: big baits and tough tackle. Whole ballyhoo, large chunk baits and live grunts all make irresistible offerings. My favorites also include live pilchards and small legal size yellowtails cut diagonally into thirds. You have to agree that a chunky 15 pound snapper or 20 pound grouper is much more likely to inhale a 4 inch bait than a small sliver of thawed, mushy herring. Plus with the larger baits, you can count on avoiding most of the pesky, bait stealing critters.
Disregarding all the surface activity, we whipped out a few beefy 30 pound class outfits and readied for attack. Our rigs consisted of 6/0 Gamakatsu live bait hooks tied directly to 8 feet of 80 pound Hi-Catch leader material. Barrel swivels held the four ounce egg sinkers in place. We dropped a few large baits down and prepared to do battle.
It goes without saying that with the larger baits and stouter tackle you’ll experience less strikes. The bites you do get will likely be from larger, more prized fish. You’ve got to ask yourself if you would rather catch ten 2 pound yellowtails or a 20 pound grouper. We know our answer.
After only minutes of fishing, the first hefty mutton dangled from the sharp end of the gaff. Over the next two hours, every drop resulted in our bait getting hammered! We did loose a few runaway freight trains, but with half a dozen beautiful muttons in the box along with a healthy yellowfin grouper, the score definitely leaned in our favor. Our reef excursion finally came to an end as the hot bite fizzled and the approaching thunderstorm progressed from threatening to unleashing! Swapping war stories with anglers at the cleaning table was a great way to end the evening. Iced fillets and a well deserved shower later, we cruised over to the Complete Angler to perfect our ring tossing technique. Understandably, day two began a little later than expected.
Hungry for some quick action, we decided to start the day with a few drops out in the deep. Again, only a short run was required to plant us above a well defined edge some 1200 feet below. Deep dropping is gripping. It may not be the most interactive form of fishing, but it’s surely one of the most surprising. I can attest that the variety of species pulled up from the dark, chilly water far below make for the best tasting fish sandwiches you’ve ever wrapped your hands around!
It was still early in the day and there was plenty of flaky white meat for the freezers, so we decided it was time for Plan B. It was time to venture off in pursuit of something more glamorous. We secured the Kristal 651 electric rod & reel, pointed the bow south and began our search. Our plan was to troll a pair of split tail mullet in hopes of attracting a wahoo, along with a pair of rigged Spanish mackerel in the event any interested blues showed up. In all honesty, I don’t think any of us expected it to really happen, although we were prepared for the occurrence.
More than two hours passed without a single indication of life, when to our delightful surprise one of the 50 wides unexpectedly screamed for mercy. Without warning a majestic billfish had clobbered the long mackerel. We were more than ecstatic by the sight of an estimated 250 pound blue grey-hounding toward the horizon. My crew cleared the remaining lines, and we found ourselves west of Gun Cay chasing a commanding billfish around a seemingly endless ocean. Two unmerciful hours and two exhausted anglers later, the blue marlin was released to fight another day. This couldn’t get any better!
Threatened by yet another severe storm, and with close to a twenty mile run ahead of us, we decided not to bite off more than we could chew. Everyone aboard agreed it was time to head for the barn. We returned to the marina and headed to the Tiki bar to join a number of other anglers already swapping fish stories. Sipping frosty tropical drinks we were pleased to hear another boat in the bunch also scored a billfish release. And all of this only a two hour boat ride from home!
We departed early the next morning for the trek home. Refreshed and ready for more, we began to troll. Unfortunately five long hours produced absolutely zilch! We never ran across more than a smidgen of weed, any rips, or any birds. It was like the ocean was void of life. Unwilling to throw in the towel, we trolled on!
Finally, ten miles from our home port our efforts were rewarded by a pod of blackfin tuna that blasted our spread. We were eager to end our trip on a positive note, so after landing two of the three footballs we called it quits and shot straight for the crack. Overall, the entire jaunt was a huge success! We filled our coolers, released a blue, and had fresh sushi as the icing on the cake. Most importantly, we arrived home safe & sound.
If you aren’t already convinced that a trip to Bimini is a great way to spend a couple of days, then maybe you should focus more effort on an alternate sport. Bimini is close, affordable, and best of all, the fishing is outrageous! Add to that the pristine beauty of the islands and the camaraderie with your companions and you’ve got the makings for the ideal sport fishing destination!
By the time this article hits newsstands, the 2004 hurricane season will be in full swing, though windows of opportunity for safe passages will open between approaching fronts. With decent sea conditions, crossing to Bimini should take no more than a few hours from most South Florida ports. Keep a sharp eye on the weather, and you can cross safely in a single outboard powered center console. If you’re hesitant about crossing alone, many local fishing clubs host flotillas. Safety in numbers is always a good idea, especially for your first trip or two. As the season progresses, avoid northerly winds that collide with the Gulf Stream and create an angry sea. I would highly recommend you check out the Bimini Cruising Guide for detailed information on crossing the stream, finding accommodations, and fishing Bimini. (www.BiminiCruisingGuide.com)
Prior to exploring more distant and adventurous territory, first master the trip to Bimini. Then you will have the skills and confidence necessary for more lengthy journeys. Thank you for reading, and we’re looking forward to seeing you on the water.
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