Bahamian Duo

All offshore anglers residing in Southeast Florida - including myself - are spoiled rotten. I can not think of any other stretch of coastline in the United States where anglers can battle so many different glamorous species less than a mile from shore. To prove the point, blue water enthusiasts north of Sebastian are forced to routinely make the 35- to 70-mile run to fish the same blue-water that we reach within minutes, and that is just one of many examples. During the winter however, these same anglers to the north lay claim to better fishing for trophy wahoo and back-straining grouper, and I am not one to disagree.

You see, over the years, I, too, have become addicted to fishing for these two very different predators but unfortunately, here off our stretch of coastline, they can be difficult to find on a consistent basis. So how does a local angler overcome this challenge? Easy, we embark on a 50-mile run east. It’s there on the other side of the Gulf Stream where we enter some of the most fertile wahoo and grouper grounds on the planet. The promising destination is known as the fine island chain of The Bahamas. Along with their associated banks, the Bahamas provide our local angling community the opportunity to target super-fast wahoo and immensely powerful grouper only a few hours from our home port – and with potential for great success. This is world-class fishing at its best, even by the most jaded anglers’ standards.

Visitors have a number of options when deciding where to start their Bahamian duo adventure. Bimini is barely 50-miles from Miami, thus making it the ideal destination for boaters heading across the ‘Stream from the Upper Florida Keys to Hillsboro Inlet with minimal gas consumption and ride time. Anglers departing from Boca Inlet and ports north, will probably want to set their sights on West End, Grand Bahama, situated approximately 56 miles due east of Lake Worth Inlet. Both check-in points offer customs and immigration facilities and numerous accommodations and marinas in whatever price range fits your budget.

Fishing either of these fertile waters in the winter is highly dependent on changing weather patterns so be sure to keep a sharp eye on the offshore marine forecast before making the crossing. If the winds are out of the north at more than 15 knots, stay home! Wait for a window of calm weather in between fronts and then go. It is important to remember that periods of calm seas typically only last for two days so being prepared will insure you are ready to depart at a moments notice. If at all possible, get underway early in the morning so once you arrive in the islands; you will have plenty of time allocated for the customs process. If you have never visited Bimini, you must understand that the locals work on “island time” and a process as simple as reviewing your documents may take much longer than desired. The earlier you arrive, the better chance you have of being first in line when the door opens at 9:00 am. Arriving early also allows your crew to top off on fuel and take care of last minute rigging duties before your fishing adventure begins.

Pre-trip Loading your boat the day before a big trip is always a good idea and will minimize the amount of time you spend fumbling around in the early morning hours. Along with safety items, tackle and fuel, remember that ice can be hard to come by in the islands so between fish, food and beverages, I suggest you bring an ample supply that will last your entire trip.

For high-speed wahoo duties, you’ll need four heavy-duty trolling outfits. I suggest two of these outfits include bent-butt rods and 80lb. class reels loaded with wire line. The other two outfits can either be bent or straight butt rods with equivalent reels loaded with 80lb. mono or braid. I have had excellent results with both, but prefer braided line as it slices through the water more efficiently when trolling at speeds in excess of 15-knots. Since you want your wahoo lures tracking below the surface, bring a bucketful of torpedo-shaped trolling leads ranging from 16- to 48-ounces. Between the lead and the lure, rigging should consist of 25- to 35-feet of 300lb. test monofilament shock leader with crimped-on heavy-duty snap-swivels at each end. To complete your wahoo arsenal, you’ll need multiple heavy, bullet-shaped jetheads with various skirt combinations - proven colors include blue, purple, pink and black. Wahoo lures should be rigged with no less than 24-inches of multi-strand cable and tandem, in-line, heavy-duty 10/0 hooks. Visit your local tackle shop and look for the above mentioned hooks with heat shrink tubing over the connection which helps keep the trailer hook in place. Large Drone spoons and Yo-Zuri Bonita are good alternatives but their hookup ratio is not as high as the tandem hook setup. Regardless, it’s a good idea to incorporate one plug in the spread for a little variety.

Preparation for tackling monster grouper means breaking out your heavy duty meat sticks with sturdy conventional reels loaded with nothing less than 50lb. test mono or braid – choice is yours. I like to bring one set-up for each angler so everyone has a chance to get in on the exciting bottom action. With the amended Bahamian fishing rules and regulations now set at 60 pounds of demersal species per trip, the first two anglers to haul up monster blacks may be the only ones that get to keep their catch. Regardless, bring plenty of heavy mono for leader, as anything lighter than 100lb. test will not hold up along the jagged reefs where the largest, strongest fish reside. I like to bring over as many jigs as I can afford; between sharks, ‘cuda and massive coral heads, the odds are against you once a monster does decide to inhale your offering - cutoffs are inevitable. To exponentially increase your chance of hooking up, attach a trailer hook to your jig. This can be done by purchasing heavy-duty, open-eye hooks and securing them onto the shank of the main hook.

As far as bait, a six-ounce jig tipped with a fresh ballyhoo or mullet cannot be beat. When rigging such offerings, insert the main hook under the lower jaw and out through the top of the bait’s head. The trailer hook can then be inserted farther back in the bait – just be sure that the insertion point will permit the bait to track straight and swim naturally. Fresh ‘cuda strips are a good alternative because they are hearty, smelly and easy to come by. Cut strips about eight inches long and about an inch wide. Affix the strip to both hooks, again making sure that the insertion points are measured correctly to prevent the jig/bait combo from spinning.

Let’s Go Fishing!

Now that you are well-prepared for the fish, where do you start your search for action? Both Bimini and West End offer similarly promising reef ledges, and you can start high-speed trolling for wahoo right out front of both locations. In West End, the edge that you want to fish runs north for about 50 miles towards Matanilla Shoals. This entire stretch can be very productive for both species, but White Sands and Memory Rock (clearly marked on nautical/fishing charts) are historically known for producing very impressive catches.

If you are fishing out of Bimini you have a choice of either heading north or south as the drop-off is very distinct in either direction. If you head south, the ledges around Cat Cay or even further south towards Orange Key where there is little fishing pressure are where I would start. Heading north along the ledge from Bimini will eventually lead you to the Isaacs which are very well known for a multitude of species. Ask around the docks, as the locals are usually kind enough to point you in the right direction.

Deciding which species to target first is also easy. When in the Bahamas, base all of your wahoo and grouper efforts on the tides. If the tide is outgoing, I would recommend high-speed trolling for wahoo as they will likely be stacked up on the ledge, preying on baitfish filtering off the shallow banks. Generally, the ‘hot bite’ lasts for about an hour at either the beginning or end of the outgoing tide. To capitalize on this prime-time scenario, it is important to fish the entire tide regardless of how lackluster the fishing may be. Trust me, your persistence will eventually pay off!

High-speed trolling may be a bit unorthodox in the fact that you will be trolling at speeds approaching 20-knots. When doing so, you can minimize fuel consumption by trimming down your bow and finding your boats ‘sweet spot.’ If you cannot get the boat to plane then I suggest keeping your speed at the lower end of the spectrum - around 12 knots - to save significantly on fuel costs.

An effective high-speed trolling spread generally consists of two wire rods fished short, and two additional rods fished long. I use a 48-ounce lead on the shortest wire rod and fish it about 75-feet back. The second wire rod is rigged with a 32-oounce lead in front of the shock leader. Use a 24-oounce lead for the long bait and a 16-oounce for the way, way back bait. Deploy the longest baits first to avoid possible tangles. When scouting the banks for wahoo, a series of zigzag turns in 175- to 500-feet of water is the way to go. Zigzagging will allow your lures to track out of the prop-wash where the keen-eyed predators can get a clear view of the escaping baits. I have found that the majority of strikes come right after the inside turn as the baits accelerate back over the ledge towards the deeper water. When you connect with a fish, wait a few seconds before pulling back the throttles to increase your chances of a multiple hookup. When you do slow down, do so just enough to gain line on the fish while still keeping forward momentum. When your trolling lead reaches the boat, carefully leader the wahoo straight through the tuna door or into range of the designated gaff man.

The grouper bite will occur on both tides, but I prefer to jig at mid-tide since these tackle-straining bottom-dwellers tend to bite best when the current is ripping.

When targeting big grouper, you want to be adventurous with your depth finder. After pulling in your wahoo spread, slowly maneuver your vessel along the reef in depths ranging from 100- to 400-feet, while at the same time looking for fish concentrations near the ocean floor. Eventually, your color screen will light up with life; this is where you want to deploy and work your jigs. Drop until you hit bottom and then give your reel handle a crank or two to keep the jig suspended slightly above the jagged reef. When you feel that signature grouper thump, don't waste any time - start pumping and cranking as hard as you possibly can with your drag pinned! Most grouper battles are either won or lost in the first 10 seconds, so make the time count!

One great thing about this fishery is that monster-size fish can be found anywhere along the aforementioned banks and when you locate them, you will be rewarded with a great sense of accomplishment. If they aren't at one spot do not get discouraged. Keep searching and you will surely strike gold.

Chasing both wahoo and grouper in the islands is pretty simple and straightforward and after a little practice, both fisheries become second nature. If you plan your island trip accordingly and prepare ahead of time, it's a pretty good bet that you, too, will become addicted to winter’s Bahamian duo!

See you on the other side.