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 AS SEEN IN THE JULY/AUGUST 2008 ISSUE
July/August Central Bahamas Fishing Forecast:
Central Bahamas: Andros Island, New Providence, Eleuthera, Cat Island and The Exumas.
A little south of Bimini, Rupert Leadon (242.368.5167) forecasts fantastic summer action around Andros. Rupert guides out of the Andros Island Bonefish Club and specializes in fishing near the many creeks that spill into the ocean around the island's pristine coastline. When the water temps reach the upper 80s, Rupert says it is important to target the deeper-creeks as the tide fills in. He says that the bonefish are smaller during July and August, but they tend to hold in larger numbers once you find them. Just offshore of Fresh Creek, Rupert reports that the tuna action is already steady around the Autec Buoys and should remain strong for the remainder of the season. Dolphin will be everywhere and can make for some non-stop action just a few miles offshore. For those interested in working jigs or flashy lures at mid-depths, king and cero mackerel will be readily available on the shallow, near-shore reefs.
Despite being one of the busiest tourist destinations in the Bahamas, Nassau will see its fair share of trophy-catches for those anglers who troll the edge of the Tongue. Captain Mike Russel of Chubasco Charters (242.324.3474) says that blue marlin will be feeding around the full and new moon periods and fish over 400-pounds are always a possibility. The same lunar phenomenon holds true for yellowtail snapper as these tasty critters will be available on just about every reef that surrounds the island in 20 to 100-feet of water.
Eleuthera is famous for having one of the best yellowfin tuna fisheries in the entire Bahamian archipelago, and Stanley Johnson (242.333.3205) says that Dutch Bar and James Point will be staging areas for hungry tuna averaging 60-pounds! These fish find it hard to resist a live pilchard, and Stanley says that light-leaders are the key to success. The area around Sea Gardens will have some hefty kingfish for those wanting to stay close to port in Harbour Island, and although it is not really wahoo season in Eleuthera, Stanley warns that there can be some monster ‘hoo around James Point during the full moon in August. Troll large jet-head lures under the surface for a shot at one of these toothy-speedsters.
Cat Island is marlin central during the months of July and August, and J.R. Holder (242.342.7050) is the man to put you on the fish. J.R. says that he looks for small temperature breaks near Columbus Point and puts out a spread of horse ballyhoo or Spanish mackerel to slow troll around the area. He says that it is a good idea to use beefy tackle for these fish because you want to get them to the boat quickly before the oceanic whitetip sharks show up.
Early mornings and late afternoons present the best bonefishing possibilities around Bennet's Harbour, where Captain Nathaniel Gilbert (242.422.2877) says the bonefish will be on the small side but quite numerous. As with other Bahamian locales, a flooding tide will bring cooler-water onto the flats with the bonefish in tow.
Captain Doug at Fish Rowe Charters (242.357.0870) says that trolling for tuna and marlin along The Wall will be very productive during the late summer. Last year Doug released numerous marlin during July and August with some blues pushing the 500-pound mark! The tuna are suckers for a natural wood cedar plug trolled way back in the spread. Exuma also offers world class bottom-fishing, and deep-dropping for yellow-eye snapper can be phenomenal on flat-bottom depths between 500 to 1500-feet. It only takes a couple big yellow-eye to make some tasty fillets for the entire family!
The bonefishing never seems to slow down in Exuma, and Captain Reno Rolle (242.345.5003) is world-famous for being one of the top bonefish guides around. Fishing with Reno will take you to the pristine waters of White Bay where warm water temps will have the bonefish feeding in the shade of mangrove shorelines. When the conditions are right, it is not uncommon to come across schools of over a thousand bonefish and Reno says that it is hard to beat a Crazy Charley if you are trying to do battle on fly. Sharks will be cruising the same areas as well and can offer a change of pace for fly-casters looking for a challenge.
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