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AS SEEN IN THE July/August 2008 ISSUE
May/June Northern Bahamas Fishing Forecast:Captain Chris Agardy – Conch Tales Charters
Northern Bahamas: Grand Bahama, The Abacos, The and Bimini.
On the west side of Grand Bahama, Mosby Vogler (www.grandbahamabonefishing.com) says that grey ghosts can be found foraging on the deeper flats-edges seeking refuge from the warm water temperatures. He expects that visiting anglers will encounter smaller bones in July and early August, with larger fish revealing their presence towards the end of the forecast period. Target your efforts around flooding tides as the slightly cooler water is pushed back onto the flats.
The east end of Grand Bahama plays host to a myriad of angling opportunities for shallow-water enthusiasts, even in the dead of summer! At Phil and Mel’s Bonefishing Service (877.613.2454) Captain Phil reports that smaller bones will be utilizing high tides to search for forage along mangrove shorelines. Freshly cut conch fished near the shadows of overhanging branches will be the most productive method during the steamy summer months. Anglers can also expect some monster barracuda and sharks to be cruising the edges of the flats and they can be day-savers if the bonefish bite turns out to be slow.
For those looking to capitalize on the red-hot yellowfin tuna bite off Grand Bahama, Doug Silvera of Reef Tours (242.373.5880) says that July and August have historically been great times to target these blue-water brutes. The presence of the tuna schools is usually given away by flocks of birds working the surface near Tuna City to the west and the canyons to the southeast. Doug says that the larger fish tend to go deep during the hottest parts of the day, so concentrate your efforts around early mornings and late afternoons. Once you locate the tuna, live bait is the preferred method, however, feathers and cedar plugs trolled way-back will account for plenty of fish as well. Doug says that when baitfish are present, 100-pound yellowfin can be caught right out front of Port Lucaya.
Over in Abaco, the yellowfin tuna will be thick around the drop-offs and pinnacles near Jurassic Park and The Mushroom. Captain Henry Sands (242.365.5140) of Guana Cay says the tuna are less spooky near the outer-islands and live bait is not always a necessity. July and August are also great times for targeting giant blue marlin around Hole in the Wall, The Table, and the Guana Hump.
As water temps reach the upper 80s, the deeper-flats around Abaco will see a slowing in the bonefish action. At high tide, the fish will move onto the flats around Cherokee Sound, but the deeper-water will make sight-fishing difficult at best. At JR's Bonefish Guide Service (242.366.3058) Captain JR promises that the fertile flats of the Marls still offer incredible bonefishing this time of year. JR advises against venturing out into the Marls without the help of a local guide, as the maze of islands can quickly become disorienting for those without keen local knowledge.
Boats heading out of Chub Cay Marina in the Berry Islands will be in search of monster marlin and tuna as well. Derron Webb (242.325.1490) says that the Tongue of the Ocean should be teeming with baitfish and the summers light winds will make for outstanding blue-water opportunities. Locating tuna and marlin near The Pocket will be easy as long as early season tropical storms don't mud up the waters too much. Derron reports that last summer there were so many dolphin around they became pests for anglers targeting more prestigious billfish and tuna. Hopefully we are burdened with the same problem once again this summer!
In Bimini, Captain Jerome Stuart (242.347.2053) is excited to report that he caught five blue marlin in the month of May and expects the billfish action to remain steady through the rest of the summer. Jerome says that closer to the reefs, amberjack, grouper, and kingfish will be biting when the tides are in full swing and areas from the Great Isaacs south to Orange Key deserve close investigation. Try fishing in Bimini around the full moon to increase your chances of catching everything from marlin to muttons. If you do find the mutton snapper, and the bite is on, remember that the limit for demersal species is 60-pounds so pay attention to what goes in your cooler.
Bonefish Ebbie (242.347.2053) promises there will be plenty of action for flats anglers looking to bend a rod, with sharks, tarpon, and even the occasional late season permit available on most flats around Bimini. Ebbie says that despite the stifling hot weather there will still be some big bones caught on the deeper flats-edges. These bonefish can be very spooky when the winds are light so stealth is key!
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