Bahamas Wahoo Smackdown Tournament Announced

Hosted by the Historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina

ALICE TOWN, BIMINI - Host of some of the Bahamas’ most memorable fishing tournaments in past seasons, the venerable Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina is proud to announced the Bahamas Wahoo Smackdown, scheduled for November 15-17th.

Tournament Director Captain Paul Cameron, who served as the owner-director for the Classic American Sportfishing Tournaments (CAST) which covered the U.S. eastern coast from New Jersey to Key West, is putting out the call for competitive anglers to kick off the wahoo season with entries now being accepted.

“We listened to what the anglers wanted and have come up with what we feel is a good combination blending reasonable entry fees with great prizes,” said Cameron, who hopes to repeat the tournament in January-February with the end-of-season Wahoo run.

Bimini’s location along the legendary Gulf Stream (a “river” of warm water) location is at the apex of a superhighway for migrating fish and acts as a kind of sushi conveyor belt carrying abundant food to the local fish. Deepwater game fish include marlin, tuna, sailfish, wahoo and swordfish, while big grouper, barracuda and schools of snapper can be found on the reefs. Bimini’s flats are home the fishermen’s favorite prey, bonefish and permit. With more than 50-record-setting catches in the waters around the island, Bimini has earned its title of Sport Fishing Capital of the World.

The Bahamas Wahoo Smackdown entry fee of $1,250 includes four anglers per boat and $100 in giveaways. First place prize is $5,000, followed by $1,500 for second place and $1,000 for third. The boat landing the largest fish will receive $2,500 plus a trophy from Gray Taxidermy. Artwork by celebrated marine artist Wesley Carter will also be included in the prize structure for first, second and third place. Bahamas Out Island Board is also offering a $300 fuel voucher for teams entered in the tournament.

Captains meeting for the tournament will be held at the Big Game Club Resort & Marina in Alice Town on November 15th, with the two-day tournament following on the 16th and 17th.

The Big Game Club Resort & Marina will also offer special discounted tournament room rates and a marina slip rate of $1 per foot (not inclusive of water and electric). To register for the tournament, please email reservations@biggameclubbimini.com or call 1-800-867-4764.

About The Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina
The Bimini Big Game Club, a legendary outpost for fishermen and host to numerous major sportfishing tournaments for more than half a century, officially re-opened in 2010 following completion of a $3,500,000 renovation that included all guest rooms and the new Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill. More recently owners have added the Gulfstream Conference Center and Hemingway’s Rum Bar & Social Lounge, a fully outfitted watersports facility and a floating dock to accommodate seaplane service directly to and from the resort.

About Wahoo (Scombridau Family; also called ONO fish, Pacific kingfish)
The wahoo can be found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas. Pelagic and seasonally migratory, the wahoo tends to be a loner or travel in small groups of 2 to 6 fish. There are indications of seasonal concentrations off the Pacific coasts of Panama, Costa Rica and Baja California in the summer, off Grand Cayman (Atlantic) in the winter and spring, and off the western Bahamas and Bermuda in the spring and fall. It is found around wrecks and reefs where smaller fish that it feeds upon are abundant, but it also may be found far out at sea. The wahoo is reputed to be one of the fastest fish in the sea, attaining speeds of 50 mph (80 km) and more. The first scorching run may peel off several hundred yards of line in seconds. Occasionally this fish jumps on the strike and often shakes its head violently when hooked in an effort to free itself. Fishing methods include trolling with whole, rigged baits as well as with trip baits or artificial lures. Live bait fishing and kite fishing are productive. The wahoo’s flesh is finely grained and sweet and is considered excellent eating. The current all tackle world record for wahoo is 184 lbs.