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Going after the big one
WELCOME BAHAMAS - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - 2007
Going after the big one
Big game fishermen have been travelling to The Bahamas for decades to land trophy fish, and it's not difficult to understand why.
The main reason, of course, is the variety and number of big fish that either live in Bahamian waters year round or migrate through at various times of the year.
Capt Mike Russell, owner and operator of Chubasco Charters in Nassau, says there are lots of big ones here to test a fisherman?s mettle. And, since one is never far from deep water in The Bahamas,it ?makes the best areas easy to reach,? says Russell, adding that more than half his charter guests ?know The Bahamas is a great area for sportsfishing.?
Wahoo, dolphin & sailfish
The waters around New Providence are home to a large number of species, but only a few of these are sought, depending on the time of year.
Wahoo is one of the most popular game fish, characterized by its brilliant blue vertical stripes and speed?it?s known to swim at speeds of up to 50mph. Big (over 100 pounds) wahoo are abundant around Nassau during the cooler months: November through January and into February.
Dolphin fish, also known as mahimahi, is the most colourful of big game fish, with vibrant blue, gold and green hues. According to experts, the best time to catch these blunt-nosed beauties is April, May and June, when the water begins to warm up.
Veteran dolphin fishermen look for any object floating on the sea, a weed line, or seabirds diving?all of which may indicate the presence of dolphin.
Sailfish, known for their large dorsal fin, also frequent The Bahamas in April and May as well as in October and November. It is not unusual to see this billfish dancing on its tail when hooked and it?s renowned as a fighting fish.
Sharks and barracuda
Two aggressive big game fish are barracuda and shark, both caught year-round in The Bahamas.
Barracuda can be found offshore and also among the reefs. They frequently jump 10 or 12 feet out of the water.
Deep water around The Bahamas is home to a wide variety of sharks including the dangerous ones: tiger, bull and lemon sharks, as well as hammerheads and Caribbean reef sharks, which range from between five and 10 feet.
While all of these are formidable big game fish, the ones most coveted by veterans are billfish, especially the marlin, which migrate through Bahamian waters during the spring and summer months. Billfish are any of several species of pelagic, or ocean-going, fish including sailfish, spearfish, blue, black or white marlin and swordfish.
Marlin: prize of the sea
There are three kinds of marlin, black, blue and white, prized not only for their massive size but their fighting strength. The blue marlin is generally larger than the white and has pointed fins, whereas the white has rounded ones. The blue marlin is one of the main features in the Bahamian Coat of Arms.
?With most sports fishermen, the marlin is the prize of the sea,? says Russell. ?It?s probably one of the rarest sports fish; we?ve caught some in the 550- to 575-pound range.?
He adds that marlin can be caught year-round, but the biggest marlin usually migrate towards the outer islands such as Cat Island and San Salvador. ?Fish migrate with the water temperature,? says Russell.
There?s more to deep sea fishing than casting a line overboard and hoping for a bite. And if you do hook into a big fish, it takes more than luck to bring it in. Patience and know-how are essential.
?Marlin usually feed off the smaller mahimahi and tuna, so they will be following those schools of fish,? explains Russell. ?Mahimahi and tuna usually travel in fairly decent-sized schools while marlin tend to be loners.?
Russell, a 20-year fishing charter veteran, says savvy fishermen locate their fish from telltales on the water.
?With mahimahi, you look for weed lines and floating debris. For tuna, you [rely mostly on] birds, which are diving after the small bait fish that schools of tuna are feeding from.? The smaller fish come to the surface in a frantic bid to escape.
Time of day is also important with big game fishing, although it?s possible to catch a game fish at any hour of the day.
?We?ll be successful all during the day,? says Russell. ?But if I was going to say to someone that was just going to target (a specific fish), I?d say to go in the early part of the morning or later part of the afternoon?that seems to be the best feeding cycle.?
?But fish, when they?re hungry, they?ll feed all day long,? he added.
The idea of reeling in a huge 500-pound marlin or shark may seem daunting for those who have never held a fishing rod before, but ?big game fishing is fun and exciting for people of all ages and skill levels,? says Russell.
?You?ve got experts who do it and beginners who do it,? says Russell. About half of his guests are novices but accomplished fishermen are just as excited to be out fishing for a big fish.
Big game fishing is particularly popular with families, says Russell. And even if they don?t catch anything, it?s fun to take in the scenery and be out on the water.
?Especially during the summer, probably 70 per cent of our charters are with families,? he says. ?Around Nassau we?re fortunate in that 15 minutes from the dock we?re in 1,000 feet of water?you don?t have to take your kid on a 12-hour charter just to catch a fish.?
A person?s experience and technique also comes into play when catching a big fish. But even if you are a complete beginner, charter boat captains like Russell can help you reel in a trophy.
Big game tournaments
Most charter guests are occasional anglers; a half- or full-day charter is just an enjoyable part of their vacations. But for others, fishing is a way of life.
Each year The Bahamas hosts a number of hard-fought tournaments, attracting professional and amateur anglers from all over, vying for the prestige and trophy of a first-place finish.
One of the most popular tournaments is the annual Bahamas Wahoo Championship, which is actually four separate tournaments held in various locations throughout The Bahamas.
Because the wahoo is migratory, the championship is moved from place to place. The series for 2007 began in November 2006 with the first leg held at the Port Lucaya Marina in Grand Bahama.
The second and third legs were held at the Treasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina, Abaco, in January and Chub Cay, Berry Islands, during the first week of February. The final tournament was to have been held again at Port Lucaya Marina at the end of February.
An awards banquet celebrates the end of the championship series where trophies are presented.
Next on the big-game schedule is the Bahamas White Marlin Open, held at Treasure Cay, Abaco, during mid-April.
This is a three-day, light tackle, all-release tournament that pits angler against billfish where points are awarded for release of certain types of fish. White marlin nets the highest points, followed by blue marlin, sailfish and spearfish. A fun fish division recognizes the largest dolphin, tuna and wahoo caught.
In last year?s tournament, 19 boats competed catching a total of 35 billfish?19 white marlin, 11 blue marlin, four sailfish and one spearfish.
The Bahamas Billfish Championship is another popular tournament held at the end of April through the end of June, featuring five championships.
During the 2007 season, Marsh Harbour, Abaco will host the first leg April 22-27 followed by Harbour Island, Eleuthera May 6-11; Central Abaco/Treasure Cay May 20-25; Treasure Cay June 3-8; and Boat Harbour, Abaco June 17-22.
Like the Bahamas White Marlin Open, points are awarded according to species caught and released. Blue marlin scores the highest, followed by white marlin, spearfish and sailfish. Awards are presented for teams finishing first, second and third. Anglers can participate in any or all of the tournaments but cumulative points determine the overall champions.
This is one of the oldest tournaments in The Bahamas with the first one held in 1973.
A positive impact
Sportsfishing, especially bonefishing and big game fishing tournaments, contribute significantly to tourism, The Bahamas? number one industry.
Rosamon Gomez, senior manager of the Bahamas Tourist Office in Florida, explains that resorts and islands participating in hosting big game tournaments enjoy an influx of activity and revenue.
?Major fishing tournaments have three and four leg series that move from island to island,? says Gomez. ?These tournaments come with a minimum of approximately 40 boats per tournament.
?They not only expose first-rate clientele to the magnificent fishing grounds The Bahamas has to offer, but they also have a huge economic impact, especially for the Out Islands.?
Gomez notes that thousands of dollars are spent on fuel and provisioning the boats with bait, food and water. Local guides are also used by some anglers, and tournaments often attract family and friends to support their teams.
?These people eat in our restaurants, use hotel accommodations and spend dollars in our local communities,? she says, adding that some tournaments are held during critical periods, mainly winter and spring, and bring much-needed revenue during a slow time of the year.
Tournaments have also supported The Bahamas by sponsoring scholarships and promoting conservation. For example, the Bahamas Billfish Tournament has established a scholarship programme administered by the Lyford Cay Foundation to assist Bahamian students interested in studying marine biology at college.
The tournament has also been a consistent supporter of billfish research and has worked towards conservation by maintaining size minimums for billfish catches.
Whether you?re interested in entering a big game fishing tournament or simply enjoying a day out on a fishing charter, it?s a great way to enjoy The Bahamas.
Companies offering half-day and full-day fishing charters are available throughout Nassau and Paradise Island; however, if it?s the excitement of big game fishing you?re after, be sure to check out the Calendar of Events in this Welcome Bahamas issue for dates and locations.
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