Fishing Tips - Bahamas

H

hank schneider

New member
Hi Folks
Leaving out for ManOWar on the 14th (weather permitting). Anybody have experience with fishing in that area? Doesn't look like rocket science but I'd like to know what works - the boat may sink if I fully stock up with all possible junk.
Thanks
Hank
 
Hank,

Sounds like a great trip. I plan to fish the Outer Banks and near-shore area around home (Beaufort, NC) during May 18th-22nd while hosting a family from Beaufort, France.

Keep us posted on the trip and the fishing.

Norm
(BTW - are you trailering down to FL and taking off from FL or dropping in the ATL in NC and crusing down and across?)
 
Hank,

Do you mean Man O War in the Abacos? I'll be in the area May 8-16 on a charter sailing deal out of Marsh Harbour. No fishing experience, but some snorkeling/diving. From what I've read so far, jigging around the outer edges of the reefs is likely to be productive for mutton snapper, small grouper and a few others I can't remember. I'm planning to bring jigging stuff, and a few trolling/casting lures.
 
Hank,
What little I know, I will pass on.....Mostly I snorkeled with a pole spear or used a sling.
Start fishing before you get there. You can troll up to 20 miles an hour. Wahoo will still catch up and take the lure. Purples and black are good color. Dorado.... Yellow and blue and slow troll to about 10 knots. One of these fish will feed you and yours for about a week.
On the banks to the outer reefs, spanish Mackerel. Mutton Snapper, grouper and the best eating Hog Snapper. Barracuda abound in the Bahamas. Only eat the small ones. Watch the flys when cleaning them. If they start dropping like flys, throw the fish away. (tongue in cheek) Cuda will hit about anything. I have used fresh water lures with success. Balsa ones last for one hit only. Buck tail jigs ( yellow) will catch a variety. Even Eagle Rays will hit them. When you get tired of fighting them you have to cut them loose.
The grunts will hit cut bait and are good eating. Lots of yellow tail snapper. If you like the fight, put a Grunt on a heavy line with a steel leader and leave it out toward evening. Got a nice 4 ft black tip ( shark)one night. Good fun and good eating.

If you have blue water gear, Marlin, sword fish, tuna, sail fish, shark can be had right off the banks at M.O.W. I carry 30 lb two speed Penn reels mounted on 50 lb Outer Banks rods.

Good luck and have fun ( wish I was there). :(
captd
 
captd":1u05qj44 said:
Start fishing before you get there. You can troll up to 20 miles an hour. Wahoo will still catch up and take the lure. Purples and black are good color. Dorado.... Yellow and blue and slow troll to about 10 knots. One of these fish will feed you and yours for about a week.
Click to expand...

Yes, wahoo are VERY swift swimmers and will hit a lure that is moving quickly. To observe a strike is amazing; like a bolt of lightning. They have VERY sharp teeth so gaff then dispatch prior to bringing them on board. They also frequently travel in pairs. In Hawai'i they are called "ono" which means delicious. :wink: Dorado or Mahi Mahi are fun on lighter tackle as they are fantastic jumpers and the show is great. Once on board they'll thrash around like no one's business, so I made it a point to remove the lure prior to bringing them on board. Both have nice white filets of firm moist meat.
 
Captd wrote:
Barracuda abound in the Bahamas. Only eat the small ones.
Click to expand...

I believe the length should be not greater than 2 ft if I remember right. Larger than that they will eat other reef fish that can carry the cigitera disease.
 
Hi Hank,
Where will you be leaving from, and how long will it take you to get over there? I would like to make a trip over to the Grand Bahama some time with several other boats. But would like to catch the whether good.
Have a good and safe trip.
Jim
 
Hi Folks
A friend in town -Alex- has a place on MOW and there is a group that goes right after Mother's day each year. The group has shrunk to my boat and Patrick Eves' boat but having local knowledge available can't hurt. I was going to go it alone when school let out but this seems a lot safer and gave me an excuse to get a kicker (just for safety - promise I won't troll). The boat Crossing will take place at Sunrise from Jupiter Inlet. Thursday Morning May 14th. Memory Rock is the course and it is something like 58nm. The gulf stream should be around ~ 2hrs. The trip to MOW will take the rest of the day.
We are driving the boat down earlier in the week and will visit family on Merritt Island. I'm taking my son which pissed off everyone in my family. I'm looking into leaving the boat and flying back so Karen (better half) and daughter & her guy can go back with me a couple of weeks latter.
What do you troll at 20 mph that doesn't get spun into a birdsnest? Love to catch a ONO. Saw a guy cruising around in a cuddy cabin in 98 and have never though I could be me
 
Hank,

We were on the west end of Grand Bahama a few years back. As others have mentioned cuda were plentiful. Yellowtail snapper is very good to eat!

No one mentioned the "BUGS", island speak for bayonet lobsters.
They can be speared most anywhere thats rocky or on the reefs and are a treat fer sure.

Good luck, I wish we were along.

Capt Dan
 
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