May and June surely have been windy down here in South Abaco, and we are really hoping to see some summer trade winds take effect in July! A recent fishing charter yielded five bonefish releases and one permit that threw the hook. The bonefish have been on the flats in solid numbers and the water is warming up fast.
The inshore trolling has been very productive on days we have fished, with catches varying from mutton snappers to groupers and large jacks, as well as the ever-present barracuda. We have been trolling with 20-pound, 30-pound and 50-pound tackle and pulling small Rapala style lures, but most of our successful hookups are coming on a ballyhoo and Islander combination trolled at about 6 knots. On the flats this month, we are still targeting bonefish and permit with 10-pound spinning gear and 9-weight fly rods. We have been using various shrimp and crab imitation flies for the bones.
When sight fishing the flats, we have been targeting the barracudas with 15- to 20-pound spinning gear tipped with both tube lures and bait fish imitating stick baits. The larger snappers and jacks that roam the deeper channels love to eat conch slop, or a piece of cut pilchard. The yellow jacks especially have consistently been providing an action packed fight on spinning tackle in the shallow waters. As long as the tide is flowing, the fish should be biting.
I hope that you will take the time to come visit us in South Abaco during the summer 2015 season. Complete packages can be offered ranging from ground transportation to accommodations to meals during your South Abaco stay. I can be reached via email at tony@southabaco.com if you have any questions or need further information regarding our South Abaco inshore fishery.
Tight lines!
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