Bimini
“As the wahoo bite begins to fade and dolphin, tuna and marlin enter the picture, so does the month of March” according to Capt. Chase Camacho, based out of the Bimini Big Game Club. “March remains one of the those month’s where it’s anyone’s guess as to what you’ll catch, whether it will be slow trolling or fast trolling all bets are on! Wahoo, dolphin, marlin, tuna are all competing for your baits and targeting one or another, you might very well get the QUAD-FECTA of them all. Tuna Alley still seems to draw top tuna fishermen for the lure of the big tuna, found just 4 miles South of Bimini.” Yellowtail remains strong off of Cat Key and just south of Issacs. Locals Capt. Ben and Capt. Stephen Knowles of Golden Dreams both report of having had strong catches in both categories of grouper and yellowtails, and tell us March should be just as strong.
East Grand Bahamas
Capt. Whitney Rolle of Firefly Bonefishing, reports: “Although we had a few cold fronts, they did not last long so the water temperature is still in the mid 70s. So the fish that you will be targeting (like bonefish, permit. barracuda and many more) are out on the flats enjoying the warmer water. Normally at this time of year, the water would be cold so the fish would move in deeper water. This March even the creeks have lots of fish life. Both natural and artificial baits work great whether you are using spinning gear or fly fishing.”
Nassau
Capt. Teddy Pratt of Reel Deal Charters reports fishing has been staying pretty good even though wahoo are beginning to become scarce on the ledges. He has been venturing further offshore and has been very successful finding mahi-mahi, some wahoo and tuna. His recommended bait is ballyhoo or lures. He also said that yellowfin and skipjack tuna are being caught.
South Eleuthera
“The only word that comes to mind about this season: EPIC,” reports Chad Melton of Ocean Fox Cotton Bay Deep Sea Fishing. “On February 3rd I started fishing for six days straight and we landed 50 fish and 25 of them were trophies! Dolphin are running 30 pounds plus average. White marlin, yellowfin, wahoo, kingfish, and dolphin all running at the same time. I have fished the south end of Eleuthera for nine years and never a bite like this. Bait is plentiful along with large schools of ballyhoo. Always match the hatch and you will produce. March will only get better with the water warming up by six degrees during February.”
Exuma
Capt. Doug Rowe of Fish Rowe Charters from George Town reports an early arrival of mahi-mahi and schools of gold and blue in Exuma Sound. He also said, “If the bait comes early then the tuna and marlin won’t be far behind. So get the big stuff ready to go because Mr. Blue Marlin may show a little early this year.”
North Eleuthera
Capt. Ryan Neilly of Spanish Wells Fishing said the top three species in March for North Eleuthera area will be tiger grouper, mahi-mahi and yellowfin tuna. Tiger grouper will gather in March and towards the end of the month, mahi-mahi will become more plentiful. He also commented that the yellowfin tuna have been late this year compared to past years.
Long Island
Capt. Luke Maillis of Reel Addictive Charters says it seems to be an early season this year with plenty of yellowfin tuna being caught in February. Boats have also been catching a few white marlin, mahi-mahi and some wahoo. He’s been focusing on yellowfin tuna with live bait, as this year has produced a large schools of pilchards, which he shared the locals take advantage of.
For more detailed reports, visit www.cambahamas.com.