Grand Bahama Offshore
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ccording to Capt. Billy Black, Duchess Sportfishing, fishing conditions off West End, Grand Bahama in July is a prime time to come across large female blue marlins spawning in Gulf Stream waters. Migrating dolphin, all species of tuna and a few late season wahoo can also be caught on the troll.
“I personally like to use rigs that are pink, yellow, and green and blue and white in the early part of the day. By later afternoon I prefer the darker colors purple and black, red and black, and black and green. Summer light winds and calm seas will make deep dropping in 600 to 1,200 feet conducive for yellow eye and queen snapper. Anchoring and chumming for yellowtail and mutton snapper in 60-to-80-feet will also prove successful.”
Long Island Offshore
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]apt. Luke Maillis, Reel Addictive Charters, reminds readers July is the start of yellowtail snapper spawning, which means there are large aggregations of fish around Long Island, such as big grouper, cubera snapper and kingfish.
“One of the best schools is located on the southwest side of Long island where the Continental Shelf drops from seventy feet to thousands of feet. It can be a lot of fun to anchor on top of the edge and chum for yellowtail and kingfish, as well as take the opportune moment to get in the water and spear a world record cubera snapper or grouper. With a consistent chum line, the yellowtail will float close to the boat and you can simply drop a bucktail jig with a piece of squid to them. There are a lot of bar jacks that come around the boat and can be caught for live bait to catch a kingfish or big cubera. With the wind tailing the boat towards the drop off, it makes for the perfect opportunity to fly a kite right off the back of the boat. This often is a deadly technique to catch the kingfish.”
Exuma
[dropcap]P[/dropcap]er Capt. Doug Rowe, Fish Rowe Charters in George Town, the next two months (July and August) will be the last shot for some really quality fishing.
“The tuna and marlin will have settled in to the routine. Some of the largest tuna will be showing up in the sound the next two months. Yellowfin to upwards of 70-pounds for those who put in the time. For the tuna, small baits will do the trick, as well as cedar plugs and small swimming ballyhoo with or without an Islander cover. Early morning and late afternoon will be the best times. For marlin, larger lures and big baits are the plan here, with whole mackerel and horse ballyhoo being the ‘go to’ baits. We have had several marlin also grab small tuna as they were being reeled in. Deep dropping will continue to be strong and bottom fishing as well.”
