Abaco Offshore
Capt. Travis Kelly, from Gusto Charters and Guide Service in Marsh Harbour, promises a steady stream of mahi-mahi action in June, along with good chances for a billfish hookup, and coolers filled with yellowfin and blackfin tuna. “The billfish bite will be very good in June. Troll in the 500-to-2500 feet range. Use squid teasers and mullet dredges to bring them into the spread. Trolling rigged ballyhoo with smoker heads and chuggers will produce the bites for mahi. Naked baits and artificial lures that creates lots of action will all draw the attention of billfish to your spread, so be prepared. Thirty-to-eighty-pound gear is best for trolling offshore. Try adding some trolling weights (32-to-48 ounce) to some lines to help track baits a bit deeper in the water.”
If the offshore bite slows down, there is always bottom fishing inshore for snapper and grouper. “Grouper season is open and vertical jigging metal jigs in 80-to-200 feet can produce rockfish and grouper. Bottom fishing from 20-to-50 feet of water with squid will produce bites. Mutton should begin to school on the next full moon.”
Grand Bahama Offshore
Capt. Billy Black, from Duchess Sportfishing, confirms that it’s tuna time in Grand Bahama waters. “My last Bahama fishing trip proved to me that the annual migration of tunas is on. We caught many schooling blackfin and yellowfin tunas. The blue marlins are always following the tunas. Time to break out your heavier equipment and keep your eyes open for flocks of birds following the schools of tuna. Also watch for the giant bluefin tuna pushing water heading north. For this type of action, I use cedar plugs and various colors of lures. Slow the troll down to seven-to-eight knots and circle around the birds, instead of through them, which drives the tunas down. Tune your radar in to two-to-three miles to find the flocks of birds. If you don’t have radar, use your binoculars in the tuna tower if you have one.”
South Eleuthera Offshore
Capt. Calvin “Cali” Jolly, whose homeport is Davis Harbour, reports, “Late spring, fishing brought a consistent bite throughout South Eleuthera, especially along the Bridge. Billfish have been released daily along the north eastern side of the Bridge as the big blues follow the tuna schools north. The tuna bite has also been red hot with 40-to-50-pound yellows being caught south of Savanah Sound on the Atlantic side of Eleuthera. Dolphin and wahoo continue to be active along the walls as well, in the 150-to-400-foot range.
For complete Bahamas fishing forecasts, visit www.coastalanglermag.com/bahamas.
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