With summer comes calm seas and great fishing, and May begins our summer here in Bimini. April started out the season with most boats at least hooking up with a blue marlin. With that being said, May will be even better! Our best day was hooking three blue marlin and a sailfish right out front.
We have all seen shows and read articles saying they are fishing from such and such a place, when in fact they ran hours from that location to catch fish. This month, when I am referring to “right out front,” I literally mean the waters in front of the red and green buoys to the center of North Bimini. Almost all of the action is from 100 fathoms to 350 fathoms. Usually we do not have to fish that deep, but many of the marlin and other billfish are being caught out there (which is only 1.5 miles offshore). They will be hitting any combinations of natural bait or artificial lures. I only use “pinless” ballyhoo rigs when targeting billfish; by doing this, the only sharp object on my bait is the hook, so if he hits, but doesn’t hook up, he will not be spooked off by getting pricked by the pin, getting you a second strike most of the time. Naked ballyhoo and ballyhoo rigged with a skirt, such as a Bluewater Candy Feather-Weight, have been working best for me.
Also, you will be finding lots of mahi-mahi and a few yellowfin tuna, so be prepared to catch anything this season while trolling. As always, the deep dropping on the ledges is very productive. For those without electric reels, there is always the tasty strawberry grouper that can be found right out front in 160 feet of water. To wrap up May, there is great fishing minutes from the inlet, allowing boats of all sizes to take advantage of the excellent fishing Bimini has to offer.
FORECAST BY: Capt. Skipper Gentry/Carolina Gentleman
Bimini Big Game Club/Guy Harvey Outpost Resort
Alice Town, Bimini, Bahamas
Phone: (305) 320-3011 or (242) 347-3391
Email: skipper@carolinagentleman.net
www.biggameclubbimini.com
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