Bahamas Fishing - Only 50 miles off the coast of Florida is some of the best fishing in the world.

"Bahamas Fishing - Only 50 miles off the coast of Florida is some of the best fishing in the world.","

Before we go any further, let's get something right out in the open.
 It's for this reason so many who appreciate these mysterious fish, end the year crossing the Gulf Stream to take full advantage of the most prolific high-speed trolling found anywhere on any chart.
 That is, if you savor coming face to face with one of the fastest and most aggressive killing machines in all the world's oceans.


If this exciting fishery sounds intriguing to you or you're just looking to expand your horizons and brush up on your high-speed skills, then stick around.


Wahoo were probably given their somewhat dubious name from the most common sound emitted from an anglers' mouth when the savage fish strike, leaving the privileged in awe of the relentless power these speedsters command as they tear off on their initial screaming run.
 In lieu of a homing devise, these deadly assassins are armed with wicked jaws lined with surgically sharp, serrated teeth capable of tearing through a 20 pound tuna in one swift slice.
 Favoring tuna, bonito, dolphin and other mackerels, wahoo grow extremely fast reaching close to 40 inches and sexual maturity by the end of year number one.


Structure orientated, wahoo are close cousins to king mackerel and prefer water temperatures ranging from the mid 70s to low 80s.
 Like many pelagic predators, populations migrate north in the summer and head south for the winter, right on the tails of mass concentrations of baitfish and the bonito, tuna, and mackerel feeding on them.
 From there, bait concentrations head into the shallows surrounding the western most reaches of Grand Bahama Island, or continue on their trek south and pile up on the outskirts of the Great Bahama Bank.
 It's these sharp counters bordering both protruding oasis' where high-speed wahoo hunters will find most of the drag screaming action.
 For crews departing Jupiter, Palm Beach, Boynton, and Boca Inlets, this stretch of productive water should be your 'go-to-spot' for serious wahoo action.
 Teams crossing from Hillsboro, Port Everglades and Miami's major cuts will find this stretch a breeze to reach.


Your only obstacle for reaching these promising wahoo areas during peak season smack dab in the middle of winter will be the weather.
 Bearing in mind any amount of wind from a northerly quadrant will leave you convinced the 'Stream would have been better off left alone.


To take full advantage of these brief periods of tolerable conditions between passing fronts, be ready to depart your home port on short notice.
 When the window opens call a couple of your best buddies, load a cooler with rations, and shoot over for a day, a weekend, or an extended holiday sprint.


For as far back as I can recall, every time we've crossed to the other side to get in on the hot high-speed bite we've always kept concise records of moon phase, tide, weather, water temp and so on.
 The increased activity is probably attributed to stronger tides and currents.
 The falling water spilling off the shallow banks brings with it a constant food source.


Regardless which end of the spectrum you head to, West End or Bimini, effective high-speed trolling in Bahamian waters requires specialized tackle and a specialized approach.
 It's this narrow avenue of sorts where the majority of wahoo prefer to hunt.
 Once you encounter your intended quarry, and you will, flip a quick 180 and backtrack through the same depth.


Now that we've made it crystal clear on precisely where and when to find wahoo, let's talk more about appropriate gear and proper execution.
 As I mentioned earlier this type of angling requires specialized tackle designed specifically for the job at hand, a job that requires pulling heavy lures and heavy weights at well above average trolling speeds.
 The later are run much farther back in the pattern.
 But if you feel you're trolling too fast, add two or three more knots of speed and you should be right on the money.
 A common misconception is the added pound or two of lead forces the lures to run well below the surface, they don't.
 The added lead is only implemented to ensure the lures don't skip across the surface.


High-speed wahoo trolling is also not the place for measly terminal gear.
 wind-on leaders straight to our main lines with simple loop-to-loop connections.
 ball bearing snap-swivel is crimped to the end of the wind-on which is where our trolling weights come into play.
 On the opposite side of the sinker, finish things off with a 50', 300 lb. test
 This is where your lures cable leader is affixed.
 They're all heavy, and all feature tapered, conical or bullet shaped heads which create minimal drag and help keep the lures tracking straight.
 To prevent tackle failure, lures intended for this application MUST be rigged with a length of 400 lb. test
 There is no such thing as overkill when chasing these merciless predators.
 They represent high-profile go-fast baits which track true and remain submerged even in the roughest sea conditions.
 Both have an alluring flash and hold up well after numerous attacks.
 Speaking of hooks, wahoo champions attest stiff rigs are the key to hooking and holding more fish.
 The business end will remain right where it needs to be to make a solid connection.
 50 pounds of thrashing chainsaw tethered to the end of a cable can do serious damage.
 Once the prize has been boated, secure the fish in a cooler until the wahoo officially meets his maker.
 Final step would be to pack the entire fish in ice.
 I recommend preparing on a preheated grill after marinating in melted butter, fresh garlic, white wine, fresh parsley, lemon juice and your favorite seasonings to taste.
 Yummy!

The areas we described off West End and Bimini offer fantastic wahoo fishing that will leave you with lifelong memories and a freezer full of tasty fillets.
 It's always fun to high-speed troll alongside other boats and more lures in the water will make pinpointing the action that much easier.
 I hope the info provided helps you the next time you dash across the Gulf Stream.