One of the most popular sports in the Bahamas is fishing. Adventures such as these can be found just offshore from your Bahamian vacation home by joining a sport fishing charter which includes a boat, captain, crew, equipment and bait. Some charters even include snacks and a cooler of beverages.
We offer some tips on how to enjoy your own sport fishing adventure in the Bahamas. Alternatively, look for the many sport fishing tournaments that take place around the Exumas and join in some serious fun.
SPORT FISHING NEAR GREAT EXUMA
The Exumas are well-known for offering excellent sport fishing adventures. The warm climate and clear water along with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world makes fishing a great way to enjoy this corner of paradise.
Several companies on Great Exuma offer sport fishing charters, so gather a group of family and friends and head out with a local captain and crew. They are sure to be knowledgeable about the best places to find specific species of fish and they love to share their tips and skills. Even the most inexperienced person will soon be catching big game fish such as tuna, sailfish, mahi-mahi, blue marlin, white marlin, barracuda, wahoo, grouper, snapper, swordfish and shark.
BONEFISHING AROUND GREAT EXUMA
For the keen sport fishing enthusiast, bonefishing is an excellent experience. Bonefish are slender and lean with a silver body and a blue or green sheen on their back. Known as “grey ghosts” by experienced anglers, they are quite hard to see in the water. However, once you have one on the line you will know it!
There are many bonefish around Great Exuma and the Bahamas. These fish are fast and usually weigh 4-6 pounds, although monsters can reach up to 19 pounds.
Bonefishing takes place during the cooler months from November to mid-July. On a full moon, bonefish feed at night, so knowledgeable anglers looking for sport fishing adventures know not to bother bonefishing during the day at that time.
Bonefish are caught using a fly as bait which lands gently on the water like a natural insect without a big splash which can scare the bonefish away. Once they have taken the bait, bonefish put up a great fight as they are strong, determined and devious. Even small ones have been known to tow a boat, or an unprepared angler, right out to sea!
Once the battle is won and the photographs have been taken, bonefish are always released back into the water. This is good for ecological reasons, but mainly it is because bonefish live up to their name and are impossible to eat.
TIPS FOR SPORT FISHING ADVENTURES
Sport fishing in the Bahamas will inevitably mean plenty of exposure to the sun. Make sure you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the dazzling glare of sun on water. Apply sunscreen with a high SPF factor and use lip balm frequently to avoid blistered lips and burned skin. Finally, make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration during your day’s fishing.
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