The Tribune

ALICE TOWN, BIMINI — You could say “the wahoos” were running hard in Bimini in November.

The Bahamas Wahoo Smackdown, hosted by the historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina earlier this month, saw more than 60 anglers competing for more than $30,000 in cash and prizes and landing nearly a ton and-a-half fish in the process.

“It was a perfect weekend with lots of action,” said captain Paul Cameron, the tournament director.

“The Big Game Club was the perfect host and the fishing Gods were with us. There were a ton of wahoo and the action was very competitive with only 4/10 of a pound separating first from second place.”

Team Ocean Alley out of Hollywood, Florida, got the top team honours, taking home $7,500 in cash winnings.

Team members Joey Jordan, Alex Antunez, Alfonzo Llanes, Tony Provenzano and Todd Smith caught the largest fish (61.4 pounds) and total catch weight at 225 pounds.

Team Fishless out of Miami, Florida, finished 2nd with a second largest catch of 58 pounds and a total catch of 311.2 pounds.

Chasin Tails of Miami, Florida, finished 3rd with the third largest catch of 53.8 pounds and total weight of 199.4 pounds.

“We listened to what the anglers wanted and we came up with what we felt was a good combination blending reasonable entry fees with great prizes,” said Cameron, who hopes to repeat the tournament in January-February with the end-of-season Wahoo run.

Big Game Club general manager Michael Weber said the weekend “went flawlessly”, including the end of tournament banquet, which featured native Bimini specialties as well as three roasted pigs.

Bimini’s location along the legendary gulf stream (a “river” of warm water) location is at the apex of a superhighway for migrating fish and acts as a kind of sushi conveyor belt carrying abundant food to the local fish.

Deepwater game fish include marlin, tuna, sailfish, wahoo and swordfish, while big grouper, barracuda and schools of snapper can be found on the reefs.

Bimini’s flats are home to the fishermen’s favourite prey – bonefish and permit.

With more than 50-record-setting catches in the waters around the island, Bimini has earned its title of the sport fishing capital of the world.

For information regarding the next Wahoo tournament, please contact Michael Weber at mweber@biggameclubbimini.com