The Tribune

The Bimini Big Game Resort is exepcting its “best turnout yet” for its Wahoo Smackdown III, scheduled for November 21-23.

The hotel is expecting that there will be two dozen boats in the hunt for prized Wahoo meat and a chance to win cash, trophies and prizes.

Documenting the action will be legendary angler Larry Dahlberg, whose ‘The Hunt For Big Fish’ airs on the NBC Sports Network. This has an annual audience of 16 million in the US alone, and has gained rave reviews for the fast-paced editing, unique camera angles and often large fish.

“This will be our best turnout yet,” said Bimini Big Game Club general manager, Michael Weber. “We had more than 150 anglers catching some 6,000 pounds of Wahoo in our first two tournaments, but the word is out that this is a great, fun weekend and the registered boats keep climbing.

“We’ve also attracted some great sponsors for this tournament, which is a good sign that sport fishing is back in Bimini.”

Tournament director, Captain Paul Cameron, said the entry fee for the Wahoo Smackdown III (which includes four anglers per boat) is an affordable $1,250 ($100 for each additional angler). First place prize is $5,000, followed by $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third. Largest catch prize is $2,500.

Sponsors currently include Hooters, G&G Shipping, Sysco, Bost Lures, Ocean-Tamer Marine Bean Bags, Blue Coast Company, Blue Moon Fish Company, Malin, Maco, Sands Bahamian Brewery, Florida Yacht Interiors, Hopkins Carter, Wooly Booger Lures, Resort World Bimini, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Gray Taxidermy, Canyon Gear Custom Tackle, Compleat Angler Marine, and Colin Yarnell Goldsmith.

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 Sport Fishing Capital of the World.