The Tribune

CAPTAIN Chase Camacho, who spent his early days cruising the legendary big tuna grounds off Montauk, New York, understands the visceral, gut-tightening thrill of Bimini, fishing the same waters that fuelled the creative fire of Ernest Hemingway and spawned more than 50 international records and hundreds of big game trophies.

“To me, this is the Mount Everest of sportfishing, a place where legends were made - a place where every sport fisherman hopes to make his or her own mark,” said Camacho, who regularly plies the cobalt blue waters off this Bahamian family island aboard the fishing charter Miss Kethleen II, a 58’ Viking Sportfish.

As tournament director for the Wahoo Smackdown series, hosted by the historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina in Alice Town, Camacho says wahoo are the catch de jour during the November to February season. Anglers chasing these greyhounds of the sea (reputed to be one of the world’s fastest fish attaining speeds of 50 mph), have landed nearly eight tons of Wahoo in four previous Wahoo Smackdown outings.

“With all this action it sort of feels like the Bimini of old,” said Camacho. “For the previous tournaments we’ve averaged four to 12 wahoo per boat and between 40 to 100lbs per fish.”

The wahoo’s flesh, he said, is finely grained and sweet and is considered excellent eating. Most of the catches go in the cooler with some being prepared for grilling after a day on the water.

“No better tasting fish in the world in my estimation,” Camacho added.

In the Smackdown Series, the largest wahoo landed has weighed in at 99lbs. The all tackle world record for wahoo is 184lbs.

The entry fee for Wahoo Smackdown V (which includes four anglers per boat)

is $1,250 ($100 for each additional angler) and at stake is $30,000 in cash and prizes. The event takes place on November 14-15.

For Hemingway, western author Zane Grey, retail store magnate Michael Lerner and many others, Bimini was the place to land record fish in the 1930s, 40s, 50s and early 60s. World-class tuna, marlin, swordfish and sailfish migrated along the legendary Gulf Stream that acted as a kind of sushi conveyor belt carrying abundant food to the local fish.

Including the apex game fish, big grouper, barracuda and schools of snapper are found on the reefs. Bimini’s flats, patrolled by local guides, have long been among one of the world’s most sought after spots for bonefish and permit.

Hemingway, who lived and fished in Bimini for two seasons in the 1930s, is credited with putting the tiny island on the international sportfishing map.

A large wahoo caught by Chang Chin six miles off Lyford Cay this week is proof that it pays to stay close to flocks of birds. The numerous flocks between Nassau and Andros and off Paradise Island north to Lyford Cay this week are always a clue to shoals of small tuna. It is always worth trolling larger baits wide and close to the birds.

• For information, including results and tournament dates and photo galleries of fishing in the Bahamas visit the BSFN (Bahamas Sport Fishing Network) page at tribune242.com or bsfn.biz.