Big-game fishermen are obsessed with running ever farther to escape the crowds and access untapped waters, and the southeastern Bahamas fills that bill nicely. San Salvador, Rum Cay and Cat Island are among the least-fished islands in the Bahamas chain, and the fish-rich waters here would be a parking lot if they weren't so far away.
I had long heard stories of the terrific dolphin and marlin fishing available off Cat Island, and enjoyed an incredible wahoo trip to nearby San Salvador last year. So when I got the opportunity to fish the area again this past May with friend Ray McConnell, I jumped at the chance.
Keying on the appeal of the lightly fished waters of the southeastern Bahamas, Over Under Adventures brings anglers by plane to do battle with yellowfin tuna (top), blue marlin (bottom) and droves of spirited dolphin (above).
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The owner of Ray's Offshore Tackle in Boca Raton, Florida, and the U.S. distributor for Bluewater Trolling Lures, McConnell is a skilled big-game fisherman. He and I were guests aboard Trey Rhine's 54-foot Bertram, the Over Under, for some offshore fishing around Cat Island.
The Over Under operation offers the convenience of quickly getting to a remote island like Cat (roughly 290 miles by air and 330 miles by boat from Ft. Lauderdale) and the opportunity to fish with a top-notch crew aboard a quality boat. Co-skippered by Rhine and Pete Fischer, the Over Under offers all-inclusive, custom fishing packages to the southeastern Bahamas from January through July. Their schedule includes San Salvador, Rum Cay and Cat Island, with private air transportation on Over Under Aviation.
McConnell and I met Rhine and his Piper Aztec at Ft. Lauderdale's Executive Airport, and 2 1/2 hours later we were checked into our rooms at the Hawk's Nest Resort and Marina on Cat Island. Talk about an easy travel day.
The next morning at 7:00 we hopped aboard the Over Under and headed for Columbus Point. Located 12 miles from the marina, this is one of three major pieces of deep-water bottom structure off Cat Island. As its name implies, the point is a submerged extension of the island's southeastern corner, and spans roughly three miles before plummeting into the great depths. The prominent bottom structure and associated upwellings draw incredible amounts of bait and game fish.
Wahoo can spice up a day of Bahamas fishing by tearing through a trolling spread without warning.
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Dolphin Central
When we arrived, the wind was puffing at a steady 15 to 20 knots from the southeast, with seas ranging from four feet on the lee side of the point to eight feet offshore. Flocks of birds were working over small schools of skipjack and juvenile yellowfin tuna, while dolphin could be seen chasing flying fish just offshore. The waters were alive.
We immediately deployed a trolling spread of five to seven lines, some rigged with 81/2 -inch, chugger-style Bluewater Lure called the Spanish Dancer and the rest sporting an 11-inch, slant-head Bluewater Lure dubbed the Rick's Fancy. The former was rigged with three feet of 130-pound fluorocarbon leader and a single 9/0 hook, while the latter was rigged with 220-pound-test fluorocarbon and a single 11/0 hook. Each hook was positioned just inside the lure's skirt. The short fluorocarbon leader on each lure was clipped to a ball-bearing snap swivel on the end of a 15-foot, 200-pound-test wind-on leader coming off the main line. Reels were Penn International 70VS reels on matching Penn International Tuna Stick Rods.
The Over Under operation offers the convenience of quickly getting to a remote island like Cat and the opportunity to fish with a top-notch crew aboard a quality boat. (bottom) In the waters off Cat, heavy tackle is a must for bringing in hooked fish quickly to keep them away from sharks.
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Unfortunately, fishermen aren't the only ones working the waters
off Cat Island. There are lots of sharks here - big ones, too! When you hook a fish, it often turns into a race to see which party ultimately gets to keep the catch. That's why heavy tackle is a must, despite the fact that it might be overkill for most of the fish here.
Species & Seasons
The months of May and June are the months of prime time for blue marlin, with the majority of Cat Island blues weighing between 100 and 200 pounds. When they're in, it's common to get a few shots at them each day. Dolphin gang up in these waters between April and June. Schoolies typically run between ten and 15 pounds, but many larger fish are available.
Yellowfin tuna are another spring headliner. Sometimes you'll encounter schools of "footballs," while other days might yield fish of 40
to 60 pounds.
As expected, it didn't take long for the first wave of dolphin to find us. We hooked a couple of 15-pounders, then scrambled to reel in the other lures before they were attacked. While folks back in Florida might think we were crazy to run away from 15-pound dolphin, our group was after bigger game, so we kept to the outskirts of the working birds. Unfortunately, there was no escaping the marauding dolphin hordes, which continued wreak havoc with our spread.
With all those little dolphin around, we knew that a marlin or two couldn't be far away, so we continued to work the area. However, by the end of the day we had nothing to show for our efforts save for some dolphin-scarred lures.
Catch Cat Island Action on TV!
Experience Cat Island offshore action on "George Poveromo's World of Saltwater Fishing" on ESPN2. The action-packed episode, which was filmed during the author's visit last year, airs Sunday, January 16, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Poveromo's fifth season on ESPN2 kicks off on Sunday, January 2, and airs every Sunday through March. Twelve exciting new episodes will showcase some of salt water's greatest game fish and the most successful methods of catching them. The show is presented by Salt Water Sportsman. For a complete listing of episodes and times, visit
www.georgepoveromo.com.
- Ed.
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The next day brought more of the same. There were plenty of skipjack and dolphin off Columbus Point, along with royal-blue water in tight to the drop-off. The occasional pod of dolphin found us, and we caught a few juvenile yellowfins and skipjacks whenever we added cedar plugs to the spread.
We also missed a sizable wahoo. I noticed a tug on the port outrigger clip, only to look back and catch a glimpse of the fat 'hoo disappearing into the depths. The fish had obviously attacked the lure while swimming toward the boat, putting very little tension on the release clip as it severed the fluorocarbon leader.
Marlin, At Last
About an hour later, a blue marlin finally came to play. I saw the fish charge up and take the lure, so I grabbed the respective outfit and held on. With the marlin taking 80-pound line at a feverish pace, Pete Fischer began quartering on the fish while McConnell and crew cleared the cockpit.
Welcome aboard - the mate brings another dolphin over the transom.
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Concerned over the extra drag created by so much line in the water,
I backed off the drag a bit. Once the fish settled down and we began closing on it, I advanced the drag to its original setting, shifted into high gear and began gaining line, being careful to keep pressure on the fish at all times. Roughly 30 minutes later, a blue marlin of around 125 pounds was led to the transom, where Rhine billed the fish, removed the hook and turned it loose.
Soon after, another marlin crashed one of McConnell's lines. He took the rod and the fish took to the air, throwing the hook during an impressive acrobatic display. McConnell got another shot later that afternoon, but that fish also came unbuttoned.
Ray McConnell, right, slips a typical Bahamas dolphin into the box with the help of Cat Island guide Nathaniel Gilbert.
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The kicker of the day occurred while I was unhooking a dolphin in the cockpit. During this encounter we had reeled the remaining lures close to the boat to keep them away from other dolphin. With the boat sitting dead in the water, I was startled by the sound of line racing off the outfit directly behind me. Apparently a marlin had eaten one of the lures hanging off the transom! Unfortunately, without any forward momentum to help set the hook, the fight was over before it began.
Freak strikes aside, McConnell and I enjoyed excellent fishing during our May trip to Cat Island. In fact, the prospects were so good around Columbus Point that we never felt the need to check out the other major hot spots: Tartar Bank and Devil's Point. The other plus to fishing here is that between the three major fishing spots and the deep drop-off paralleling Cat Island, there's usually a calm side to fish, no matter which direction the wind is blowing.
Cat Island
Bonefish Option
Nathaniel Gilbert runs bonefishing trips on Cat Island, and can also guide you to great bottom-fishing and offshore trips aboard your own boat. Contact his business, Top Cat Fishing Service, by calling Hawk's Nest Resort & Marina at (242) 342-7050, or by e-mail at top catfishing@batelnet.bs. - George Poveromo
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Considering the remoteness of the area, the availability of a top-notch boat and crew, the variety of fishing spots and easy access, Cat Island should be drawing more attention from hard-core bluewater anglers in the coming years. I know I'll be back.
If You Go . . .
The pool at Hawk's Nest Resort & Marina helps anglers cool off after a hot day of fishing.
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Where to Stay
The Hawk's Nest Resort & Marina is a beachfront facility on the southern tip of Cat Island. It's located next to a 5,000-foot private airstrip and within walking distance of the 28-slip marina. The resort features ten air-conditioned, beachfront rooms and the two-bedroom Point House Villa. There's also a fresh water pool, a restaurant specializing in fresh seafood dinners and plenty of watersports to keep non-fishermen busy. For more information, call (242) 342-7050; e-mail: info@hawks-nest.com, or visit www.hawks-nest.com.
The Over Under Experience
Over Under Adventures specializes in all-inclusive trips to Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador from January through July. Exactly which location they fish at a given time depends on what species they're targeting and where the greatest concentration of fish are located. The Over Under crew targets wahoo in winter; yellowfin, dolphin, blue marlin and late-season wahoo in spring; and blue marlin and dolphin through early summer. From July to October the boat heads to South Jersey, where it can be chartered for canyon runs, tuna trips and tournaments. Private air charters from South Florida to the Bahamas can also be arranged through Over Under Aviation. All-inclusive Bahamas packages range from two nights and one day of fishing, to six nights and five days of fishing. For more information, contact Over Under Adventures, (201) 240-4952; e-mail: info@overunderadventures.com, or visit www.overunderadventures.com.
- Ed.
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