San Sal Wahoo Report

[mirage32837]

Fished San Sal early last week and the wahoo bite is starting to pickup. Not great numbers yet but the size of the fish caught were pretty decent with an average weight of around say 55-60 pounds.

We fished the north end of the island from Green Cay north and followed the ridge to the tip 1200-200 ft. Worked both rising and falling tides but had the best bite about an hour or so before high tide all three days. Speed 10-12 knots, 3 rods and some pretty large lures and had action in all positions. There were a quite few sharks around White Cay and unfortunately lost half of nice one around 80 to them about 30 ft from the boat. But we did manage to get a good one (below) 114.6 lbs secured without a problem.

Did have reports just prior to of our arrival of a few 80+ pounders and another estimated over 100 but not scaled to know for sure. Heard of a cc coming over from the states fishing 30 lb size gear and from what I understand got spooled on 4 of the six rods so I guess they went home to buy bigger gear. If you go over and run anything less than 80's I suggest you bring an extra spool or 2 of line.....

Winter conditions in the Riding Rock marina can still be a little rough but if you’re planning on going over with a bigger boat you want to get a slip on the south end of the marina as far back as you can where the surge will be minimized or on the wall. The good news is for folks that want to take the trip over in a center console riding rock just took delivery of (2) lifts capable of pulling boats up to 34-36 ft and they have built steel cradles to put the boats on so surge is not an issue if you decide to do that give Riding Rock a call at 242-331-2631.

Overall this is one incredible wahoo fishery, big fish here and they is no doubt a potential world record can come out of here so make sure your gear is right and your loaded for bear..... good luck and Great Fishing! Jack

[GT Fish]

Ahh those black barts...Nice job guys!

[Disco Lady]

Pretty work COÑO!!!!!

DL,

[Cutler]

slobs...tight work boys

[Captain Juan]

Nice report.

Juani

[Harry Klauber]

That's the place - for sure. Nice catch. Harry

[wahooking]

Solid fish Jack...Leaving for the tournament tomorrow @ Bimini...weather looks kinda snotty but us young bucks can handle anything.

Talk to ya soon

Anthony
Ace Fishing Lures

[JustinR]

I have dreams of fish like that!!!

[weekley rehab]

some day I will catch one of those monsters. I wonder who I can talk into running my boat over there ?

[Harry Klauber]

I'll go!!! Long trip in a CC with an overnight in Nassau. I've done it before. Harry

[d-a]

Originally Posted by Harry Klauber

I'll go!!! Long trip in a CC with an overnight in Nassau. I've done it before. Harry

Harry

What kind of range is needed in a C/C for a trip like this?

d-a

[bajakian]

D-A You can do it in 2 two hundred mile or so legs. So Fla to Nausau to refuel and sleep and then on to Cat Island or San Sal the next day for another two hundred plus miles. For any center console considering it, I caution you as it is virtually all open ocean and usually pretty shitty in the winter time, so pick your travel days carefully. Also there isnt much help over there if you do have a problem.

[bajakian]

Those are very pretty fish. Way to go guys! What kind of boat were you fishing?

[coolblue32]

black barts boat big sporty

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by coolblue32

black barts boat big sporty

Is Bart over there fishing? Last time I saw him he d had a stroke and wasnt looking so super. Has he recovered?

[GT Fish]

Originally Posted by bajakian

Is Bart over there fishing? Last time I saw him he d had a stroke and wasnt looking so super. Has he recovered?

Bart has been doing pretty good..He fished Kona this year 9 days straight and fished the world cup in that time..He still is at his shop just about everyday on Blue Heron.

[Disco Lady]

Originally Posted by bajakian

D-A You can do it in 2 two hundred mile or so legs. So Fla to Nausau to refuel and sleep and then on to Cat Island or San Sal the next day for another two hundred plus miles. For any center console considering it, I caution you as it is virtually all open ocean and usually pretty shitty in the winter time, so pick your travel days carefully. Also there isnt much help over there if you do have a problem.

No help! is right Doc. That Exuma Sound is a rough mother F#@#ker in the winter.


DL,

[mirage32837]

Thanks Anthony.... best of luck to you guys in the tournament and be safe!
Jack

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by Disco Lady

No help! is right Doc. That Exuma Sound is a rough mother F#@#ker in the winter.


DL,

That Exuma Sound can be a rough mother focker in the summer too!!!

[e-money]

That is awesome Mirage32827 !!

I fished San Sal a number of times and really love that place.

You ain't kidding about getting spooled. Second day on Tuna Tango we hooked a double.

(one on 50W one on 80W)
The 50W was SPOOLED,but the 80W stopped w about 100 yards left.
Fought the fish to about 50' behind the boat & got sharked.
Intact the fish would have been well over 110 (head & small piece of shoulder was 45lbs.) This was just 2 days before Poveromo got that 144,and I was so upset about getting my first 100+ fish sharked.

Mate on boat tried to cheer me up "sometimes you get the bear,sometimes the bear gets you".



Is "Boogey Man" or Floyd still over there? I am apprehensive about running my boat,but would like to round up a few friends & fly over & fish a couple days if any of you know anyone who will be there.

[tuna tango]

I spent many winters down there and have never been to a place that has as many 100# plus fish. I will never forget the first day ever wahoo fishing there. It was Febuary of 96' we left palm beach ran to hole-in-the-wall fished a couple hours with not a bite. Got a call from the boys on the Nuco and they said the bite was going off so with the sun going down we pointed the bow SE and 10 knoted all night. We arrived at daylight and lines in they go. We stopped fishing around 9:30-10:00. had 3 fish over 100#'s plus a bunch under a few yellowfins & mahi's and i think a sail but who cares. Largest of the 3hoos weighed 146#'s and the smallest was if i can recall was around 116ish.That north point and sea mountian holds some monsters for sure!!!

[Captain Juan]

I too have dreamed of making a center console trip to the Outer Islands - Cat, San Sal, Rum.

However, if gas keeps rising, it will again make no sense. A trip like this in a couple legs as Doc describes above is mucho gas. I have been as far as the Exumas. It's not only how rough certain spots can get but also how treacherous such as Yellow Bank and other spots where coral heads and numerous wrecks are awash. Mix in some white caps and poor light and it's a recipe for disaster. Oh, and forget running at night.

J

[d-a]

Originally Posted by bajakian

D-A You can do it in 2 two hundred mile or so legs. So Fla to Nausau to refuel and sleep and then on to Cat Island or San Sal the next day for another two hundred plus miles. For any center console considering it, I caution you as it is virtually all open ocean and usually pretty shitty in the winter time, so pick your travel days carefully. Also there isnt much help over there if you do have a problem.

Thanks for the Info Bajakian.

I have a 26ft Glacier bay C/C and have always wanted to do a 2 week fishing trip thru the Bahamian chain. Don't know if i would want to make it in the winter though. As Far as Hooters goes, we can see them as close as 6 miles out of south pass from Venice La so its hard to make a long run in a boat for them.

d-a

[mirage32837]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I'm not a big forum poster but I do like to try to help when I can and San Sal is just one of those special places worth mentioning where it is possible to get that fish of a lifetime, you just never know what is going to pop up in the spread and where it's going to happen. That potential for "the" fish versus "a" fish always fill our trips with anticipation.

Having fished the Bahamas for about 32 years mostly in the northern Bahamas we never took the time to run over to San Sal and on a fluke we decided to stop buy there on the way to the Dominican Republic and check it out. That was three years ago and we never left have no plans to go anywhere else. It's fishing and some days are better than others but we rarely leave there disappointed. Like all of us now a days you have to consider costs and one of the interesting things about San Sal is once your there you don't go far to get to great fishing. Heck we have caught marlin and wahoo 200 ft past the mouth of the inlet still looking at the dock we came out of ... not many places you can do that. Normally the furthest distance from the dock is about 6-8 miles so fuel burn is minimized.

Riding Rocks new addition of the lifts really open things up to the center console guys and gives you options if you want to stay awhile. Pick your weather window and break the trip up, Nassau, Cat Island the last 50 miles to San Sal and your there. As you can see from the picture below there are some pretty nice days, this was last week. If you want to check it out there are a couple guys chartering there Capt Dave at www.Hadenuffcharters.com has been there about 1 1/2 years now on our advice and I don't think they are leaving either, and Capt Marvin at www.reelcandyfishing.com is heading that way soon. Both excellent operations and reasonably priced and Hadenuff has a center console that they run as well as a big boat.

Capt Bart is doing well, as GTFish indicated thank you for asking Bajakian. He's heading down to El Salvador in a couple weeks to a tournament there and he's looking pretty strong. Yes he has good days and bad days but at 75 he is still one tough SOB.

As I write this e-mail I just got a call from a friend that just got back from San Sal, looks like a blue marlin 150 lbs, (3) wahoo 80-130 lbs approx. and hooked (5) yellowfin got one to the boat about 90 lbs. not bad for 2-days of fishing.... Good luck and great fishing! Jack

[bajakian]

DA- A two week cruise thru the Bahamas can be a great time especially if you take your time and pick the right day to move on. I have been down as far as Rum in the summer but even then the weather can be bad and there is no place to hide or seek protection. All you can do is slow down and put some baits out and enjoy the sights and conch salad. Definitely want to plan that in the summer time, and in a boat such as yours you might want to check out the Abacos first. There are a lot of pretty islands and if the weather is bad you can get some protection in the Sea of Abaco. PM me if you need more information.

[PURPLE FEVER]

Sounds like a charter might be the best way to go this time of year!

[DonK]

Originally Posted by tuna tango

I spent many winters down there and have never been to a place that has as many 100# plus fish. I will never forget the first day ever wahoo fishing there. It was Febuary of 96' we left palm beach ran to hole-in-the-wall fished a couple hours with not a bite. Got a call from the boys on the Nuco and they said the bite was going off so with the sun going down we pointed the bow SE and 10 knoted all night. We arrived at daylight and lines in they go. We stopped fishing around 9:30-10:00. had 3 fish over 100#'s plus a bunch under a few yellowfins & mahi's and i think a sail but who cares. Largest of the 3hoos weighed 146#'s and the smallest was if i can recall was around 116ish.That north point and sea mountian holds some monsters for sure!!!

that's the stuff dreams are made of, J!

Who do you have skippering the TT these days?

[mirage32837]

E-Money, Floyd is there and he fishes with us often, in fact that's him on the right of the deck in the picture of us going out the inlet. He's one of the nicest hardest working guys I have seen and if anyone decides they want to leave a boat over there unattended I would highly recommend him to watch over everything.... good guy and his wife Lee is a queen. Fresh conch salad and chowder normally arrives soon after we get there and I just can't speak highly enough about those guys.

Jack

[tuna tango]

Jim Lund he was with us thru the early 90's till about 01' and then went to work on a 61' Garlington called the L&H. He just came back onboared in April and we could'nt be happy to have him back.

[DonK]

Originally Posted by tuna tango

Jim Lund he was with us thru the early 90's till about 01' and then went to work on a 61' Garlington called the L&H. He just came back onboared in April and we could'nt be happy to have him back.

Cool mon!
Tight lines, and please give my regards to Jay

D