Fishing for a Piece of Bimini History – Anglers Return for Fifth Installment of the Wahoo Smackdown Tournament
OutdoorHub 07.21.14
Capt. Chase Camacho, who spent his early days cruising the legendary big tuna grounds off Montauk, NY, understands the visceral, gut-tightening thrill of Bimini–fishing the same waters that fueled the creative fire of Ernest Hemingway and spawned more than 50 international records and hundreds of big game trophies.
“To me this is the Mt. 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 colbalt blue waters off this Bahamas out-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 (www.biggameclubbimini.com) in Alice Town, Camacho says wahoo are the catch de jour during the November-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 4 to 12 wahoo per boat and between 40 to 100 pounds 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 99 pounds. The current all tackle world record for wahoo is 184 pounds.
The entry fee for Wahoo Smackdown V (which includes four anglers per boat) is an affordable $1,250 ($100 for each additional angler). At stake is $30,000 in cash and prizes to be won.
For information regarding the next Wahoo tournament and to register online, please go to http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/big-game-tournament.htm or call (800) 867-4764.
For Hemingway, western author Zane Grey, retail store magnate Michael Lerner and many others, Bimini was the place to land record fish in the 30s, 40s, 50s and early 60s. World-class tuna, marlin, swordfish and sailfish migrated along the legendary Gulf Stream (a “river” of warm water) 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. During its heyday, Bimini anglers, including Hemingway (who is credited with being the first to land an unmutilated tuna on the docks) would catch many hundreds of blue marlin, bluefin tuna, sharks and other game fish for display and trophy mounts. Today the blue marlin granders and huge bluefin are rare. Catch and release thanks to the IGFA and conservation groups is the norm for many billfish and sharks caught, though Camacho said that wahoo, yellowfin tuna and dolphin are still prevalent in certain territories.
“You have to know the spots, factor in the tradewinds, time of year and in some cases follow the birds,” he smiled.
Big Game tournaments and Bimini were synonymous, says Camacho. The International Annual Bicardi Rum Billfish Tournament originally had its roots in Bimini. Over the years Bimini was a Mecca for big game anglers and was host site to numerous fishing competitions including the Frankie Brown, The Hemingway, and the famous Cat Cay tuna tournaments.
Grand Central Station for tournament hosting was the Big Game Club, opened for business in 1947. Owner Neville Stewart saw the promise and allure of fishing and personally developed and encouraged tournaments. He sold his interest to Bacardi, which over 30 years grew the tradition with many memorable tournaments helping to build Bimini’s title as “Sportfishing Capital of the World.” The current owners, the Southern California-based Hankey Group— put the iconic fishing resort back in play in 2010 following a $3.5 million renovation that included all guest rooms, the new Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill, Hemingway Rum Bar and Social Lounge and the Outfitter Shop.
“We are back in the game,” said Camacho, who expects 30-plus boats for Wahoo Smackdown V. “We expect many of the same teams back, hoping to add their names to a long prominent list of Bimini tournament winners. Like the Big Game Club logo represents, our tournament tradition is all about Comradeship, Good Fishing and Good Times!”
