Team “Nearly Impossible” Lady Anglers joins the Growing Field
Among the dozens of seasoned anglers heading out for some wahoo action next month will be three ladies to prove that women winning a popular Bahamas fishing tournament is far from being “Nearly Impossible.”
Jessica Hawkins, Jill Mercado and Katie Colville‹experienced anglers all have entered the tournament hosted by the Bimini Big Game Club Resort &
Marina as Team “Nearly Impossible” along with first mate Dominic Miller and Hawkins’ charter captain husband Ralph Hawkins.
With an anticipated 30-plus boats, the Hollywood, Florida-based team will be up against tough competition fishing for wahoo and vying for $10,000 in
cash and prizes. Another tournament first is a $1,000 bounty for anyone breaking the current IGFA all tackle wahoo record for the Bahamas.
“Interest and early registration for this November 12-14 tournament has been very strong” said Tournament Director Misty Wells. “Naturally, I’m an
advocate for women anglers competing and having Team Nearly Impossible onboard should give the guys an extra incentive.”
Wells said last November, the Wahoo Smackdown tournament attracted a record 29 boats. Team “Cash Out” took heaviest fish honors with 47.6 pounds. Heaviest five fish over two days trophy went to team “Fishin A Loan”, and Heaviest Fish (First Day) winners were team “Snow Cone’s Revenge.”
For Wahoo Smackdown VII, Wells has added new species categories and a youth division along with the women competitors.
Registration fees are $1,500.00 per boat . Sponsor FishBrain, which is offering the $1,000 bounty for breaking the Bahamas wahoo record, will also
provide teams with a free upload of its fishing app, the world¹s largest social network for anglers.
Tournament sponsors include FishBrain, Bost Lures, Sands Beer, Tito’s Vodka, Bucket Innovations, Don Ray Marine Artist, Island Air Charters and Salt Life Sunglasses. JVC Broadcasting– 900 AM The Talk, 95.9 The Palm and 93.5 The Bar will be broadcasting live from Bimini during the tournament.
To register go to www.biggameclubbimini.com/smackdown or call 242-347-3391.
The Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina is owned by the Southern California-based Hankey Group and is managed by Horizon Hotel Group.
About the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina
Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina, in Alice Town, Bimini, The Bahamas, is a popular, internationally-regarded boutique Out Island resort less than 50 miles from South Florida. The property features 51 guest rooms & suites, a 75 slip full service marina, a dive center with daily dives, rental
equipment, a variety of scuba diving lessons and specialty training courses and a fresh water swimming pool. The Big Game Bar & Grill is the most
popular restaurant in Bimini serving American and Bahamian cuisine with all day dining from a second floor vantage point overlooking the marina and
bonefish flats of Alice Town. Bimini is known for world class beaches, fishing and diving and is a family-friendly destination with many on-the-water activities, including kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling and boating.
About Wahoo (Scombridau Family; also called ONO fish, Pacific kingfish)
The wahoo can be found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas. Pelagic and seasonally migratory, the wahoo tends to be a loner or travel in
small groups of 2 to 6 fish. There are indications of seasonal concentrations off the Pacific coasts of Panama, Costa Rica and Baja California in the summer, off Grand Cayman (Atlantic) in the winter and spring, and off the western Bahamas and Bermuda in the spring and fall. It is found around wrecks and reefs where smaller fish that it feeds upon are abundant, but it also may be found far out at sea. The wahoo is reputed to be one of the fastest fish in the sea, attaining speeds of 50 mph (80 km) and more. The first scorching run may peel off several hundred yards of line in seconds.
Occasionally this fish jumps on the strike and often shakes its head violently when hooked in an effort to free itself. Fishing methods include trolling with whole, rigged baits as well as with trip baits or artificial lures. Live bait fishing and kite fishing are productive.
The wahoo’s flesh is finely grained and sweet and is considered excellent eating.
By: John Bell
