Early Bird Registration Discount Also Available Through September
Chasing wahoo in November has become an annual ritual in Bimini with anglers competing for bragging rights and thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. The Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina, which for several seasons has hosted the popular Wahoo Smackdown Tournament series, is adding new species categories, youth and women’s divisions and an open bounty of $1,000 for anyone breaking the current IGFA all tackle Bahamas record for a wahoo.
Wahoo Smackdown VII, scheduled for November 12-14, will be a “must fish” weekend for anglers with a chance to make fishing history and earn a cash bonus, according to Tournament Director Misty Wells.
In addition to cash prize for a record wahoo catch, Wells said women are being encouraged to participate, and she will waive the entry fee for the
first all-women team to register‹a tournament first.
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.”
Wells, a longtime angler who has competed successfully in numerous Florida and national tournaments, said early bird entries through the end of
September for Smackdown VII are $1,350.00 per boat (a 10 percent discount). Sponsor FishBrain, which is offering the $1,000 bonus for breaking the
Bahamas wahoo record, will also provide teams with a free upload of its fishing app, the world’s largest social network for anglers.
To register go to http://biggameclubbimini.com/resort/events/tournaments/big-game-club-wahoo-s mackdown/ or call 970-708-7997 Misty Wells Tournament Director.
Currently, $10,000 cash prizes are guaranteed, however, that number, according to Wells, will increase with an increase in boat entries.
Tournament sponsors include FishBrain, Bost Lures, Sands Beer, Tito’s Vodka, Bucket Innovations and Don Ray Gear, Don Ray Marine Artist and JVC
Broadcasting– 900 AM The Talk, 95.9 The Palm and 93.5 The Bar.
Bimini, just under 50 miles due east of South Florida, is home to more than 50 world fishing records and has hosted many world class fishing tournaments over the seasons. 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 Bimini¹s title as “Sportfishing Capital of the World.”
Today 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
