2018 Bimini June trip (June 24th - June 30th)

[Andy S]

@Julian I see you have a couple rods on your boat. I'm an avid fishermen in the gulf and local lakes and rivers in GA. I have a wide variety of fishing gear but would like to keep it simple. What would you suggest I bring as far as rod and reels and baits.

I bring a similar setup as @Bruce . When we are in Bimini you will find reef fishing much better than trolling, the bigger fish have migrated north for the summer. The only success I have had with big reels is bottom fishing around the wrecks.

 

[AL-LL]

AL-LL has registered to captain Ellianna II with a crew of 2 adults and 2 children. They hail from the home port of Greensboro, NC.

The crew is described as: 2 Adults - 2 Children (11-9) - In Building 21

You can register for the event using the form at
https://jetboaters.net/forms/bimini-2018-registration-june-25th-to-30th.8/respond for June 25th to 30th
or
https://jetboaters.net/forms/bimini-2018-registration-july-9th-to-14th.6/respond for July 9th to 14th

 

[tim h]

@AL-LL

Check in to your fuel mileage and fuel tank capacity...
Rough seas eats up ALOT OF FUEL !

 

[MrMoose]

Regarding fishing while in Bimin, I've never gone hardcore fishing, mostly just casual/opportunistic. In other words, I'm there to relax, but on the other hand, I love to fish. I brought a couple spin-cast reels and a few deep-water reels. I got more use out of the spin-cast. We went to Tuna Alley one afternoon and used the deep-water rigs while tied up to a buoy. After deploying the chum bags, we straightened a few hooks that afternoon. In 2017, we were reef fishing off of 3-sisters, and my 13 year old said "Hey dad, be careful when we leave because there's something in the water that you should make sure that you don't hit." I asked him so show me. He thought that it was a log or something. It was a big barracuda. So, out of habit, I always leave an extra unused rod on deck ready to go while fishing, in case someone runs into problems with their rig, they can use it to keep fishing. On this particular day, my extra rod was a 4.5' ugly stick with an ultra-light reel on it. It had a salt water lure on it, ready to go for casting. So, I grabbed it and casted about 20 feet ahead of where the fish was swimming. The lure hit the water, I gave it a couple of tugs, like a fish in distress, then suddenly the cuda darted toward it. It only fought for about 10-15 minutes, but it was the most exciting catch of my life. I've never seen my line zip through the water at such a high speed. Luckily it was more right-left fighting, and I didn't run out of line. Here's a pic from the lower portion of the swim deck on my '15 AR 240. I think that the lower swim deck is about 2' deep for scale reference:

So, my point is that it's a good idea to have an extra rod ready to go while fishing in Bimini.
I wish that I could go again...

 

[robert843]

Regarding fishing while in Bimin, I've never gone hardcore fishing, mostly just casual/opportunistic. In other words, I'm there to relax, but on the other hand, I love to fish. I brought a couple spin-cast reels and a few deep-water reels. I got more use out of the spin-cast. We went to Tuna Alley one afternoon and used the deep-water rigs while tied up to a buoy. After deploying the chum bags, we straightened a few hooks that afternoon. In 2017, we were reef fishing off of 3-sisters, and my 13 year old said "Hey dad, be careful when we leave because there's something in the water that you should make sure that you don't hit." I asked him so show me. He thought that it was a log or something. It was a big barracuda. So, out of habit, I always leave an extra unused rod on deck ready to go while fishing, in case someone runs into problems with their rig, they can use it to keep fishing. On this particular day, my extra rod was a 4.5' ugly stick with an ultra-light reel on it. It had a salt water lure on it, ready to go for casting. So, I grabbed it and casted about 20 feet ahead of where the fish was swimming. The lure hit the water, I gave it a couple of tugs, like a fish in distress, then suddenly the cuda darted toward it. It only fought for about 10-15 minutes, but it was the most exciting catch of my life. I've never seen my line zip through the water at such a high speed. Luckily it was more right-left fighting, and I didn't run out of line. Here's a pic from the lower portion of the swim deck on my '15 AR 240. I think that the lower swim deck is about 2' deep for scale reference:
View attachment 71185
So, my point is that it's a good idea to have an extra rod ready to go while fishing in Bimini.
I wish that I could go again...

Was that thing still alive on your swim platform @MrMoose I'm surprised it was calm if it was.

 

[Gofish206]

Regarding fishing while in Bimin, I've never gone hardcore fishing, mostly just casual/opportunistic. In other words, I'm there to relax, but on the other hand, I love to fish. I brought a couple spin-cast reels and a few deep-water reels. I got more use out of the spin-cast. We went to Tuna Alley one afternoon and used the deep-water rigs while tied up to a buoy. After deploying the chum bags, we straightened a few hooks that afternoon. In 2017, we were reef fishing off of 3-sisters, and my 13 year old said "Hey dad, be careful when we leave because there's something in the water that you should make sure that you don't hit." I asked him so show me. He thought that it was a log or something. It was a big barracuda. So, out of habit, I always leave an extra unused rod on deck ready to go while fishing, in case someone runs into problems with their rig, they can use it to keep fishing. On this particular day, my extra rod was a 4.5' ugly stick with an ultra-light reel on it. It had a salt water lure on it, ready to go for casting. So, I grabbed it and casted about 20 feet ahead of where the fish was swimming. The lure hit the water, I gave it a couple of tugs, like a fish in distress, then suddenly the cuda darted toward it. It only fought for about 10-15 minutes, but it was the most exciting catch of my life. I've never seen my line zip through the water at such a high speed. Luckily it was more right-left fighting, and I didn't run out of line. Here's a pic from the lower portion of the swim deck on my '15 AR 240. I think that the lower swim deck is about 2' deep for scale reference:
View attachment 71185
So, my point is that it's a good idea to have an extra rod ready to go while fishing in Bimini.
I wish that I could go again...

Thanks I've been reading there are alot of cuda in the area. I will bring a couple spinning rods and maybe a small conventional do some trolling with.

 

[Bruce]

Thanks I've been reading there are alot of cuda in the area. I will bring a couple spinning rods and maybe a small conventional do some trolling with.

Cuda are not bad unless you go to the Hesperus. The locals told me not to no unless the kids wanted to swim with schools of cuda. Guess what we found when got there....,,,

Schools of cuda and a few friendly sharks.

 

[Gofish206]

Cuda are not bad unless you go to the Hesperus. The locals told me not to no unless the kids wanted to swim with schools of cuda. Guess what we found when got there....,,,

Schools of cuda and a few friendly sharks.

Id like to play around with some on light tackle and artificial. Then hopefully catch some yellow tail and trigger for table fair.

 

[MrMoose]

Was that thing still alive on your swim platform @MrMoose I'm surprised it was calm if it was.

It was tired when I pulled it up onto the deck. I was too chicken to pick it up for the macho pose, so I giggled the lure out of its teethy-boney mouth and it slipped back into the water.

 

[Bruce]

Id like to play around with some on light tackle and artificial. Then hopefully catch some yellow tail and trigger for table fair.

I believe you will want steel leaders if you are going to try to catch cuda. While reef fishing we often have something come along and take our hook and bait. I have assumed it was cuda teeth.

 

[swatski]

View attachment 71134
Here is a pic of finished product

This is the best mounting spot/setup I have seen in a 240 hull!

--

 

[Hector]

This is the best mounting spot/setup I have seen in a 240 hull!

--

Thanks

 

[Andy S]

Id like to play around with some on light tackle and artificial. Then hopefully catch some yellow tail and trigger for table fair.

One thing I have learned about reef fishing, if have been catching yellow tail, then they stop biting it is typically because a shark has come into the area, yellow tail won't bit again until the shark is gone and the shark won't leave for awhile, so we move to another area to fish.

 

[AL-LL]

@AL-LL

Check in to your fuel mileage and fuel tank capacity...
Rough seas eats up ALOT OF FUEL !

Thanks - fuel tank is 75 gal. Test results from Boattest.com have us at 122 NM at 30mph... realize rough seas will eat up fuel - we will watch the weight and may bring extra fuel.

 

[tim h]

Thanks - fuel tank is 75 gal. Test results from Boattest.com have us at 122 NM at 30mph... realize rough seas will eat up fuel - we will watch the weight and may bring extra fuel.

PLAN ON IT !

We had a similar boat run out of fuel last year. He made it a little more than HALF WAY.

 

[Bruce]

Thanks - fuel tank is 75 gal. Test results from Boattest.com have us at 122 NM at 30mph... realize rough seas will eat up fuel - we will watch the weight and may bring extra fuel.

Last year, the cabin cruiser with 70 gallons did not even make it half way. They drifted for hours with 8 people on board, were towed in and flew to Bimini.

What model is your boat?

 

[tim h]

My mistake, I thought he made it further.

 

[Bruce]

Last year, the cabin cruiser with 70 gallons did not even make it half way

My mistake, I thought he made it further.

Sorry @tim h, he may have made it more than half way. I was stressing the point. Either way it was a very bad situation.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

It looks like I need to carry an extra fuel tank onboard . Mine is 79 gallons but more than twice the weight of my old ar240

 

[Betik]

It looks like I need to carry an extra fuel tank onboard . Mine is 79 gallons but more than twice the weight of my old ar240

lets do that Amar. I hate to use rum as fuel for the boat.