1st time in bahamas, this is the boat, what type of fishing would you do ?

[The Fish Whisperer]

I have never been to Hope town and the Abacos
going June 1st

I will trailer my boat from Louisville to West Palm , FL
I will take as of now

2 accurate 500 N 2 speed on JPR rods BLACK HOLE Rods

2 PENN 7000 CONQUER REELS WITH TEMPLE FORK RODS 10- 25 CLASS

I will most likey have a smaller class open face

I have cannon downriggers

Now the questions/
I can't carry the whole bait thing.

What line would you put on the accurate reel ?

I have 30 pd suffix 832 on the penn reels
What lures or type of fishing would you do/ use ?
looking for one style of fishing you would do.
drift fishing , jigging, trolling.

Bait / lure used .
Thanks to all who reply.
don't be afraid to throw something out there

I have nothing yet,

[N2theBlue]

It would be hard for me to go down there without some 50lb class trolling gear and some lures. Bahamalure on the site can hook you up with lures and hook rigs, and Shimano TLD 30II 2 speeds loaded with either straight high end 30 lb mono or 400 yards of 65lb braid and a topshot of 50 lb mono will handle dolphin, billfish, and wahoo. Won't handle a monster blue but should do fine with anything up to about 300lbs.

Other than that sounds like you will be mostly snapper/grouper fishing. Just be well aware of the regulations down there (I haven't checked them lately to see what current ones are) and any promising bottom relief will hold yellowtails and other snappers and groupers. Drift or anchor your preference.

HAVE FUN!

[WahooKing]

Nice vacation choice...I'm sure you'll have a blast...You are fishing in an area with big fish and big sharks...My biggest island Marlin (650lb) came out of the hope town pocket...your outfits are rather small and good for bottom fishing and sight targeting tuna and/or Mahi...Just get them in the boat quickly before the sharks eat em.

Look for bird action for the Mahi and Tuna...You can troll ballyhoo, feathers, small lures, chunck and/or live bait around the schools...Downriggers are not really necessary but it doesn't hurt to have a live one deep around the fish schools.

If you up your tackle and troll a standard Marlin spread, you can have a legit shot at a big pelagic...Good areas are Hole-in-the-Wall, Hopetown Pocket, the Bridge, the Mushrooms, and Jurassic Park.

Good Luck

[The Fish Whisperer]

Nice vacation choice...I'm sure you'll have a blast...You are fishing in an area with big fish and big sharks...My biggest island Marlin (650lb) came out of the hope town pocket...your outfits are rather small and good for bottom fishing and sight targeting tuna and/or Mahi...Just get them in the boat quickly before the sharks eat em.

Look for bird action for the Mahi and Tuna...You can troll ballyhoo, feathers, small lures, chunck and/or live bait around the schools...Downriggers are not really necessary but it doesn't hurt to have a live one deep around the fish schools.

If you up your tackle and troll a standard Marlin spread, you can have a legit shot at a big pelagic...Good areas are Hole-in-the-Wall, Hopetown Pocket, the Bridge, the Mushrooms, and Jurassic Park.

Good Luck

SO would you leave the downrigger home
go with another reel
troll shallow for the the big one?
rick

[frankypettolina]

Just a quick question- have you made a trip like this before? Do you have all the appropriate safety equipment? Charts? What type of Electronic aids to navigation do you have? EPIRB? RAFT?

Not trying to be a wise guy, just thinking that the first things you should be worried about are safety, then the fishing stuff.

Good luck with your trip

[The Fish Whisperer]

Just a quick question- have you made a trip like this before? Do you have all the appropriate safety equipment? Charts? What type of Electronic aids to navigation do you have? EPIRB? RAFT?

Not trying to be a wise guy, just thinking that the first things you should be worried about are safety, then the fishing stuff.

Good luck with your trip

Thanks for caring.
I will rent the life boat and epirp.
I have humminbird 1197 with navionics chip platinum plus and fish chips( gives me one foot increments

I have brought the dodge abacos guide.
read it one time going for another.

If I get there? LOL I have a friend renting a place for the whole month in june
source of help.

I'm scared, but this is what I'm going to do.( Dream Trip)
Still looking for a buddy to cross with.

[WahooKing]

SO would you leave the downrigger home
go with another reel
troll shallow for the the big one?
rick

Yes, I would leave them...but thats just me.

I would up my tackle and troll a standard Marlin spread...Plenty of deep water mounds and canyons to hit all day in different locations.

The problem with trolling shallow is the reef sharks...If we happen to hook a big fish shallow, the big tackle allows us to pull the fish into deeper water and away from the ledge/reef...gives you a fighting chance

[The Fish Whisperer]

Yes, I would leave them...but thats just me.

I would up my tackle and troll a standard Marlin spread...Plenty of deep water mounds and canyons to hit all day in different locations.

The problem with trolling shallow is the reef sharks...If we happen to hook a big fish shallow, the big tackle allows us to pull the fish into deeper water and away from the ledge/reef...gives you a fighting chance

I have never fished off shore except one time
Shark fishing.

So given the stuff I have, would you have an opinion on another type of fishing.
Given the fact, I could not put one large fish in the boat. (size of vessel) Can't anyway from Regs.

Be nice to catch one, but would like to eat something.
Tuna or Wahoo would be nice.

[WahooKing]

Wahoo are gone by mid April...The Tuna should be thick at the time your going...Stick to bottom fishing on the reef with your tackle for Grouper and Snappers...And if you want to venture out for Tuna...Don't blind troll cause you might hook into a big blue...Run around and look for bird action...find the birds and you will find Mahi and Tuna.

[The Fish Whisperer]

Wahoo are gone by mid April...The Tuna should be thick at the time your going...Stick to bottom fishing on the reef with your tackle for Grouper and Snappers...And if you want to venture out for Tuna...Don't blind troll cause you might hook into a big blue...Run around and look for bird action...find the birds and you will find Mahi and Tuna.

OK
once I find the birds, what would you throw at them?