Bahamas full moon fishing w Ulyses,Sonny and Joey

This was a much anticipated trip because we had our two friends who have never been to the Bahamas before. Two friends we met on the SFSC site Sonny (sharkinsonny) from Tennessee and Joey (smokinya) from Alabama were to join me and my buddy Ulyses to fish the Bahamas from Ocean Cay and north to Bimini.The excitement displayed by these two Bahama newbiies was contagious and I felt like a young 16 year old teenager going to the fishing mecca of the Bahama Islands all over again .This would be a memorable trip for our two new friends they would see and catch exotic fish beyond there imagination.We would troll offshore for pelagics,troll inshore for shark bait(cudas,kingfish and mackeral),troll inshore for reef fish (big grouper and snapper)we would drift and deep jig the ledges for every type of big fish one could imagine,we would anchor and bottom fish for yellowtail snapper and grouper and shark fish with the big guns,and finally we would do deep drops to catch some of the Bahamas best eating fish the yellow eye snapper and black snapper.This trip would have our two landlocked buddies reeling with excitement at the variety of fish and fishing techniques that they would get to experience .Ulyses my ex Mr America(lightweight division) buddy would be the catalyst for a wonderful time to be had by all even though he and I sometimes butt heads with our latin tempers.On this trip I did not take as many pictures as I should of so paint a mental picture and you will see all that we caught..

L-R Joey, Ulyses and Sonny at the ramp and ready to sail east miles to our destination

on the trip east we had flat seas great for crossing the Gulf stream

We did not see any dolphin or tuna on the voyage east but we found a huge weed line and we quickly employed the sabilki rig and caught plenty small jacks and blue runners to use later as live bait.

the Speedo master at work

fresh ceviche with lime juice,cilantro.green peppers,red peppers,onions ,fresh yellowtail and mackerel mix

fixing dinner for the hungry crew--chopping up the green peppers

That first night the shark fishing we caught several sharks including lemons,nurse and caribbean sharks but by Bahamas standards the bite was a bit off but that's what I get for planning a trip and not checking on the moon phase.We caught some Caribbean reef sharks(green monsters)and Sonny lost a nice shark that was taking good drag on his 14/0.We also caught plenty of flag yellowtail and assorted other reef fish including a 15 lb horse eye jacks(they look like Trevally) that almost kicked my butt on the 12 lb spinning outfit.The anchor secure ,and the anchor light shining I checked the entire boat over for safety's sake before we laid down to get much needed sleep at 4 am

the night bite is on and Ulyses got some big flag yellowtails this being one of the smaller ones

fighting a big nurse shark on the Penn 9/0 that swallowed a big grouper bait

Joey fights a good sized reef shark

Joey's Caribbean reef shark (green monster as we call them)boat side

Life is great on the high seas -good friends ,blue water ,and big fish that will wear out even the strongest blokes.Fisherman,sportsman,divers,bohemians of every type come to these exotic islands to leave far behind the troubles of every day life ,,,,and it works while we're here IT'S HEAVEN .On the Island we are caught in a long downpour that has us running for cover but after a while dancing to the music but eventually we gotta go to south Bimini there are two fishing tournaments on north Bimini and every single room is sold out,,,,,no worries MON!!! .

sonny dancing Reggae on the dock 'IN THE DOWNPOUR' ,,,,,good sh#T right ther

the view from our very comfortable room

finally dry and with a room secured we are happy campers

We secure a room ,take showers,take naps and are ready for round two of solid fishing after a few hours we head out to the ledges right outside of north Bimini.We are chumming like mad man trying to get the bite going but the current is not cooperating but when the tide changes fishing gets good again,I introduce Joey to the chicken rig (two hooks on top and sinker on the bottom)and we start banging up the yellowtail snappers once again

we head out to find steep dropoff ledges to target some Monster sharks

the full moon is VERY LARGE and beautiful as it comes up behind north Bimini and illuminates the ocean and our boat-this picture does not do justice to the amazing full moon we saw that night(need a better camera for sure)

a better picture on Sonny's camera-Thanks Sonny

the Furuno shows some dropoffs but we search out the deepest that go from 80 feet to 200 in a half block distance

That second night we are put off by a wacky current that runs to the bow,the chum is not paying out correctly .,I don't even put out my shark rod I'm just not feeling the shark bite-the full moon is affecting the tides,the currents and the bite.Full moon or not we catch yellowtail,dog,and mangrove snappers but the big muttonscontinue to be elusive.We fish til almost 3 am without much of a shark bite and we head in to get some rest and make another attempt in the morning.

The next morning after a hardy breakfast we check out ,load up our gear and head out to the ledges once again.The chicken rig is hot this morning catching doubles on most drops .Then the trigger fish move in and we are catching a bunch of the ugly but tasty critters that we gladly drop in the ice filled coolers.We are also catching big white margates mixed in with other bottom fish.After a while we decide to do some deep drops before crossing back and this would be one of our best moments as Sonny would get a BIG SURPRISE in the way of a possible record breaking Caribbean reef shark almost 8 foot long.


Joey is hooked up on the chicken rig


Ulyses and Joey playing with the Trigger fish that make there appearance and attack even our biggest baits meant for big grouper and Mutton snapper

dropping down the 5 lb cannon ball deep drop rig in 385 feet with fresh mackerel on the multiple hooks

we start catching black snapper

some drops we get double blacks

and some we get double yellow eyes snappers

our cooler has a variety of species that few places can equal

The highlight of this trip was when a big caribean reef shark kept coming up to try and eat the fish we were catching on the deep drops .Ulyses and i saw it first and we both knew it was a big specimen.Ulyses had been telling Sonny who fished harder for sharks then anyone else on the boat including me "I want you to catch a big azz shark Sonny"well the time had come and Sonny scrambles to get the nearest shark rod which happened to be Joey's 9/0 with a short 5 foot shark rig and a smallish 7/0 single strength hook.No way Sonny get a bigger reel so he grabs his 14/0 and we bait the shark with a slab of blue runner but the shark is not taking that---he wants a live deep water morsel .So Ulyses talks me into giving up one of the black snappers for shark bait,,Sonny puts it on his hook drops it down and it's an instant HIT!!!Sonny is hooked up and fighting the shark like a champ and I am telling him it's huge for caribbean reef shark.These sharks are protected in the states and the Big Game where we used to to weigh our sharks is now owned by Guy Harvey and nowhere at the dock did we see a scale ,,,,my how things have changed over the years.Pretty soon not even a marlin will be welcomed at a scale.It does not matter our good friend Sonny has done in one trip top the Bahamas what many can't do in years .He subdues the shark like a real champion that he is both in life and as an angler.It is with deep appreciation in my heart that i want to thank Joey and Sonny both for giving us the chance to take them on a wonderful ocean odyssey full of memories that will last a lifetime.As for me and Ulyses we're ready to do it again,,,,,,,,what a rush.

Sonny fights his world record sized reef shark as we hose him down to keep cool in the southern SUN

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