Ace Fishing Lures

The Bahamas Wahoo Championship

A Brief History
By: Capt. Ron Schatman

Wahoo fishing in the Bahamas, although gaining rapid popularity, goes back over 30 years. In 1965 the Bimini Progressive Sporting Club sponsored the First Adam Clayton Powell Memorial Wahoo Tournament. The famous congressman from New York loved to fish the waters off Bimini especially for wahoo. This tournament was named in his honor.

The early years saw some 10-12 boats catching about 20 fish during the events. In 1988 the Bimini Big Game Club kept the ball rolling by promoting the Bacardi Wahoo Tournament.

Teams from as far away as Bermuda came to Bimini to compete with their well-developed 10-12 knot technique of trolling with rigger lines, flat lines and down riggers. The Bermuda boys won several consecutive tournaments, leaving the rest of the fleet in the dust.

By 1990-93 the wahoo fishing scene drew over 30 boats with up to several hundred fish put on the dock in 3 days. In 1996, 59 boats, many of them battlewagons, caught over 4000 lbs. of wahoo during the three-day event.

Another well-known port in the Bahamas also developed a very successful competition for wahoo. Lucaya had annual inter club tournaments that also grew into an international competition. Early December usually drew about 12-15 boats. Now some 25 teams enjoy not only world class fishing but also the wonderful hospitality and nightlife Lucaya has to offer.

At the 1996 Bimini tournament, Mr. Raul Miranda, tournament director and general manager of the Bimini Big Game Club, told me of his plans to incorporate the Lucaya leg with Bimini, Abaco and Harbor Island to form a championship series. The Bahamas Department of Tourism was behind this concept 100%. The rest is history. After two years and up to 65 boats, in last year's competition, the Wahoo Championship has been a great success. The awards banquet drew over 200 people at Miami's Intercontinental Hotel for a five star black tie affair.

The sport is growing each year. Teams planning to fish should make inquirers to the following offices about reservations and details.
www.bahamaswahoo.com