I booked vacation from June 17 - June 24 in West End. I’m trailering the boat to West Palm Beach and making the cross either the 16th or 17th pending weather. Staying at Old Bahama Bay. Has anyone made this trip and have any advice around fishing in this area? From what I found, the reefs that hold fish should be pretty easy to find. More curious around the best area for trolling this time of year or chasing birds for YFT.
Bottom fish north of memory rock and troll south of West End toward Isaac’s Light. The other option would be to just cross the sea of Abbaco to Green Turtle and fish over there.
ZX
I’ve made the trip many times and stayed at OBB. That place is pretty nice. You will like it. You can chase YFT’s, but typically people do that by covering a lot of ground in the NW Providence channel from that location. We never saw any YF’s around West End or up north towards memory rock. During that time of the year, trolling will produce blackfins, cero mackeral, sailfish, cuda, dolphin. Maybe a wahoo, but those are usually more prominent in the winter. We’ve caught blackfins and cero’s within a mile of customs, but I found that trolling was a little better once you got about 6-7 miles north of the inlet on your way to Memory Rock. Once you are sick of trolling, you can anchor up in about 45-50’ of water anywhere around the memory rock area and throw out a bag or two of chum. If you don’t have yellowtail snapper within 15 minutes, then move. They usually come in fairly quick. Use glass minnows on 8-12 lb test for some fun. Also, put out some larger baits on the bottom. Lot’s of black grouper around that area, muttons, schoolmaster snapper and we’ve caught a few horseye jacks as well.
Let me know if you have any specific questions, but there is a lot to cover.
Good stuff! I’m sure I’ll have a few more specific questions and I’ll post them here. I really appreciate the input!
quote:No problem. It's really hard to get stuff in West End, so you want to make sure you have things you might need (i.e. extra oil, parts, food, beer, etc). There is a restaurant in OBB, but it's a limited selection. That being said, you can get stone crab claws there the size of your hand for about $10 each.
Originally posted by gsgibbonGood stuff! I’m sure I’ll have a few more specific questions and I’ll post them here. I really appreciate the input!
Stayed there last summer, loved OBB, not sure after Hurricane Matthew?? I saw several pictures of the place after the hurricane and it didn’t look good.
Spearfishing north near memory rock is decent.
The crossing is no problem both time I’ve crossed it was like a lake, I could have taken my 19ft Nauticstar across.
Good Luck
Nauticstar 1900XS w/ suzuki DF140
Anyone provide insight into their preferred boat launch in the West Palm Area for this trip? Thanks!
I was in drystack down there, so can’t help with that one.
Lake Park Marina. Long term truck and trailer parking for @25.00 per day
Easy access to ocean
Hotels ect close by if you want to launch early or launch night before and spend a night at sailfish marina
I’m heading down June 3. WHere do you get glass minnows?
Pat Condon
“Carla Dee”
quote:Check out Captain Harry's. It's a little closer to Miami, but that store is pretty cool. They have all the chum and glass minnows you need.
Originally posted by breadandbobbersI’m heading down June 3. WHere do you get glass minnows?
Pat Condon
“Carla Dee”
Crossing to West End and on to Abaco around 6/10–house at Elbow Cay. Will try to give a report when we get back.
2016 Southport 272 w/ Yam. 200’s
2016 Sea Hunt Ultra 225 w/Yam. 200 (sold)
2008 Carolina Skiff 17DLX w/2015 Yam. 70
Harbour Towne Marina. 15 a day for truck / trailer and 24 hour security.
I spent most of last week down around Treasure and Spanish- spearfishing was outstanding. We get lots of large hogfish and grouper of various varieties. Most trolling reports weren’t too good while we were down there, so we stuck to spearing most of the time.
Edgewater 245cc
Explore the bank and ledge to the north. Its beautiful. Go to Grand caye for the day - check out Rosies place.
I second Lake Park Marina in Palm Beach. Been several times from there. Never any issues.