Cat Cay Ledge
A shallow ledge off the cays. Sails and whites cruise it like a boardwalk.
Most likely: Sailfish, White Marlin, Dorado
Cap’n Ray“Small skirts for the whites. They come in pairs.”
Round 3 of 10
Bimini Bluewater Open
Bimini, The Bahamas. Water so clear you can count the fish that are ignoring you.
3fishing spots
Billfishcounts at the scale
310–450 lbwhat the rivals land
6 AM–4 PMone fishing day
Cat Cay LedgeBimini EdgeTongue of the OceanThe rules
Heaviest single billfish wins. The Gulf Stream runs right past the dock, so no excuses.
Clear Caribbean water. Fish the day from six in the morning to four in the afternoon, keep up to 11 fish in the box, and bring your heaviest to the weigh-in. Beat every rival’s best to win the round.
What’s biting
Each spot has its own mix. Deeper, harder spots hold bigger fish.
How to win the Bimini Bluewater Open
What you need: the field’s best fish usually weighs between 310 and 450 lb, so you’ll need a big billfish to take the round. Only billfish — marlin, sailfish and swordfish count at the scale.
Rig for it: 80 lb line lands fish that size; anything lighter gets more bites but risks a break-off on the big one. The blue marlin likes the Large Live Bait and the Large Skirt best.
Where to start: Cat Cay Ledge is the gentlest spot (★★☆☆☆) — a good place to find your rhythm. Tongue of the Ocean holds the heaviest fish, if you can handle them. Birds work hardest over Cat Cay Ledge: follow them to the bait.
The Gulf Stream: Bimini Edge sits on the warm, indigo current, where the big pelagics patrol the seam.
Near shore: at Cat Cay Ledge you troll within sight of the beach — mind the sandbars and the pier.
Read the forecast: on cloudy mornings and evenings run your lure shallow; under a bright midday sun, go deep. A windy forecast means a rough sea, a rolling boat and more drift, so plan your passes into the wind.
The spots
Bimini Edge
The Gulf Stream wall west of the island. Turquoise to ink in a boat length.
Most likely: Blue Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, White Marlin
Cap’n Ray“Ride the color change. Blues hunt the wall.”
Tongue of the Ocean
A mile-deep basin between the islands. The bottom is a rumor.
Most likely: Blue Marlin, Swordfish, Yellowfin Tuna
Cap’n Ray“Big blues up top, swords down deep. Go deep after lunch.”