Exumas trip - first time

[steve kelly]

Heading down to Exumas at end of July. I've chartered my own boat (i'm the captain) that we'll sleep on for 6 days so i can head anywhere i want. It's just our family and three of us will be spearfishing for the first time, myself and two 16 year old boys.

Buying Mako pole spears along with all the other items needed.

Anyone have location suggestions that might be remote and shallow diving (0-20'). Would love to target snapper, grouper, hog, lobster, lion.... just small dinner size fish.

We're supper excited about trip and i will post report upon our return.

Thanks,
SKelly

 

[cdavis]

Getting dinner in 20 ft of water in the Bahamas is not nearly as easy as it used to be. Drifting the passes will be a good stratigy. Look for ledges that will hold lionfish, small but delicious. The north end of the Exumas, north of Ship Channel Cay around Sail Rock, remote and shallow, has a whole bunch of coral heads in that depth. The channel NW of Highbourne used to be quite good, but sharky. Lots of other places. Get a copy of Palvides's "Exuma Guide" Best source I know for the spearfishing cruiser.

Have a great time. The Exumas are special.

 

[steve kelly]

Getting dinner in 20 ft of water in the Bahamas is not nearly as easy as it used to be. Drifting the passes will be a good stratigy. Look for ledges that will hold lionfish, small but delicious. The north end of the Exumas, north of Ship Channel Cay around Sail Rock, remote and shallow, has a whole bunch of coral heads in that depth. The channel NW of Highbourne used to be quite good, but sharky. Lots of other places. Get a copy of Palvides's "Exuma Guide" Best source I know for the spearfishing cruiser.

Have a great time. The Exumas are special.

CD

Really appreciate the recommendations and information. I'm figuring being end of July that i need to hunt edges close the drops. I'll definitely hit Sail Rock but plan on heading south quite away to get away from others and hoping fish aren't too spooky for us newbies, maybe towards Staniel, Seal and Ragged. Ordering Palvide's Guide right now.

I'm new to spearing but been fishing/hunting/diving all my life and done a few of these boat trips in the Caribbean. Really excited about Exumas and hoping the weather holds.

Thanks again for information and i'll definitely post upon our return.

SKelly

 

[cdavis]

If you are a hunter, spearfishing will come easy.

Not sure where Seal and Ragged are. Do you mean the Ragged Islands, south of Exuma? A fabulous cruising ground, lots of heads in the depth you are interested in, but VERY isolated. Be sure you are ready for that. Palvides has a good guide for the area, not sure what the exact title is, something like "Central and Southern Bahamas" Staniel is pretty populated, fun for Thunderball Cave and the pigs at Big Majors, not a lot of fish unless you want to go deep, 60 plus.

I assume you are renting a boat out of Eleuthra, Sail Rock area is the most empty area you will find near there. Much more populated farther south in the Exumas.

 

[steve kelly]

If you are a hunter, spearfishing will come easy.

Not sure where Seal and Ragged are. Do you mean the Ragged Islands, south of Exuma? A fabulous cruising ground, lots of heads in the depth you are interested in, but VERY isolated. Be sure you are ready for that. Palvides has a good guide for the area, not sure what the exact title is, something like "Central and Southern Bahamas" Staniel is pretty populated, fun for Thunderball Cave and the pigs at Big Majors, not a lot of fish unless you want to go deep, 60 plus.

I assume you are renting a boat out of Eleuthra, Sail Rock area is the most empty area you will find near there. Much more populated farther south in the Exumas.

I do mean the Ragged Islands but i believe they are going to be a little too far for this trip as i'm leaving from Nassau. I love the isolation areas as our goal is always get away from others and be self sufficient on our own boat. Thanks for your input and my plan is to travel as far South as feasible during our 6 days.

SKelly