All alone in Bimini....Paradise!!!

ocgrant

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Dec 31, 2006
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Miami / Ft Lauderdale
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Well if you want quiet come to Bimini the weekend after Labor Day. Place is dead and we pretty much have the place to ourselves. Only one Cruise ship came in Friday which filled the place during the day but was good for us becuase we were out on the hook all day diving and enjoying the lake like conditions. We did have a HOLLY CHIT moment off of Turtle Rock when we were moored up to the Dive ball when we all were about 300 yards from the boat at the end of our dive where we turn to head back, I pop my head up and see a huge Water spout just off the entrance of Bimini about a mile away from us and heading our direction. There were 7 of us swimming as fast as we can to get bcak to the boat in a bit of a panic. I wish I had a camera as it was a site to see when you pop ouot of the water and see your boat and a huge water spout right behind it. Talk about stressed..... Anyway we made it to the boat, got everyone on and hauled ass south, turned on the radar and watched it move by... Then we made our way to the Sapona where we were the only boat there in between the tourist boats that came for 30 minutes at a time. I have never seen the ocean so flat over there. No wind nothing. Drop the hook and you just see the chain laying with no pull on it at all.... What a great day in Bimini. Heading to Honeymoon harbor this morning to feed the Stingrays and float over there for the day.

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Caught my only 450lb Blue right off the concrete ship area at the edge of the drop back in 2000 on a day like you describe. Total mill pond on the crossing, and a couple of days there, and the trip back to Stuart. I have never seen the stream like that. The next day we hooked a grander that did a full out of the water jump behind the boat. Thank God it spooled us and went about its merry way. The line did slice our outrigger halyard like it was butter on the way out. We were not prepared for that. Of course, I did get tossed in the water at Bimini Big Game Club that night. Should have known what was coming one one of the guys asked me for my wallet while we were walking down the dock.
My wife's dunking was a lot funnier at Hawk's Club on Cat Island, but that's for a different day.
 
Wow, that does look like paradise. And, I wouldn’t mind the lack of non-Bahamas folks for a week or even a month. Are there still restaurants open this time of year? Groceries? Fuel? Marinas? Aside from waiting for no wind from north to cross to and from, what is tge downside of being in Bimini in Oct, nov, dec?
 
Looks AMAZING Grant! Enjoy!
 
Amazing Oc! Pics are beautiful, cant imagine seeing an actual water spout! But i will say, my fav thing about your post was “Holy Chit!” I feel like im one of a slight few that say “chit” instead of shit lol
 
Ok so talked to a couple of locals that caught it on camera... Imagine being on a great dive at 20 feet and coming up to grab an angle on the boat to head back and you see this and it looks like it heading for you....

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Wow, that does look like paradise. And, I wouldn’t mind the lack of non-Bahamas folks for a week or even a month. Are there still restaurants open this time of year? Groceries? Fuel? Marinas? Aside from waiting for no wind from north to cross to and from, what is tge downside of being in Bimini in Oct, nov, dec?
Yes everything is open for the most part. Only issue now is weather and timing the crossings. Gulfstream is no BS and it can get "nautical" real quick. I am a fair weather boater and like calm well planned crossings. Going back Monday we expect 2-3 with 10-15 ESE winds, should be fine at our back for running home.

I may attempt one more trip in October if there is a weather window since i have already paid for my cruising permit and have a trip left to use. Just have to wait and see for good weather to go for a long weekend. This time of year you just have to be flexable as October / Sept is a crap shoot.
 
Caught my only 450lb Blue right off the concrete ship area at the edge of the drop back in 2000 on a day like you describe. Total mill pond on the crossing, and a couple of days there, and the trip back to Stuart. I have never seen the stream like that. The next day we hooked a grander that did a full out of the water jump behind the boat. Thank God it spooled us and went about its merry way. The line did slice our outrigger halyard like it was butter on the way out. We were not prepared for that. Of course, I did get tossed in the water at Bimini Big Game Club that night. Should have known what was coming one one of the guys asked me for my wallet while we were walking down the dock.
My wife's dunking was a lot funnier at Hawk's Club on Cat Island, but that's for a different day.
You have a generous crew if you didn’t boat/release the fish but still got dunked. Did they fly a flag too?
 
Yes everything is open for the most part. Only issue now is weather and timing the crossings. Gulfstream is no BS and it can get "nautical" real quick. I am a fair weather boater and like calm well planned crossings. Going back Monday we expect 2-3 with 10-15 ESE winds, should be fine at our back for running home.

I may attempt one more trip in October if there is a weather window since i have already paid for my cruising permit and have a trip left to use. Just have to wait and see for good weather to go for a long weekend. This time of year you just have to be flexable as October / Sept is a crap shoot.

I am definitely not looking for 3’+ breaking waves in the gulf stream! Thanks for the reply, it sounds like I may have a shot at my first boat trip to Bimini in October.
 
I am definitely not looking for 3’+ breaking waves in the gulf stream! Thanks for the reply, it sounds like I may have a shot at my first boat trip to Bimini in October.
I don't think you will find a 3' breaking wave in the stream, unless there is new wind on them, and they haven't built up yet. 3' rollers, standard fare. I've done the "Perfect Storm" turnaround out there, and it is no fun. Our fault for thinking we could get to Bimini after 3 days of 25 knot NE winds out of Lauderdale. Never did that again. No pics. We were busy. The salon and galley were trashed. The girls were looking for new husbands.
 
I don't think you will find a 3' breaking wave in the stream, unless there is new wind on them, and they haven't built up yet. 3' rollers, standard fare. I've done the "Perfect Storm" turnaround out there, and it is no fun. Our fault for thinking we could get to Bimini after 3 days of 25 knot NE winds out of Lauderdale. Never did that again. No pics. We were busy. The salon and galley were trashed. The girls were looking for new husbands.

Yeah, I have ducked into a few inlets to avoid her scorn!
 
So today was a wash out in the morning and blowing 15-25 kts. Lot of boats were leaving to run home into a huge store not sure why you would not wait it out but they didn't. We already planned to stay and go back Monday morning. By noon it was calm and beautiful... Go figure. Ended up going to Sherry's Snack shack and beach for a beautiful afternoon eating fried lobster and conk fritters while floating in the ocean. Now back at the boat and it is raining like hell again, thank god for good wifi and NetFlix as it is going to be a chill night watch movies with the storm cells passing by. Should be all clear for a good crossing in the morning and back to reality in the afternoon to board a plane and back to work...

**Dani-Lu, if you are going in October and want a ride with us for you first time send me a PM. We are glad to help first time crossers and visitors to the Island.
 
So today was a wash out in the morning and blowing 15-25 kts. Lot of boats were leaving to run home into a huge store not sure why you would not wait it out but they didn't. We already planned to stay and go back Monday morning. By noon it was calm and beautiful... Go figure. Ended up going to Sherry's Snack shack and beach for a beautiful afternoon eating fried lobster and conk fritters while floating in the ocean. Now back at the boat and it is raining like hell again, thank god for good wifi and NetFlix as it is going to be a chill night watch movies with the storm cells passing by. Should be all clear for a good crossing in the morning and back to reality in the afternoon to board a plane and back to work...

**Dani-Lu, if you are going in October and want a ride with us for you first time send me a PM. We are glad to help first time crossers and visitors to the Island.

Thank you! I just may take you up on that offer. Safe travels tomorrow!
 
Heading back next Friday to try and get the last trip of the year in weather permitting. Any one else heading over?
 
...a beautiful afternoon eating fried lobster and conk fritters while floating in the ocean.
You're killing me, Smalls! Somehow, I don't think my ride would make it that far, or I'd be there with you.
 

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