Before fishing with Captain George, I had never caught a big fish, so I was pretty excited when he told me the odds were good that we would catch a big Wahoo. It was such a beautiful that Jeff (my boyfriend) and I forgot we were fishing when we got the strike. The sound of the reel was incredibly exciting that I forgot for the moment that I was the angler on the first fish. Captain George kept saying ‘come on, come on” and Jeff yelling ‘go, go ,go’ that the next thing I knew I had the rod in my hand, but was clueless on what to do. Calmly, George kept instructing me over and over on the ‘pump and wind’ technique that finally I got it. The fish was pretty stubborn and I had to work a lot, but he finally came to the boat. Next thing I knew Captain George was scampering out on the dive platform with his gaff. Seconds later the fish was coming through the back door. I had me first big fish and it was a Wahoo….. WAHOOOO!
For me it was a day that I will always remember. The three of us got a long so well and had such a great time that I would love to do it all over again. Captain George, you are the best…..and so patient with me when teaching me the right technique. Thanks so much.
Kisses,
Claudia
When Captain George told me that we would catch a big Wahoo, one as tall as me, and that I would reel him in by myself with just a small fighting belt strapped around my waist, I thought he was just teasing me. Not that I didn’t believe we could catch a big fish, but I never thought that I could do it by myself. It took a few hours but then we got a big strike. It was incredibly exciting! It just ran and ran….and ran. George told me were in for good fight because we had him on 20# test line. Captain George coached me along the way as I kept pumping up and winding down. A couple of times the Wahoo dove and I had to hold the rod tip up as George increased the speed of the boat to get the fish up to the surface. It was the part I hated because my hands were cramping and it took a lot of effort to keep the tip up. At one point, after about twenty minutes or more, I wanted to give up but Captain George wouldn’t let me. He kept saying the fish was close and to keep going before a shark got the him. I’m glad I stuck to it because a few minutes later, maybe more, the Wahoo was behind the boat. George grabbed his gaff, dashed out on the dive platform, and in a single motion had the fish gaffed and coming through the back door. It was an adventure that I will never forget. Thanks Captain George for not letting me give-up
The following words are a quoted from Nick who had just landed his first Wahoo aboard Dances With Fish. The video of him catching his Wahoo can be seen on you tube via a link on the Dances With Fish Charters web site:
” Yah-hee-haw…WAHOO…oh my God, man…George, you are the best. You took my virginity! George! I love you man, OH YEAH! Yeehah George…Ahh!……Oh Lord!” Nick 2010
Wow! A 51 lb. WAHOO on 20 lb. Line, I didn’t think it possible. What fun! That’s me in the picture. In the beginning, I’ll admit, I had strong doubts about Capt. George and his “fish stories”. I am an experienced fisherman and we all know about fish-tales. As it turned out. “I knew nothing!” Now, after 5 seasons chartering his sport-fisherman “Dances With Fish”, I am solidly hooked on Capt. George and big WHOO. Trolling at 7 to 8 knots for big Wahoo that can swim 70 mph and strike like a freight train is a trip and Wahoo are the best fish I have ever eaten, no kidding. Hell, one day we brought a 250 lb. Marlin to the boat just for fun, on 20 lb. test and I had the rod! Capt. George, he is a genuine world class sportsman. M.E. Combs Palmetto, FL
Well 2020 started off unbelievably well with a trip to the Bahamas to fish with Captain George on his charter boat Dances With Fish. The weather was absolutely perfect the company was great; we had a terrific fishing trip with Dorado, Wahoo all taken on a seven or 8 mile an hour troll. George had everything prepared and in tiptop shape, we fished for several days, his Attention to detail was excellent, we had water, bait, rigs and he never missed with the gaff and once we got the catch on board George is a world-class photographer so we got these great pictures couldn’t have asked for a better trip.
So 2020 will not be remembered with a smile for most people but could not have had a better start for me! I will be back every year, the beauty of the Bahamas and fishing with an excellent fisherman and captain, cannot be beat for a way to start the year!
Bruce Jackson
Captain George Shelley really knows his stuff when it comes to Wahoo fishing. Within fifteen minutes of landing in Bimini on Tropic Airways flight, I was standing in the cockpit of his boat. We immediately released the dock lines and quickly had fresh Ballyhoo baits trolling behind the boat. What a thrill it was when the first of three Wahoo were gaffed and dragged through the transom door and into the fish box. George’s seasoned knowledge, preparation and enthusiasm made for a big game experience that I’ll never forget. There’s a reason why they call him “The Wahoo King”
My son and I had a wonderful experience fishing for Wahoo in Bimini on the sport fishing boat Dances With Fish. The memories from those days fishing, AND catching with Captain George will remain with us for a long time.
The fun that day started early when we got our first strike on the downrigger, a piece of equipment George calls his secret Wahoo weapon. The Wahoo hit hard taking line out at incredible speed and seemed like it would never stop, but eventually it did and my son Thomas fought him all the way to the boat standing up in the cockpit the entire time. During the rest of the day, we caught some more Wahoo and a couple of Dolphins (Mahi-Mahi) that jumped several times before coming to the boat. We even caught a small shark which was released at the boat.
Captain George is fond of saying with a smile: “You may catch many Wahoo in your life but you will forget your first one” and now having had that experience, I couldn’t agree more.