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  • North Riding Point Club

    North Riding Point Club

    Updated on

    North Riding Point Club is where trophy bonefish dreams come true. Set on the South Shore of Grand Bahama, just 20 miles from Freeport International Airport, this renowned lodge puts anglers within easy reach of one of the world’s most productive bonefisheries—only 30 minutes from Miami and two and a half hours from New York.

    The Club’s guests fish across hundreds of square miles of pristine flats, mangrove cays, and white-sand shallows—habitat that consistently produces some of the Bahamas’ largest bonefish. Double-digit fish in the 10–12 lb. range are a common sight, with true giants topping 15 lbs. also prowling these waters. Add in shots at permit and seasonal tarpon, and North Riding Point offers an extraordinary mix of accessibility, variety, and world-class fly fishing.

    bonefish, permit, tarpon, baracuda and snapper

    Favorable weather conditions year-round

    A varied fishing paradise: hundreds of square miles of pristine flats, mangrove cays, and white-sand shallows

    Book now, get a quote, or chat with us about Bahamas fly fishing at NPRC!

    Destination Inquiry

    or

    Call us 860-434-9624

    North Riding Point Club, located on the South Shore of Grand Bahama Island is not only one of the finest bonefish lodges in the Bahamas, but also provides access to one of the best fisheries for trophy bonefish in the world. And this amazing fishery is relatively easy to get to. The Club is located just 20 miles east of Freeport International Airport putting world class bonefishing within 30 minutes of Miami and 2 1/2 hours of New York by air.

    The 80 mile long North Shore of Grand Bahama, where North Riding Point Club guests spend much of their fishing time, contains several hundred square miles of flats, inlets and mangrove-covered cays. This is perfect habitat for large bonefish and harbors them in strong number. The pressure is relatively light compared with many other areas in the Bahamas and these bonefish will take a well presented fly readily.

    The North Shore of Grand Bahama is home to some of the largest bonefish in the Bahamas. Bonefish in the 10 to 12-pound range, considered a rarity in most areas, are fairly common sights while fishing at North Riding Point Club. Much larger bonefish, including world record class fish in the 15 + pound range have been weighed and released! A safe estimate for the average bonefish landed at North Riding Point Club is a remarkable 5 to 6 pounds.

    The Club itself is situated on the ocean side (South Shore) of the island, which also offers some excellent fishing. The South Shore flats are clean, white sand ocean flats that also harbor big bones. And due to the proximity to deep water, large permit are frequent visitors to these flats. There is a productive wading flat right out in front of the lodge for diehard anglers.

    Grand Bahama also offers some of the most consistent permit fishing in the Bahamas. While most abundant during the spring months, permit are encountered on both the North and South Shores any time of year when the water temperatures are to their liking. Also during the spring months, migratory tarpon will make an appearance on the flats, making Grand Bahama one of the few Bahamian islands offering shots at tarpon. North Riding Point Club practices strict catch and release fishing.

    North Riding Point Club covers a huge fishing territory, taking advantage of six different boat launches up and down the coast (4 on the North Shore, 2 on the South Shore). Rather than taking long, pounding boat runs to the fishing grounds, guests ride 10 – 40 minutes in comfortable, air-conditioned Ford Explorer SUV’s, trailering their skiffs to a specific launch site, predetermined by wind, tides, weather and time of year. For North Riding Point Club guests, this means you will fish the best available areas based on prevailing wind and weather conditions, and frequently you are casting to fish within minutes of launching.

    North Riding Point Club has six 18-foot Hells Bay Marquesa skiffs with 90-hp Yamaha 4-strokes and an extremely shallow drafting 17-foot Chittum Snake Islamorada powered by a 70 hp Yamaha.  Each boat has a padded U-shaped leaning post on the casting deck, a center steering console, two comfortable bucket seats for anglers in front of the console, automatic trim and tilt engines. Much of the bonefishing is done from one of these skiffs as it is poled across the flats by the guide. However, in many areas the flats are hard sand and the wading can be first rate.

    The guide staff is among the most experienced in the Bahamas – many have been with the lodge since it opened in 2001. They enjoy seeing their anglers catch these beautiful fish and will frequently go the extra mile to make that happen.

    13 pound Grand Bahama bonefish North Riding Point Club Angler Adventures

    North Riding Point Club is situated on six acres of land with some 400 feet of frontage on the ocean. The main lodge and guest cottages are spaced along the white sand beachfront.

    North Riding Point Club’s main lodge contains the kitchen, dining area, lounge and bar, plus a guest bedroom. There is also a nicely appointed tackle shop carrying a limited numbers of rods, as well as a good selection of flies, lines, leader material, and other assorted tackle and hats and clothing for sale.

    North Riding Point Club can accommodate a total of 14 anglers. The Founder’s Cottage has 2 double bedrooms and a common living room area, and accommodates up to 4 guests. 8 guests are accommodated in 2 duplex beach front cottages, each with 2 bedrooms. Another 2 guests are accommodated in the guest room in the main lodge. Each of the guests rooms has 2 plush queen sized beds, private bathroom (with separate tub and shower), extensive walk-in closet space, wall safes and wet-bar refrigerators. French doors open onto individual large porches facing the beach. These are some of the most spacious and luxurious accommodations in the Bahamas.

    Each guest room has wi-fi Internet connection as well. The fresh water swimming pool located between the lodge and the guest cottages is a popular gathering spot after a hot day on the flats.

    The meals at North Riding Point Club are nothing short of gourmet fare, presented by their award winning Executive Chef, Christian Cappellato  and his capable staff.  Prior to joining NRPC in 2019, Chef Christian, originally from Padua, Italy was Executive Chef at the famous Cappucinos in Freeport.   He offers a “Land or Sea” choice each evening and his menu features the freshest of local seafood such as snapper, lobster and conch to elegant meat dishes such as roasted game hen to rack of lamb. Everything from breakfast to dessert, including Chef’s inspired picnic lunches for the boat, will please the most discriminating palate.

    North Riding Point Club has benefited greatly from the leadership of Paul Adams, who was hired as their General Manager in 2013. Having literally grown up at a world class fishing operation in the Bahamas, Paul has a unique skill set including insightful local knowledge, a passion for fishing, and extensive lodge management experience. Paul always has a back up or contingency plan for everything (including an extra SUV, skiff and trailer) so that any possible “glitch” is corrected almost immediately. Paul’s enthusiasm and attention to detail is reflected in the entire staff’s commitment to providing the highest level of service. Having booked North Riding Point for more than 2 decades, we can attest that the Club has simply never run more smoothly than under the management of Paul Adams.

    For the flats fished out of North Riding Point Club, we find a 9-foot graphite rod for a 9-weight floating line to be ideal, paired with a dependable, salt-water resistant single-action reel and at least 200 yards of backing to be the best all around set-up for Grand Bahama’s big bonefish.

    Bonefish flies are generally tied on sizes 2 to 8, with 4’s & 6’s the most frequently used sizes. Patterns that seem to work consistently well are the Gotcha, Bonefish Clouser, Mini Puff, Horror and all the variations of the Crazy Charlie. The Bully Special, created by NRPC guides, Bully Beavans, tied almost entirely from copper Krystal Flash (they can’t miss it!) has been quite effective on big bones at NRPC.

    North Riding Point Club operates from mid-October through the end of June, the best times for Bahamas bonefishing.

    North Riding Point Club 2025-2026 Rates

    Length of StayDouble OccupancySingle Occupancy
    3 Nights, 2 Days Fishing$3,624$5,505
    4 Nights, 3 Days Fishing$4,779$7,485
    5 Nights, 4 Days Fishing$6,132$9,086
    6 Nights, 5 Days Fishing$6,995$9,950
    7 Nights, 6 Days Fishing$7,667$11,451

    Rates are per person in US$ and subject to change

    Take the guess-work out.

    Tap a button below to start the conversation. Our services are free.

    Call us 860-434-9624
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    Included in the Rate: All airport transfers (round-trip transportation from Freeport Airport to the Club is provided by local taxi service); daily guided fishing; daily maid service, breakfast and dinner served in the lodge (with complimentary wine and liquor) and picnic lunches daily for the boat.

    Not Included in Rate: guide’s tips (recommended minimum $100 per boat per day); housekeeping / kitchen gratuities (recommended $40 per person per day); trips to Sale Cay; rental tackle; Bahamas Value Added Tax; Bahamas fishing license.

    Non-fishing rate: North Riding Point Club offers a non-fishing rate throughout the season. Please call for non-fishing rates.

    Check-in Time:  any time after 2:00 pm
    Check-out Time:  before 12 noon

    However, these times are flexible depending upon flight times for both incoming and outgoing guests.

    Local taxi service provides transportation to and from the airport.  However, if desired, there are several car rental companies in Freeport and taxi service is available through two or three major companies, as well as privately owned and operated cabs.

    Book now, get a quote, or chat with us about Bahamas fly fishing!

    Destination Inquiry

    or

    Call us 860-434-9624
  • Soul Fly Lodge

    Soul Fly Lodge

    Updated on

    Soul Fly Lodge is a world-class fly fishing destination hidden in plain sight on Great Harbour Cay, part of the Berry Islands in the Northern Bahamas. As the island’s first and only fishing lodge, Soul Fly offers unmatched access to a remarkably untouched fishery long revered by in-the-know anglers. With a legacy stretching back to 1988, and a fresh new chapter opened in 2021, Soul Fly blends rich fishing history with refined hospitality. Giant bonefish, elusive permit, and a range of powerful flats species await — all within reach from a lodge designed for serious anglers who appreciate comfort, sustainability, and soulful adventure.

    Trophy bonefish (4–10 lbs+), permit, mutton snapper, triggerfish, and barracuda

    Great Harbour Cay, part of the Berry Islands in the Northern Bahamas

    Miles of firm, wadeable white sand flats, lush turtle grass beds, ocean edges, and backcountry creeks

    Guides: Veteran team led by Percy Darville, running 17’ Maverick HPX skiffs (3 HPX-Vs + 1 HPX-S) for ultimate access and comfort

    Perfect for anglers traveling with non-angler companions

    Book now, get a quote, or chat with us about Soul Fly Lodge fly fishing trips and packages!

    Destination Inquiry

    or

    Call us 860-434-9624

    History + Location

    Soul Fly Lodge is located on Great Harbour Cay, part of the Berry Islands in the northern Bahamas.  This is a fantastic fishery that has flown under the radar of traveling anglers for decades, primarily due to the absence of any lodge or even a hotel.  Soul Fly is the first and only lodge on Great Harbour Cay, and has come out of the firing on all cylinders.  Even before opening their doors in October 2021, there is a long tradition of bonefishing and permit fishing that goes back decades.  Angler Adventures has been sending anglers to Great Harbour Cay since our own Doug Schlink first discovered this hidden gem in 1988.   

    What he found was outstanding bonefishing for big average size fish,good guides and decent skiffs (Percy Darville, and 1 or 2 others), but a total lack of infrastructure to make it a saleable commodity to most traveling fishermen.  One had to ferret out the few rental homes for accommodations.  There was little to no food available for sale on the Cay and but one small restaurant in the marina, that almost always had cracked conch (and little else).  If you were lucky enough to get Percy, the fishery is outstanding and the fishing component was solid.  But it wasn’t for everybody.  You had to fly private charter, haul your own provisions and do your own cooking (or eat cracked conch every night at Basils), be prepared to walk a mile to the marina and back each day and deal with the total lack of infrastructure.

    The Fishery of the Berry Islands Chain

    The emergence of Soul Fly finally provides both easy access to the incredibly diverse fishery of the Berry Islands chain, from Chubb Cay all the way to Great Stirrup Cay from a first-class fishing lodge with accommodations and amenities that most require. There are miles of firm, wadeable white sand flats, to lush turtle grass, ocean edges, thick mangroves, and backcountry creeks.  Watching bonefish or permit cruise over a bright white flat is an experience that keeps anglers coming back to Great Harbour Cay year after year.  Soul Fly has become one of the “go to” places for anglers looking for big Bahamas permit.  Like many of the other fisheries in the Northern Bahamas, there are excellent opportunities for large bonefish in the 10 lb. range, as well as “average” fish in the 4 + lb. range.  Soul Fly Lodge also has excellent sight fishing opportunities for mutton snapper, trigger fish, and barracuda, all extremely hard fighters.

    Expert Guidance from the Soul Fly Lodge Team

    The guide team at Soul Fly Lodge is excellent from top to bottom.  They are veteran guides with decades of experience putting anglers on bonefish, permit and more.  The guides will be running brand new 17’ Maverick HPX skiffs 70 HP Yamaha 4 stroke engines.  They chose to have 3 HPX-V skiffs and 1 HPX-S, specifically for accessing some the super shallow flats.  These skiffs were the chosen to maximize the access to the whole fishery, as well as the comfort.

    Soul Fly Lodge is located on the eastside of Great Harbour Cay, overlooking the ocean with a short winding path directly to an idyllic, 3 mile long beach, considered one of the most beautiful in the Bahamas.  The newly renovated lodge is comprised by 4 guestrooms with private bathrooms, a well-stocked fly shop, a large 20×50 freshwater pool, and the dining room / restaurant, the Carriearl Roost.  The freshwater pool is a favorite place to cool off after a hot day on the flats.

    Excellent Management + Convenient Traveling

    Getting to Great Harbour Cay is convenient and simple.  The newly rebuilt airport is only 120 miles East of Miami, making it a short one-hour flight from Florida or only a twenty-minute flight from Nassau. With several options to choose from, Angler Adventures can assist anglers find excellent options flight options from almost everywhere in the US.

    Soul Fly Lodge is owned and managed by Kyle and Kitri Schaefer.  They come to Soul Fly Lodge with a fresh perspective and excellent experience, having managed high-end lodges in the Bahamas and Argentina.  Kyle and Kitri’s style of refined, service makes the Soul Fly Lodge experience personal, detailed and flexible.  They focus on being sustainable and community focused.  They hope to reduce their impact, source local, eliminate waste, and offset the lodged carbon footprint.  Their mission is to cultivate a deeper bond with our planet, the Berry Islands fishery and the local community through conscientiously crafted angling adventures.

    Soul Fly Lodge 2025-2026 Fishing Package Rates

    Length of StayDouble Occupancy + Shared BoatSingle Occupancy + Shared BoatSingle Occupancy + Own Boat
    7 Nights, 6 Days Fishing$6,650$7,700$10,975
    6 Nights, 5 Days Fishing$5,915$6,815$9,760
    5 Nights, 4 Days Fishing$5,075$5,825$8,375
    4 Nights, 3 Days Fishing$4,195$4,795$6,925

    Rates are per person in US$ and subject to change

    Contact us for Seasonal Discounts, Special Offers or Promotional Pricing

    Booking at Soul Fly Lodge is easy:

    Tap a button below to start the conversation. Our services are free.

    Call us 860-434-9624
    Send a message

    Included: Fishing, Lodging, All Meals, Non-Alcoholic & Alcoholic Bevs, Airport/Marina Transfer

    Not Included: Gratuities, International & Domestic Transport to Great Harbour Cay, Fishing License, Terminal Tackle, Government Taxes & Fees (including 10% VAT)

  • 2025 Fly Fishing Package Rates, Photos & Travel Info for Your Next Angling Adventure!

    2025 Fly Fishing Package Rates, Photos & Travel Info for Your Next Angling Adventure!

    Are you ready to cast your line in some of the world’s most breathtaking fishing destinations? Angler Adventures is thrilled to share the latest updates for 2025 to Lodge rates and travel info as well as stunning new photos to help you plan the perfect fishing getaway. Whether you’re looking to explore the flats of Belize, the wild waters of Chile, or the bonefish paradise of the Bahamas, we’ve got you covered!

    Bahamas – Unparalleled Bonefishing Awaits

    If pristine waters and world-class bonefishing are calling your name, check out our recently updated lodges in the Bahamas:

    Belize – A Sportfishing Paradise

    For anglers seeking the ultimate in variety, Belize is teeming with opportunities. Whether you’re after tarpon, bonefish, or permit, these updated lodges are worth exploring:

    Chile – Adventure and Wild Waters

    For an unforgettable fly-fishing experience in some of the world’s most untouched wilderness, these Chilean lodges are updated and ready for your next adventure:

    Argentina & Tierra del Fuego – Trophy Trout & Sea-Run Browns

    For serious anglers chasing world-class trout, Argentina’s legendary lodges have been refreshed with the latest 2025 details:

    Mexico – The Best of the Caribbean & Yucatán

    The crystal-clear waters of Mexico offer some of the best saltwater fly-fishing in the world. Don’t miss out on these updated destinations:

    Start Planning Your 2025 Fishing Adventure Today!

    Get in touch so we can assist with over 40 years of fishing and travel experience. Our services are free.

    Call us 860-434-9624
    Send a message

    There’s never been a better time to book your next fishing trip. Contact us for personalized recommendations and booking assistance.

    Tight lines and happy travels!

    Lodges and Destinations updated in 2025

    • The Delphi Club

      The Delphi Club

      The Delphi Club is ideally situated and fully equipped to offer anglers a variety of fishing locations on Abaco. The…

      INFO & RATES >

    • North Andros Fly Fishing

      North Andros Fly Fishing

      Phillip Rolle’s North Andros Fly Fishing affords 4 – 6 anglers direct access to the famous bonefishing found on the…

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    • Kamalame Cay Resort

      Kamalame Cay Resort

      Experience “ALL INCLUSIVE” world-class accommodations and exceptional service on a private cay while fishing pristine Bahamas bonefish flats, diving the…

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    • North Riding Point Club

      North Riding Point Club

      North Riding Point Club, located on the South Shore of Grand Bahama Island is not only one of the finest bonefish…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Grey’s Point Inn

      Grey’s Point Inn

      Click here to read John Fraizer’s article about his trip to Grey’s Point, “Thinking Outside the Boat” from the November…

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    • Turneffe Flats Resort

      Turneffe Flats Resort

      Turneffe Flats Resort is one of the premier resorts in Belize and is located on the northeast section of the Turneffe…

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    • Playa Blanca Lodge

      Playa Blanca Lodge

      Playa Blanca is the only lodge on Espiritu Santo, providing exclusive access to this fishery which is comparable in every…

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    • Casa Blanca Lodge

      Casa Blanca Lodge

      Casa Blanca Lodge is located on the southern lip of Ascension Bay on the private island, Punta Pajaros, and has…

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    • Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge

      Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge

      Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge is home to world class Bahamas bonefishing in the heart of South Andros. Mars Bay is…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Mangrove Cay Club

      Mangrove Cay Club

      Fly fishing adventures in ANDROS, BAHAMAS: Mangrove Cay Remote Waterfront Prime Bonefishing Diverse & Exciting Remote Waterfront PRIME BONEFISHING DIVERSE…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Turks and Caicos

      Turks and Caicos

      South Caicos Bonefishing is one of the most exclusive, remote, and awe-inspiring bonefishing experiences in the world — full stop.…

      INFO & RATES >

    • H2O Bonefishing

      H2O Bonefishing

      H2O Bonefishing combines productive, uncrowded bonefishing on Grand Bahama with high-end accommodations, amenities, beaches, shops and restaurants, making it a good…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Stafford Creek Lodge

      Stafford Creek Lodge

      Stafford Creek has a staff of hand picked guides, all trained by Prescott to be experts at utilizing the tides,…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Crooked and Acklins Trophy Lodge

      Crooked and Acklins Trophy Lodge

      The lodge gets its name from their central location to the best fishing areas on both Crooked and Acklins islands.…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Grand Slam Ascension Bay Lodge

      Grand Slam Ascension Bay Lodge

      Grand Slam Ascension Bay Lodge is a modern, luxurious lodge operation on one of the world’s greatest saltwater flats fisheries,…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Bair’s Lodge

      Bair’s Lodge

      Bair’s location on South Andros (also known as “The Bonefish Capital of the Word”) allows fishing all of South Andros…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Grand Bahama Bonefishing

      Grand Bahama Bonefishing

      The North Shore of Grand Bahama Island is one the Bahamas top fisheries for big bonefish. Fish generally average 5 -…

      INFO & RATES >

    • East End Lodge

      East End Lodge

      The lodge’s location allows guests access to the famous 250 square miles of bonefishing habitat pioneered by Deep Water Cay…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Mayazul Fly Fishing Lodge

      Mayazul Fly Fishing Lodge

      Ascension Bay is legendary for its diversity, and Mayazul maximizes it. The lodge specializes in permit fishing with two-guide teams,…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Soul Fly Lodge

      Soul Fly Lodge

      Soul Fly Lodge is a world-class fly fishing destination on Great Harbour Cay (Northern Bahamas). It’s the island’s only fishing…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Panyame Conservancy | Mbadzi Camp

      Panyame Conservancy | Mbadzi Camp

      Nestled within the remote beauty of Mozambique’s Panyame Wildlife Conservancy, Mbadzi Camp offers a world-class fishing experience along the Zambezi…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Belize

      Belize

      Belize is a unique fly fishing destination offering excellent fishing for bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook year-round; one of the few…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Seychelles

      Seychelles

      Fly fishing adventures in Seychelles Alphonse Cosmoledo Providence Farquhar Astove Atoll Poivre Alphonse Cosmoledo Providence Farquhar Astove Atoll Poivre Explore…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Bahamas

      Bahamas

      The Bahamas: the penultimate in bonefishing adventure. Fly fishing from dozens of large islands and hundreds of undiscovered smaller cays.…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Healing Waters Lodge

      Healing Waters Lodge

      Updated on Healing Waters Lodge in Ruby Valley Nestled in the heart of Montana’s picturesque Ruby Valley, Healing Waters Lodge…

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    • The Complete Fly Fisher

      The Complete Fly Fisher

      Dave and Christine Decker’s Complete Fly Fisher is one of Montana’s finest fishing lodges and is ideally situated directly on…

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    • Montana

      Montana

      Southwest Montana is home to some of the most famous rivers in the United States. Rivers like the Ruby, the…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Argentina

      Argentina

      Argentina Fly Fishing Take a trout fishing expedition in Patagonia with Angler Adventures Argentina is one of the top destinations…

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    • Pleasant Bay Bonefish Lodge

      Pleasant Bay Bonefish Lodge

      Pleasant Bay Bonefishing Lodge has been one of South Andros‘ best-kept secrets. What attracted us to this relatively unknown lodge…

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    • The Salmon Lodge

      The Salmon Lodge

      Nestled along the banks of Quebec’s renowned Grand Cascapedia River, The Salmon Lodge offers an unparalleled Atlantic salmon fly-fishing experience.…

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    View ALL Lodges + Destinations →
  • Bahamas and Carribean “What To Bring” List

    Bahamas and Carribean “What To Bring” List

    Flats Fishing:
    What to bring List

    The #1 Guide on the Internet for Bonefishing in the Bahamas and Carribean

    The #1 Guide on the Internet for Bonefishing in the Bahamas and Carribean

    Flats Fishing:
    What to bring List

    The #1 Guide on the Internet for Bonefishing in the Bahamas and Carribean

    Our Flats Fishing “What to Bring” List has evolved in leaps and bounds over Angler Adventures 40-year history. This year, it’s undergone a major overhaul! We’ve brought it up to date and made it twice as informative. It’s loaded with nuggets of bonefish strategy and wisdom. We’re even pulling back the curtain, introducing its originator, Chip Bates (see photos above), who spent much of his 33-year career fly fishing for bonefish, tarpon, and permit around the globe and the past 7 years of retirement whispering to bonefish.

    Here’s a sampling of what you might learn about fishing from the flats from the #1 guide on the Internet. 

    Highlights

    We’ve expanded our “list” with suggestions and tips to help you understand not only what to bring, but why to bring it!

    Essential tackle while wading includes: Pliers, hook sharpening file, box of flies, extra leader material, and water.

    One of the biggest mistakes is to not adjust your fly to changing water depths. Your fly should be weighted so it sinks to the bottom quickly and stays near the bottom when you strip. A good rule of thumb is that your fly should reach the bottom in 3 seconds.

    The investment of $70-$100 on a new fly line is one of your best investments prior to an important trip. Check the condition of your backing too.

    Tips

    “Bonefish like crab flies as much as permit – maybe more!”

    “The most important thing you can do before casting is to stretch your fly line”

    “Cast very close to a tailing fish, as he is focusing on a small area.”

    “Many anglers use too thin or too light a tippet. We recommend the strongest tippet practical for the situation.”

    The best tailing habitat is a weedy bottom; you’ll need a weedless fly.

    Don’t judge the tide by surface activity. Kick up sand and watch how it moves.

    Better to cast short than too far and spook the fish.

    BE SURE TO CLICK THESE LINKS

    Improve Your Fish-Spotting Skills
    More Crab Adulation & Photos
    The Secret to Fly Selection
    To Strip or Not to Strip

    “When a bonefish takes the fly, you will feel resistance with your line hand as you beging the “strip” part of the retrieve. Normally, this gradual pulling against the resistance is all you need to set the hook. Avoid setting the hook with the rod.”

    “A fish coming at you has less chance of seeing you than a fish on either side.”

    “You must go light in skinny water, meaning no weight other than the hook”

    “The most common mistake is to take too many false casts – no more than 4.”

    “Every time you tie on a fly, test the knot strength before fishing! Be sure to check your hook point after catching a fish and keep it sharp!”

    “A dropping fly will invariably result in a take from a fish. If he goes nose down, tail up, he’s taking your fly!”

    “Check your leader regularly for wind knots or abrasion and replace if worn or weakened.

    “TEST YOUR KNOTS! More fish are lost due to leader or knot failure than any other reason!”

    We refer to the information you’re now reading as our “What to Bring” list. Actually, it is more than a list because a list, in and of itself, is not analytical. We have expanded our list with suggestions and tips to help you understand not only what to bring, but why to bring it. This information has been tested over decades and hundreds of fishing trips and we stand behind it.

    This information will serve you well whether you’re fishing the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Mexico, Belize, Venezuela, Seychelles, Christmas Island, or Mauritius. Every location or guide will have its own “hot flies”, and those will be listed in your Angler Adventures itinerary, but most are variations of the flies listed here.

    Bahamian and Caribbean fishing lodges that provide tackle are clearly in the minority. Some lodges have a minimal amount of “back-up” rods and reels for use in case of rod loss or breakage. However, even this equipment is often in poor condition. Some lodges carry a smattering of flies and lures, but always seem to be “out of” the best patterns. Unless your Angler Adventures itinerary clearly states that the lodge you are going to provides a full inventory of rod and reel rentals, leaders and flies, we recommend you bring all your own tackle and flies, including a minimum of two rods per angler.

    RODS

    Some people carry light rods (5-6 weight) for bonefish, but we’ve not found these light rods to be versatile enough. A 7 weight is useful in calm conditions, but 8 and 9 weight rods are preferable under normal/windy conditions, and you can still make a delicate presentation with an 8 weight rod, a long leader and an unweighted fly. You may want to bring a 10-weight rod for permit, barracuda, or sharks. If the destination you’re visiting offers large Tarpon, an 11-weight or 12-weight is standard.

    We highly recommend 3, 4 and 5 piece “travel rods” that you can usually take with you on an airplane. “Usually” refers to the fact that your rod should fit in the overhead compartment, which varies depending on the size of the aircraft. 3 piece rods fit in the overhead compartments of most large capacity aircraft. 4 – 5 piece rods may be necessary for small commuter aircraft or “island hoppers”.

    CARRY-ON BAG

    In addition to rods that you can carry aboard an airplane, we strongly recommend that you also pack a carry-on bag with your reels, lines, fishing accessories, (except sharp metal objects which must go in your checked luggage) a change of clothes and all necessary medications.

    Read Carry-On vs. Checked Luggage (article)

    REELS

    We recommend anodized direct drive reels for salt water use, preferably with a sealed adjustable brake, cork disc drag, and a capacity of at least 150 yards of backing.  There are now several choices for backing, from the traditional 20- or 30-pound test dacron, to smaller diameter gel spun backings.  

    LINES

    The most popular line for bonefishing is a weight forward floating line. Cleaning your fly line will greatly enhance its ability to shoot through the rod guides. If your line is old, cracked or beyond cleaning, buy a new line.  Investing in a new fly line is one of the most important tackle purchases you can make before an important fishing trip.  In fact, many experienced anglers will bring new fly lines on each trip.  

    We used to list specific fly lines back when the choices were few.  Today there are too many to choose from.  However, most manufactures now make fly lines for each species: Bonefish, permit, tarpon.  If in doubt, ask Angler Adventures for advice.

     

    LEADERS

    Many freshwater anglers make the mistake of using too thin or too light a tippet, which results in breaking off fish, particularly bigger bonefish. In saltwater, we recommend the strongest tippet practical for your fishing situation. If the bonefish aren’t leader shy, we recommend tippets of 15-pound traditional monofilament leader material such as Maxima “Ultra Green”, Ande, Rio Saltwater IGFA or other brands designed for use in salt water. Mason is a stiff, thick leader material that offers good abrasion resistance, as well as breaking strength. The stiffness of Mason makes it a good material for the butt section of the leader.  It’s larger diameter and stiffness makes a nice transition between fly line and leader, improving the ability of the leader to turn over the fly. Maxima, Ande and Rio are thinner than Mason, if you prefer a softer material. Bring spools of 25-lb., 20-lb., 16-lb., and 15-lb. Mono and spools of 20 lb. and 15 lb. fluorocarbon to tie leaders using the formula in the “Leaders” section below.

    If fish are spooky, or if you’re using small flies for tailing fish or fishing skinny water in general, we recommend fluorocarbon tippets added to conventional monofilament leaders. Seaguar or Rio Fluoroflex are good choices.  Fluorocarbon is thinner than Mono, but still has sufficient stiffness and abrasion resistance for saltwater use. An 8-turn blood knot is more secure than most knots when tying fluorocarbon to conventional mono.  When adding thin fluorocarbon tippets to regular Mono, it is important you don’t tie obviously dissimilar diameters together. You need to gradually taper down the diameter of your tippet for conventional knots to hold. That’s why the leader described below goes from 15 lb. Mono to 20 lb. fluorocarbon. Every saltwater angler should be familiar with the knots described four paragraphs below, even if he or she doesn’t tie his own leaders.

    We recommend not going lighter than 15-lb. when using fluorocarbon tippets. We’ve had too many break offs with 12-lb. fluoro.

    If using straight mono leaders, instead of fluorocarbon tippets, we still recommend using a 15-lb. tippet.  When fishing in very shallow water (8-12 inches), in bright sunlight over spooky fish, you’ll need to lengthen your leader to 14, 16 or even 18 feet!  In these conditions, we recommend a fluorocarbon tippet, because its small diameter may be less visible to fish and fluoro sinks more than mono, which is helpful when casting small flies.

    Standard leader length is 9 – 10 feet. On a windy day, shorten your leader to 7 – 9 feet. On a calm day, lengthen your leader to 12 – 14 feet (or more). In either case, test how your leader turns over the fly under the conditions that day and make any necessary adjustments.

    BONEFISH LEADERS

    Remember, we recommend the strongest tippet possible for your fishing situation. The following are examples.

    Mono to Fluorocarbon Leader:  For the first 3 sections use Mason:  A 4′ butt of 25-lb, 2′ section of 20-lb, 18″ of 16-lb. Then add 2 sections of fluorocarbon, as follows: 18″ of 20 lb.; 2′ of 15 lb. makes an 11-footer.

    All Monofilament Leader: Again, we use Mason for first 3 sections:  4′ of 25 lb., 2’  of 20 lb., 18″ of 16 lb.  Then add 18” 20 lb. Maxima Ultragreen and 2’ of 15 lb. Maxima Ultragreen gives an 11-footer.

    PERMIT LEADERS

    Permit leaders should be between 9 – 14 feet long (depending on conditions), have heavier and longer butt sections (to help turn over the heavier flies) and the tippet should be between 15 – 20 lb (Permit aren’t typically leader shy). Having a well-constructed permit leader will help deliver the fly within 2 feet of the fish’s nose, the best place to get the permit to see the fly, without giving him a chance to study it! Permit aficionado Del Brown preferred simple leaders. Del’s leaders were about ten feet in length: six feet of 50 lb test, two feet of 30 lb test, and two feet of tippet material, 15 lb or 20 lb. He used a Blood knot or a Surgeon’s knot to join the sections and a no-slip mono loop to attach the fly. Having landed 513 Permit in his lifetime – it’s hard to find a better source for advice on Permit than Del Brown.

    TARPON, BARRACUDA & SHARK LEADERS

    For juvenile tarpon in the 10 – 50 lb. class, there’s no need for a complex IGFA sanctioned leader. We like simple, clear mono leaders: 4 feet of 40 lb., 3 feet of 30 lb, 2 feet of 20 lb., and a shock tippet 40 lb. For larger tarpon, we recommend shock tippets of 60 lb or 80 lb. Use a Stu Apte Improved Blood Knot to attach the shock tippet. For barracuda use at least 6” of wire. For sharks use 24” of wire, or more.

    CHECK YOUR LEADER

    Check your leader regularly for wind knots or abrasions and replace if worn or weakened.

    KNOTS

    Most fly lines come with a built-in loop at the tip.  A nail knot butting up against the loop creates a strong knot that will not slip.  

    For connecting the leader butt to the fly line, the nail knot is fine with conventional fly lines. However, when using the newer mono core (or braided mono core) lines, you MUST use an Albright Knot. Conventional nail knots can slip off mono core fly lines.  With Mono, use a double or triple surgeon’s knot when tying leader to leader and the non-slip mono loop knot when tying the tippet to the fly. With Fluorocarbon, use an 8-turn blood knot or the Stu Apte Improved blood knot when tying leader to leader, as fluoro can be weakened by a surgeon’s knot.  The non-slip mono loop knot works well with mono or fluoro, when tying tippet to fly.

    TEST YOUR KNOTS

    Every time you or the guide ties a section of leader to leader, or you tie the tippet to the fly, you should test the knot strength by affixing the fly to something stationary and pulling firmly.   More fish are lost due to leader or knot failure than any other reason.

    VISION

    Polarized sunglasses are so indispensable when fishing the flats, we recommend you bring at least two pairs (one primary, one back up).  The best all-around lens colors are brown, copper or amber.  Yellow lenses are good for flat, low-light conditions such as early or late in the day, cloudy or rainy days.  We don’t recommend grey lenses.  They can be excellent in extremely bright conditions, but the grey lens washes out the grey in the bonefish, making their usefulness on the flats extremely limited.  Glare is a frequent issue when sight fishing.  The Costa del Mar 580 Green Mirror copper lens provides a slight reduction in glare over non-mirrored lenses.  Glasses that fit well with side shading are desirable. A strap is helpful for taking glasses on and off. A lens cleaning cloth (which must be kept dry) and a solution to clean your lenses works when you’re on the water.    At home, washing the glasses with a mild dishwashing liquid, then drying with a microfibre cloth does the trick.  

    A long-billed hat with dark underside also protects your face and improves your vision.

    Learn how to improve your fish-spotting skills (article)

    CLOTHING

    Dull or muted colors like olive or khaki are less visible to fish.  We also recommend light blues or newer water camo colors. Light colors absorb less heat. We recommend quick drying materials for shorts or long pants when wading. If traveling to areas where you’ll do a lot of wading, you may want to have more than one pair of each. When it’s buggy or if the sun is intense, most anglers wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts every day and tuck the pants into their gravel guards or wading shoes to reduce the drag of the pant leg when wading. A Buff or a hoodie to cover your neck, ears and face, as well as sun gloves for both hands are also important items for sun protection.

    RAINGEAR

    Windy days can cause rough weather and boat spray. Rain can occur at any time. We recommend you bring a set of rain gear (jacket and pants) to carry with you in the boat each day. A light rain jacket also doubles as a windbreaker.

    SPLASH PROOF BAG

    Bring a waterproof or splash-proof bag for your camera and extra clothing (flats skiffs never seem to stay dry). Carry two hats and two pair of polarized glasses. Use a hat clip to connect your hat to your shirt so it won’t blow completely off. Carry a pair of pliers and a hook-sharpening file with you at all times. Always carry extra clothing on the boat to protect you from sun, wind, rain or a sudden drop in temperature. Specifically, we recommend you carry lightweight long pants, light weight long sleeved shirt, a light fleece and a rain jacket and pants (as described above).

    FISHING TOWEL(S)

    Carrying a fishing towel is a good idea. A washcloth size towel is perfect for cleaning your hands. A larger, medium-sized towel is good for drying off items, including yourself, plus, it doubles as a “rod protector”.  Frequently, flats skiffs in far off places have less than ideal storage for fly rods and a towel can come in handy protecting your rods for chaffing and banging.  Use the towel to wrap around your rods at the location they come in contact with the rod holding hole, tube or device.   A towel can also come in handy to clean and refresh a dirty fly line in the middle to the day.

    WADING

    There are different types of wading. There’s casual wading, where you choose to jump out of the flats skiff to cover a specific flat, or chase down a sighted fish. In these situations, you can generally see the terrain you’ll cover, cover it, then get back in the boat. Casual wading is available pretty much anywhere you bonefish. For casual wading, a pair of neoprene flats wading booties or sneakers may be sufficient.

    The other type of wading is to park the boat and go on foot. Wading the whole day can take you far from the boat. Chances are you will not be able to anticipate the terrain you might cover. All day wading requires a wading boot designed for the task. The wading boot must be comfortable to walk in for long distances (8 miles a day is not unusual). It must provide support and protection from sharp objects like shells, urchins and nasty dead coral. Inevitably, you’ll encounter soft sand, which will swallow up your entire wading boot and more. Destinations where you can enjoy all day wading include specific locations in the Bahamas or the Yucatan of Mexico, Los Roques, South Caicos, the Turneffe Islands, Belize, Seychelles, St. Brandon’s, Mauritius, Christmas Island and other atolls.

    There are wading boots designed to stand up to all day wading sold by Simms, Patagonia, Orvis and others. It may take trial and error to determine the best wading boot for you.  Add gravel guards and a pair of comfortable wading socks and you’re doing your feet a favor. 

    Whichever you choose, the idea is for the boot to withstand rugged terrain, as well as provide traction on slippery sand. The gravel guard helps keep sand from getting into your boot even when you sink in over your ankles. We like the Simms Guide Model Gravel Guard because of its wrap around design and Velcro closure.

    For people with foot issues, adding athletic insoles or orthotics to your wading boots may be necessary. Keep in mind that you may need to size your shoe accordingly.

    If you’re purchasing a new pair of wading boots and you’re traveling to a destination that offers all day wading, you’ll need to “break in” your wading boots way ahead of time. We’ve heard complaints of wicked blisters and sore feet from anglers who either didn’t have properly fitted boots or didn’t break in their wading boots prior to their trip. The best way to prevent this is to assemble the various wading gear, try it all on and walk around the house. You can quickly tell if your boots are sized properly. You don’t want to feel any pressure points during this trial. And, by not wearing the boots outside, you can return or exchange them, if they aren’t comfortable. Once you’ve made the decision that they are comfortable, then comes the break in period. For that, you need to spend a lot of time in the boots. We suggest taking long walks in the boots and socks. You own the boots now, but you may be able to make adjustments to make them more comfortable. If you develop a serious objection to the boot, find another one that’s more comfortable. We know people who didn’t fuss with this “break in” process and couldn’t walk without pain on the second day of their trip. We don’t want that person to be you!

    Ideally, you want to pack light when traveling. It’s kind of a pain to bring two pairs of wading boots/shoes. An angler who weighs 160 pounds can probably move around the bow of a flats skiff in Simms Flats Sneakers without making much noise. Such a person can fish effectively from a boat or in the water with the same footwear. With heavier boots or heavier anglers, it might be impossible to move or shift your weight on the bow of the skiff without spooking bonefish. If that’s the case, fish from the boat with regular sneakers, bare feet or stocking feet and put on the wading boots when it’s time for wading.

    Some bonefishing locations offer more wading opportunities than others. Where wading opportunities exist, it’s usually a good idea to wear or carry wading shoes with you every day. There may be times you’ll need to get your feet wet, even if you don’t end up wading.  Carrying wading shoes on the boat allows you to take advantage of wading opportunities whenever they exist.

    ESSENTIALS FOR WADING

    You’ll need a belt pack, chest pack, backpack, or at least some pockets to carry your essential tackle in. Essential tackle when wading includes: clippers, pliers, hook sharpening file, box of flies, extra leader material, bug spray, sun cream, and a water bottle. You’ll want a good pair of polarized sunglasses, glasses cleaning solution and wipes. Asprin or Advil can come in handy. For sun protection, a Buff or a lightweight hoodie, long sleeved shirt and pants. A small family band radio allows you to communicate with your guide and fishing partner if you separate, but are still in close range.

    FLIES

    The flies listed in the final pages of this write-up are tried and true bonefish patterns whether you fish in the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Mexico, Belize, Venezuela, Seychelles or Christmas Island.  This fly selection represents the most important colors and more importantly will allow you to fish a variety of water depths. You will lose bonefish flies for a variety of reasons. Break-offs can occur when a bonefish makes its initial run. Sometimes flies are damaged while removing the hook. Some flies may be lost to mangroves, coral or to barracuda. The durability of individual flies also varies greatly. Depending on your fly selection and your hooking success, you may go through 6 or more bonefish flies a day. To be safe, we recommend bringing at least 50 flies for 6 days of fishing.  Because the weight of the fly is so important, you’ll want to have your most popular flies in several different weights.  And don’t forget to add weed guards.

    Many anglers are fishing barbless hooks now, so you may want to crimp your barbs in advance. If you’ve never fished barbless before, let us assure you that it is extremely effective and it is unlikely you’ll lose fish because of this.

    HOOKS

    There are 2 major hook types: “stainless steel” or high-carbon, plated hooks. “Stainless” hooks are more resistant to rusting and can be sharpened when the hook point dulls (and should be sharpened regularly). The high carbon, plated hooks are chemically sharpened, and should never be sharpened with a file or hone. The tin plating is also more susceptible to rust, and can break, particularly where salt gets trapped between the material and the hook (such as at the bend of the hook or under bead-chain or lead eyes). There are many high-quality saltwater hooks, such as Tiemco, Gamakatsu, Daiichi, and the newer Mustad Signature Series.  We recommend against using the older Mustad 34007 or 34011 series hooks, which bend easily, and avoid using the Gamakatsu SC-15 wide gap, which, in smaller sizes, are not strong enough for bonefish.

    KEEP YOUR HOOK SHARP

    Be sure to check your hook point periodically, especially after landing a fish, or if you think you might have ticked it on the side of the boat while casting or on a piece of coral during the retrieve. If it’s a high carbon, plated hook and the point is bent, tie on a different fly. If it’s a “stainless steel” hook and the point is bent, sharpen it. There are several hook sharpening methods, which are too detailed to explain here. The most popular method of sharpening is to triangulate the point using a hook file. 

    Reference this quick video by Tom Richardson illustrating this method.

    TECHNIQUE

    One of the biggest mistakes a bone fisherman can make is not to adjust his fly to changing water depth. Your fly should be weighted such that it sinks quickly to the bottom and then stays near the bottom within view of the fish after you begin stripping. If you strip the fly above a bonefish, it will never see it.

    TYPICAL DEPTH

    The average flat depth, whether you’re wading or poling is 2½ ft.  In this depth, a Gotcha or Crab Fly with medium sized bead chain eyes should provide close to the perfect sink rate, without overweighing the fly (and potentially spooking the fish). A good rule of thumb is your fly should reach the bottom in about 3 seconds. If you find your fly is not getting to the bottom, you should switch to a heavier fly.

    DEEPER FLATS

    The angler who is willing to fish deeper flats will often be rewarded with the largest bonefish. Big bonefish prefer the protection of deeper flats or shallow flats close to deep water. When you’re fishing water 3-4 feet deep, you’ll need a fly with lead eyes to get to the bottom quickly. A proven deep-water fly is a lead eye crab.  Another killer, deep-water fly is the Simram, which is a fuzzy (rabbit fur) version of the Gotcha fly with lead eyes. Another outstanding lead eye fly is Henry Cowen’s Bonefish Scampi. Lead eyes come in a variety of weights and for joy of casting, you’ll want to carry flies with the smaller lead eyes, as well as the heavier lead eyes.

    SHALLOW FLATS & TAILING FISH

    One of the prettiest sights in fishing is a happily feeding bonefish with his tail waving in the air. The last thing a bone fisherman wants to do is scare the daylights out of an actively feeding fish by casting too heavy a fly too close to the fish. Therefore, you must go light in skinny water. By light we mean no weight other than the weight of the hook. For this we recommend mono (or plastic) eyes and a body that lands softly. A well-designed fly for this situation is a pattern called the bunny bone.

    The bunny bone is made with rabbit fur and plastic eyes. Good color combinations would be gold/tan, tan/orange, chocolat/pink.  Tie this fly in sizes 4, 6, and 8. You can throw this unweighted fly quite close to a tailing fish. Its entry into the water is soft, but it sinks well. The rabbit fur makes it look alive even before it’s stripped. All you need do is give it the tiniest of strips. Sometimes you don’t even need to strip.  Above all, don’t strip the fly too far or too fast when working a tailing fish.

    WEEDLESS FLIES

    Wading anglers will encounter bonefish in shallow water, sometimes less than a foot deep. Some of the best tailing fish habitat is a weedy bottom. When fishing over these skinny, grass flats, you’ll need a weedless fly. We recommend using a small (size 6 or 8) light wire hook, like a Daiichi x452 or Gamakatsu SL45 Bonefish hook (black finish). A highly effective fly is a bunny bone with mono or plastic eyes and a 10-lb test V-shaped weed-guard. When casting from the boat, you’re apt to find bonefish on weedy bottoms at all depths, so it’s wise to carry weedless flies in all weights and sizes.

    CRABFLIES

    Crab patterns have come a long way since George Anderson introduced us to the McCrab. Actually, the Mc Crab has a design flaw. It’s all deer hair. To get deer hair to sink it must be loaded with lead. To cast it you need a hard hat. Del Brown corrected this flaw by forming the body of his Del Brown permit fly with Aunt Lydia’s rug yarn. This fly sinks quickly with a lot less lead. Jan Isley used ram’s wool and epoxy in creating the Rag Head. Enrico Puglasi uses EP Fibers. The guides at Alphonse Island use body tubing on their ingenious Alphlexo crab.   When tied in smaller sizes (size #2, #4, and #6), crab flies are much more enjoyable to cast and perform well on medium to deep flats for bonefish and permit. 

    Crab Adulation & Photos (article)

    HANDY SELECTION

    Before you begin fishing, it’s advisable to have a handy selection of the flies you’re most likely to use that day. Have a selection that covers all water depths, so you’re prepared when a quick change is required. For even quicker adjustments to changes in water depths, have a spool of lead wire handy and wrap a small piece around the eye of the fly, as needed.

    Choosing the Right Fly for Bonefishing (article)

    BEFORE YOU CAST

    All fly lines, especially monocore lines, are subject to “twists” and “coils” (memory). Twist is caused by not casting the entire length of fly line, and each time you reel in a portion of the line, some twist will develop. The best way to remove twist is to strip the entire line off the reel (to the backing), cut the fly off and trail the entire line behind the boat. Coil is caused by “memory”, when a line has been tightly coiled on the reel for extended lengths of time. Until someone develops a fly line with no memory, the most important thing you can do before you step onto the foredeck to cast is to gently stretch your fly line! The quickest and easiest way to stretch your line is to strip out as much line as you can cast, then hold a 10-foot section in both hands, step on the middle and stretch the line against your foot. Keep stretching 10-foot sections until the entire line is stretched. Apply about 4-lbs of pressure, hold the light pressure for a few seconds, and the coils will vanish. DO NOT “jerk” or “stretch the hell out of it”! This can damage the coating as well as the core and greatly shorten the life of your fly line.

    Even better, start the night before. 1) Stretch the line. 2) Let it soak a while in a bucket of warm water and dish soap. 3) Dry it with a towel as you reel it up. 4) strip the cleaned line off the reel onto a clean surface (like a bed sheet) in large, loose coils overnight. 5) Get some sleep! 6) The next morning, apply cleaning solution as you wind it back on the reel. This process reduces memory and friction.

    ONCE YOU’RE ON DECK

    Strip out as much line as you can comfortably cast, cast the line, then strip it back onto the casting deck so that the line closest to the reel is at the bottom of the loosely coiled line you have now accumulated on the deck. Next, get about 10 or more feet of fly line (plus your leader) out of the rod tip. Hold the fly in one hand and the rod in the other. When a fish is spotted, toss the fly into the water and begin to cast.

    Holding the fly at the bend of the hook is the safest position to avoid hooking yourself should the leader catch on something unexpectedly.

    GUIDES

    Here’s a tip that will help you and your guide, compliments of Joe Clear, one of the Bahamas all-time great guides. Once you’re onboard, but before you start looking for bonefish, go through this drill with your guide.

    Strip out a comfortable amount of line for you to cast. Ask the guide to act as if he has spotted an imaginary bonefish and to give you his command…”bonefish 10 o’clock – 50 feet”. You then make the cast as you heard it described. Now, compare notes. Ask the guide if that is the direction and distance he called for. Frequently the guide’s view of the clock from the back of the boat is different from the angler’s. Even more frequently, 50 feet means something entirely different to the guide and the angler. Coming closer to understanding the finer points of direction and distance before you see fish should drastically improve your communication with the guide throughout the rest of the day. It’s also helpful if the guide knows your maximum, “comfortable” casting distance.

    CASTING

    Cast very close to a tailing fish, as he is focusing on a small area. With cruising fish, lead them so they can’t hear your fly hit the water, usually 6-12 feet (depending on depth and current).  Allow your fly to sink to the bottom before beginning your retrieve. It is better to cast short, hoping the fish will come to the fly, than to cast too far and risk having the line spook him. When casting from a boat, take your shoes off; it will help you avoid stepping on the fly line.

    The most common mistake anglers make when fishing the flats is taking too many false casts. Try to take no more than 4 false casts to reach a fish, hopefully fewer. When a guide positions the boat and sets up on a fish, the amount of time the boat stays in prime position is about 6 seconds. That’s generally enough time for 3 or 4 false casts.

    Casting, Communication & the “Clock” Diagram (article)

    RETRIEVE AND SETTING THE HOOK

    The idea is to get the fly to the bottom as quickly as possible before the fish reaches the fly. When the fish comes within view of the fly (generally 3-4 feet away), you move the fly to get the fish’s attention.  There are exceptions.

    Click here to answer the question:  To strip or not to strip.

    The most common retrieve is a strip / pause retrieve, where after each strip, you pause, so that the fly begins to settle to the bottom, imitating the motion of a shrimp. A dropping fly will invariably result in a take from a feeding fish. If the fish goes nose-down, tail-up in the vicinity of your fly, he’s taking the fly.

    When a bonefish takes the fly, you will feel resistance with your line hand as you begin the “strip” part of the retrieve. Normally this gradual pulling against the resistance is all you need to set the hook. Avoid setting the hook with your rod tip.

    If the fish did not take the fly, do the same thing again, perhaps with a more active strip to start, then let it sink to the bottom. The majority of hookups and the best hook sets come when the bonefish goes down on the fly, not when he’s chasing the fly straight on.

    However, if dropping the fly doesn’t work, try a long slow retrieve, giving the fly the appearance that it is escaping.

    Many bone fishermen can spot a cruising bonefish under good conditions, but they can’t make out the subtle movements of the fish when it’s behind or near the fly. Most guides can see exactly what the bonefish is doing. Therefore, they know when the bonefish has picked up the fly.  That’s why you should encourage your guide to talk you through the stripping process. It goes something like this:

    Guide: “Okay, leave the fly there. Let it sink. Okay, now short strip. Another short. Let it sink.  Long strip. He’s on.”

    What makes the stripping process more complicated is the action of wind and current on the movement of the boat. If the boat is drifting towards the fish, you’ll need to make long strips to pick up the slack. If you’re drifting fast and the guide says the fish has taken the fly, you may actually have to strike with both your hand and the rod to take all the slack out of the line. Striking with the rod is generally something you only do after you’ve felt the fish with your strip strike. However, if you can’t possibly take up the slack with your hand, you may have to go for broke and use the rod too.

    The Retrieve and Hook Set (article)

    BONEFISH STRATEGIES

    An ideal scenario is a fertile flat bordered by mangroves on one side and deep water the other. 

    On the outgoing tide, target bones leaving the mangroves heading to deep water.

    On the incoming, do the opposite. The fish coming in are usually more aggressive. They’ve waited out the slack tide and are raring to go.

    A fertile flat is typically a soft, sandy bottom with patches of grass or weeds. These flats hold far more shrimp, crabs and clams than clean, hard white sand.  A surefire way to identify such a flat is the presence of feed sign (see more on feed sign under “How to Spot Bonefish”).

    Find where bonefish first enter this flat from deep water and be ready to greet them the moment the tide starts moving in. They’ll be eager and so should you.

    Don’t judge the tide by things moving on the surface as they’re affected by wind. Instead, stand in a foot or two of water, kick up sand and watch which way it flows …. in or out.

    It’s best to have the wind and sun behind you, fish coming at you. A fish coming at you has less chance of seeing you than a fish on either side.

    RELEASING BONEFISH

    The best way to release a bonefish is to handle the fish as little as possible. Instead of grabbing the fish, grab the fly with your pliers and twist the fly loose. If you’re using 15-lb. Maxima tippet, you can hold onto the leader at the fly (with normal 3-8 lb. bonefish) in one hand and get the pliers on the hook with the other. If you bent your barb down, the hook will remove itself with a simple twist of the pliers. You should avoid touching the bonefish, because once you touch it, it releases a mucous-like slime that emits a scent that sharks can track.

    Two organizations, Bonefish Tarpon Trust and Keep Fish Wet, are getting the word out on best practices for releasing fish.

    Check out these links:

    Catch and release fishing is a valuable conservation tool that can lead to more and bigger fish in the fishery. However, just because a fish swims away doesn’t mean that it lives to be caught another day. The Bonefish Tarpon Trust has assembled some tips for increasing the chances that a released bonefish survives. Click here for more information on the best practices for fighting, handling and releasing Bonefish.

    What to Bring – Fishing the Flats

    BONEFISH

    • #7 to #9 Rod
    • Saltwater reel which holds at least 150 yds. of 20 lb. backing
    • WF floating line
    • 7-14 foot leader with 12 – 15 pound test tippet

    BONEFISH LEADERS

    Remember, we recommend the strongest tippet possible for your fishing situation. The following are only examples.

    Mono to Fluorocarbon Leader:  For the first 3 sections use Mason:  A 4′ butt of 25-lb., 2′ section of 20-lb, 18″ of 16-lb. Then add 2 sections of fluorocarbon, as follows: 18″ of 20 lb.; 2′ of 15 lb. makes an 11-footer.

    All Monofilament Leader: 5′ of 25 lb., 2 1/2 ‘of 20 lb., 15″ of 16 lb. (all Mason), plus 27″ tippet of 15 lb. Maxima Green gives an 11-footer.

    TARPON

    • #10 to #12 Rod
    • Saltwater reel holding a minimum of 250 yds. of 30-lb. backing
    • WF floating and intermediate are the most commonly used lines.
    • Leader with 15-20 lb. class tippet & 40 – 80 lb. shock tippet

    PERMIT

    • #10 Rod
    • Saltwater reel holding a minimum of 200 yds. of 30 lb. backing
    • WF floating line
    • Leader with 15-20 lb. tippet

    BARRACUDA & SHARKS

    • #8 to #10 Rod
    • WF floating line
    • Saltwater reel holding a minimum of 200 yds. of 30 lb. backing
    • Leader with 6″ shock tippet of 30 lb. wire or nylon-covered braided wire for barracuda. 24″ of wire for sharks.

    BONEFISH FLIES:

    • Gotcha fly
    • Clouser Deep Minnow -tan & white, green&white
    • Simram or Shrimp Scampi
    • Crab flies
    • Mantis & Spawning Shrimp Patterns
    • Brewer’s Amber Shrimp
    • Mini Puffs
    • Bunny Bones
    • Bonefish Bitters

    See below for more detailed information on bonefish flies.

    TARPON FLIES:

    • Shallow water tarpon flies like the Stu Apte, Black Death, Cockroach, or EP Black & Purple #1/0 to #3/0
    • Deep-water tarpon flies #2/0 to #4/0, like the whistler series in red and white, yellow and red and orange and grizzly.
    • Tarpon Toads or Bunnies #1/0 to #3/0; Char & Yellow, Black & Purple, purple, rusty orange, red & black
    • Deceivers #1/0 to #3/0; blue & white, green & white.
     

    PERMIT FLIES:

    • Del Brown Permit Fly
    • Rag Head
    • EP Crab; olive / tan
    • Mantis Shrimp patterns like Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp, Squimp, or Crimp.
    • Also Clouser Minnows and various other Crab flies
     

    BARRACUDA FLIES:

    • A sparse needlefish Fly (chartreuse)

    SHARK FLIES:

    • Yellow / Red Deceivers size 3/0 or bigger

    Spin-Fishing on The Flats

    BONEFISH AND PERMIT

    • Rod: 6½’ – 7 ‘ light (for bonefish); Medium (for permit).
    • Reel: Open faced (skirted spool) reel with 200-yard capacity.
    • Line: 8-10 lb. test. Extra spool of 10-12 lb. test.
    • Lures: 1/8-1/4 oz. Up-riding Flat Willie jigs, Millies jigs #155 or Bills jig worms. Also 1/0 – 3/0 bare hooks for bait.
    • Colors: Pink, yellow, white, brown.

    TARPON

    • Rod: 6½ ‘- 7½’ light medium weight
    • Reel: Open faced reel with at least 200-yd capacity.
    • Line: 15-20 lb. test. Extra spool of 10-15 lb. test.
    • Lures: Silverspoons, red & yellow spoons; 3″ long silver-sided, dark back diving lures, like Rat-L-Trap, Jumpin’ Minnow Plug, Chrome Bombers; Mirro-Lures (52M and 65M). Also, an assortment of ¼ – ¾ ounce bucktails in white and yellow and 3/0 bare hooks for bait.
    • Colors: Red/white, red/yellow, yellow/orange, green/silver.
    • Leaders: 80-100 lb. test shock tippets.

    BARRACUDA

    • Tackle: Same as above.
    • Leader: 30-60 lb. wire
    • Lures: Green, red and orange tube lures (8″-12″ surgical tubing).

    REEF OR BAIT CASTING – FOR LARGER SPECIES

    • Rod: 6″ medium to stiff action (for deep jigging, use a stiff rod).
    • Reel: With smooth drag and capacity for 200-yds 12-20 lb. test.
    • Jigs: 1½-4 oz. white jigs. Add a 7″-9″ curly tail worm in yellow, orange or green.
    • Bear in mind that many Bahamian guides prefer fishing bait rather than lures for bonefish and permit and locally available bait will be provided by your guide.

    BAHAMAS: Equipment & Clothing Checklist

    Daytime temperatures during the season range from 70°-95° and can drop into the 60’s (or less) at night. The sun is strong and you need to protect yourself from sunburn. We suggest you bring a couple of light-weight long-sleeved shirts and some light long pants. There is no need for formal clothing. Patagonia, Simms, Columbia and Ex-Offico all make state of the art outdoor clothing designed for the tropics.

    • Light weight, quick-drying long pants (2)
    • Light weight, quick-drying long-sleeved shirts (2)
    • Wading Shoes, Wading Socks, Gravel Guards.
    • Second pair of “boat” shoes
    • Wide brimmed hat (like upper/downer) to protect neck and ears. 2nd hat for back-up and two hat clips.
    • Light weight rain jacket and pants for rain showers/boat spray – doubles as wind breaker
    • Shorts (quick-drying)
    • Short-sleeved shirts (quick-drying)
    • “Wicking” underwear
    • Bathing suit
    • Fishing towel
    • Two pair of Polaroid sunglasses, with straps and side shields. Wrap around style also offers lateral eye protection.
    • Bandanas, Buffs or Hoodies
    • Thin gloves for sun protection
     

    MISCELLANEOUS

    Sun creams: SPF#15 – 45 strength waterproof sunscreen as well as lip balm with sunscreen

    Insect Repellent: Spray for mosquitoes, sand flies and horseflies.

    Zip-Loc Bags: Large and small to keep items dry. Fill one with a lens cleaning cloth to clean glasses, etc.

    Toiletry Kit: For cosmetics, medications (such as Transderm II or Dramamine for seasickness, aspirin, Advil, antihistamines, antibiotics, ear plugs, etc.). Also talc or some form of powder.

    First Aid Kit: With band aids, antibacterial ointment, adhesive tape, etc.

    Camera Gear: Waterproof bag, memory cards, polarizing filter, lens tissue, cleaner, flash, extra camera batteries and accessory batteries.

    Gear Bag: Small pack, belt attached bag or backpack for carrying tackle/camera while wading.

    Travel Documents: Passport, birth certificate with photo ID or proper documents for your destination (refer to your Angler Adventures itinerary letter for details); Travel Insurance documents (recommended for every trip)

    Other: Cash (small bills) for tips, Traveler’s Checks, travel alarm clock, flashlight, Kleenex, Band aids, duct tape.

    Carry On Bag: To carry valuable fishing gear, change of clothing, prescription medications and necessities aboard the airplane.

    Reading Material: Bring books (particularly ones you don’t mind leaving at the lodge) and perhaps DVDs if you are bringing your own laptop.

     

    ACCESSORIES

    • Clippers with sharp point to clear eye of fly
    • Hook sharpener
    • Fly line dressing (for keeping lines slick and clean)
    • Chatillon Scales (optional)
    • Reel oil, Sentry Tuf-Cloth or WD-40 to apply after washing.
    • Spare fly lines and backing
    • Ferrule wax; use only if your rod sections have a slippage problem
    • Reel mitts to protect reels
    • #2 lead wire to weight flies.
    • Stripping basket, only necessary when wading the surf.
    • Fishermen’s pliers, needle nose pliers, forceps.
    • Pair of Rubbermaid jar openers (to disjoint stuck rod sections)
    • Water bottle
    • Oversize tip tops and stick of Ferrule cement
     

    SUGGESTED REFERENCE BOOKS

    “Fly Fishing in Salt Water” – Kreh

    Fishing the Flats” – Sosin and Kreh **** “Fly Fishing for Bonefish” – Brown

    TYING BONEFISH FLIES

    Anyone possessing the fly-tying fundamentals required to tie a bucktail streamer can tie effective bonefish flies. All that is needed are the basic tools: vice, bobbin, scissors & whip finisher; a supply of salt water hooks; and an assortment of materials.

    HOOKS: Tiemco #811S, Gamakatsu SC12 & SC11-2H, Daiichi x452, and the Mustad Signature Series.

    THREAD: Pre-waxed Flat Nylon (210 Denier), 3/0 (115 Denier) or 6/0 (80 Denier) are good choices depending on the size of the fly. Most important colors are white, black, tan, yellow and pink.

    TAILS: Tails aren’t used on all patterns, but where called for, a variety of natural materials, i.e. calf tail, hackle fibers, wood duck flank, rabbit fur, or marabou, are used, as are synthetic flash materials such as Flashabou or Krystal Flash.

    BODIES: Braided Mylar, Body Braid, Aunt Lydia’s Sparkle Yarn, Clear V-Rib, Chenilles, Krystal Flash, etc.

    WINGS: Calf tail, saddle hackle tips, rabbit fur, marabou, synthetic fish hair or craft fur are useful. White, brown, tan, pink and yellow are the most common colors. Krystal Flash or Flashabou is often added. Some patterns call for grizzly or cree saddle hackle tips tied in as sides along a hair wing.

    EYES: Vary the weights of your flies by the weight and size of the eyes; medium bead chain is the most common. For shallow water use small bead chain eyes, no bead chain eyes, plastic or mono eyes. For deeper water, lead / dumbbell eyes in a variety of sizes are effective. For example, while we recommend 1/50th and 1/36th lead eyes on the Clouser Minnows described below, you may want to experiment with 1/100th lead eyes as well. For tailing fish or skinny water use an unweighted fly (tied without any bead chain eyes) like a Bunny Bone. It is also important when you assemble your fly collection to have the primary colors represented: pink, silver/white, brown / tan / amber, gold / yellow and orange. Note: A simplistic approach to fly selection is to match the fly color to the bottom color. If the bottom is light in color, try a Gotcha. If the bottom is tan or dark in color, try crab. You can do well bonefishing with just these two patterns.

    The flies listed here, and the materials to tie them, can be purchased through the Compleat Angler – 203-655-9400.

    GOTCHA FLY (A CHARLIE VARIATION)

    Hook Size: #2 – #8
    Thread: Pink
    Eyes: Medium Silver Bead Chain
    Tail: Pearl Medium Mylar Tubing, core removed
    Body: Pearl Poly-Flash Braided Mylar
    Wing: Beige Craft Fur topped with 12 strands of Pearl Krystal Flash.

    PETERSON SPAWNING SHRIMP:

    Hook Size: #2 – #6
    Thread: Fl. Pink 140 Denier (3/0)
    Eyes: Medium Nickel, Lead or Bead Chain Eyes
    Tail1: Orange McFlylon / Egg Yarn
    Tail2: White, Tan or Cream Antron Yarn
    Tail2 (opt.): 4 strands of Pearl Krystal Flash
    Antenna: Black Krystal Flash
    Eyes: Black Mono Epoxy Eyes
    Legs: Tan Barred Crazy Legs
    Body: Pearl Flat Diamond Braid / Bill’s Body Braid
    Collar: Tan Zonker Rabbit Strip

    CLOUSER’S MINNOW (GOOD, DEEP WATER, BIG FISH FLY): TAN & WHITE

    Hook Size: #2 – #8
    Thread: Tan
    Eyes: 1/50th or 1/36th ounce dumbbell eyes with red iris
    Body: None
    Underwing: (Tied on top of hook shank, before turning over). Very sparse white bucktail 1½ inches long
    Overwing: (Tied after hook is inverted). A few strands of gold Krystal Flash topped with very sparse tan or light brown bucktail, same length as underwing. Another effective Clouser pattern is green and white.

    SIMRAM:

    Hook Size: #2 – #8, upright in vice
    Thread: Pink
    Eyes: Medium (5/32″) to small chrome dumbbell eyes
    Tail: 4 strands yellow Krystal Flash followed by golden tan Kraft Fur.
    Body: Pearl glitter body (body braid).
    Shell Back: 1-inch piece medium pearl Mylar piping, core removed.
    Wing: 1½ inch piece of tan, crosscut rabbit fur strip.

    BREWER’S AMBER SHRIMP:

    Hook Size: #4 – #8
    Thread: Yellow
    Tail: Lemon Wood Duck
    Body: Yellow Floss, overwrapped with Amber V-Rib
    Eyes: Medium Silver Bead Chain
    Wing: Light brown buck or calftail, sided with Cree saddle hackle tips.

    BONEFISH BITTERS (BROWN OR OLIVE):

    Hook Size: #4, #6 or #8
    Thread: Color to match wing
    Eyes: Bead chain
    Body: Colored epoxy or hot glue
    Legs: Silli legs to match wing color
    Wing: Deer hair over Z-Lon or Antron underwing

    BUNNY BONE TAN (GOOD PATTERN FOR TAILERS; SKINNY WATER):

    Hook Size: #6 & #8
    Thread: Beige
    Eyes: White, black or gold plastic or mono eyes, tied in near bend
    Fan Tail: Start with 5 half-inch pieces of gold mylar.  Then overlay Tan Rabbit Fur (or dark brown rabbit fur with pink thread)
    Antennae: 2 strands Copper Krystal Flash, 2½ X shank length
    Body: If using plastic eyes and a size 8 hook, use Tan thread for body.  If using small bead chain eyes or a size 6 hook, use Tan Aunt Lydia’s Rug Yarn (built up slightly around eyes and tapering to the hook eye).

    MINI PUFFS (PINK; TAN OR RUSTY ORANGE)

    Hook Size: #6 & #8
    Thread: White
    Eyes: Small silver bead chain
    Tail (wing): White calf tail tied in at bend, appx. length of hook shank, topped with 4 strands of Pearl crystal flash and sided with grizzly saddle tips (splayed).
    Body: Medium pink chenille, figured eighted around bead chain eyes to produce a “ball”.

    DEL BROWN’S PERMIT FLY

    Hook Size: Standard or long sharked sizes #1/ 0 – #6
    Thread: Chartreuse
    Weight: 1/24th , 1/36th or 1/50th oz. Dumbbell eyes.
    Tail: 4 strands pearl Flashabou, and 4 ginger variant or cree neck hackles, tied splayed to imitate claws.
    Body: Aunt Lydia’s Rug Yarn, 8 – 10 strips, approximately 2″ long, trimmed to round shape.
    Legs: Four 1-1 ½ ” pieces of white rubber hackle, tipped red with a Sharpie Pen.

    Bonefishing Preparations by Rick Bannerot: Click Here.

    Effective Patterns for Bonefish and the Bahamas (article)
  • Best Bonefishing in 10 Years and 30% Off at Delphi

    Best Bonefishing in 10 Years and 30% Off at Delphi

    Since Hurricane Dorian, we’ve been talking to a lot about the status of the Bahamas in general, but also about the fishing operations.  There are a lot of different opinions on the effects of Hurricane Dorian on the Bahamas, but the truth is that the vast majority of the Bahamas was unaffected by the storm. Yes, we’ve lost a few lodges on the hardest hit islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama. However, there are fishing lodges that are in great shape on both islands right now, and are having some spectacular fishing. Evan Peterson just visited both Abaco and Grand Bahama islands and reported that Delphi and H2O Bonefishing are back up and running – all systems go! North Riding Point Club and Grand Bahama Bonefishing will open in January. With virtually no anglers in either fishery since June, both have been rested for 6+ months and the fishing is as good or better than it’s been anytime in the last 10 years! The best help that concerned anglers can give the people of the Bahamas is to visit the islands, to get people working to bring some normality, and much income to their lives, and enjoy fantastic Bonefishing at the same time.

    The Delphi Club, Abaco

    The Delphi Club is offering a 30% discount for all reservations in January & February. Evan visited Delphi in early December and gave a very positive report. The facility was totally unaffected by Dorian, providing the same excellent accommodations (private beach, immaculate pool, delicious meals and comfortable rooms with amazing views of the Atlantic). What has changed is the delivery of brand new Hells Bay skiffs and a renewed vision of the fishery: Delphi has expanded the areas they are fishing on a regular basis, in addition to the Marls, to include Sandy Point, the Bight of Robinson and Cherokee Sound.
    January 27 – 31, 4-nights / 3-days, 8 rods, Save up to $1,590 pp
    February 2 – 9, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods, Save up to $2,841 pp
    February 8 – 15, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods, Save up to $2,841 pp
    February 22 – 29, 7-nights / 6-days, 2 rods
    March 1 – 6, 5-nights / 4-days, 2 rods
    March 16 – 23, 7-nights / 6-days, 2 rods
    March 26 – April 1, 6-nights / 5-days, 2 rods
    April 11 – 17, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    April 18 – 25 7-nights / 6-days, 2 rods
    April 25 – May 2, 7-nights / 6-days, 10 rods
    May 18 – 25, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    May 24 – 31, 7-nights / 6-days, 10 rods

    Delphi Club, Abaco Bahamas December 2019

    H2O Bonefishing, Grand Bahama

    H2O Bonefishing is the only fishing operation currently open on Grand Bahama, leaving more 100 miles of shoreline all to themselves. While Evan was visiting Grand Bahama in early December, there wasn’t another bonefisherman in sight. The Mangroves are sprouting new leaves and the fish are healthy, happy and hungry. The Lucayan District is basically running like normal: The restaurants are open, the Pelican Bay hotel is fully operational and looks great. H2O was already a top choice for anglers targeting big bonefish, but should be at the top of the list. 

    January 23 – 30, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    January 30 – February 7, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    February 7 – 14, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    February 25 – March 3, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    March 3 – 8, 4-nights / 3-days, 4 rods
    March 13 – 20, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    April 2 – 9, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    April 9 – 13, 4-nights / 3-days, 4 rods
    April 20 – 27, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    May 11 – 18, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    May 18 – 25, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rodsChrist Allen of Air Flight Charters with a nice Grand Bahama Bonefish, with H2O Bonefishing

    The other islands, like Andros, Crooked, and Acklins experienced no damage from the storm. Many of the lodges on these other islands are starting to fill up because there are fewer lodges available for the rest of Winter and Spring seasons. Please find a selection of available space at some of our top Bahamas Bonefishing lodges from other islands described below. Please Note that all space listed here is subject to change. Call or email to inquire about current availability.

    Mangrove Cay Club, Andros

    Angler Adventures’ senior staff member, Doug Schlink visited Mangrove Cay in early November and filed this report: “This was my 4th visit to the Club since it first opened in 2000.  We’ve of course known owner/manager Liz Bain since she ran Cargill Creek Lodge in the mid-90’s.  She did a great job there and has done the same for her 20 years at Mangrove Cay.   The attention to detail here is truly amazing!  The grounds are literally manicured, the skiffs maintained in tiptop condition, the staff and service is blue chip and Chef Iyke’s dinners are to die for. Having visited all the top shelf lodges in the Bahamas, I can say Mangrove Cay is among the cream of the crop and is truly one of the best run lodge operations in the Bahamas, and the flats of Andros are as healthy as ever.  We fished Middle and North Bights and there was no shortage of fish. There are still some truly world class bonefish on Andros.  I saw one, first mistaken for a shark, that I believe was the biggest bonefish I’ve seen in 30 years bonefishing. I’ve landed 12 – 13 lb bonefish, but this pig dwarfed them.”  The Bights of Andros truly comprise one of the greatest bonefish habitats on the planet.
    January 4 – 11, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    January 18 – 25, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    January 25 – February 4, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    February 6 – 13, 7-nights / 6-days, 10 rods
    February 19 – 23, 4-nights / 3-days, 6 rods
    February 23 – March 1, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    March 14 – 21, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    March 21 – 25, 4-nights / 3-days, 12 rods
    May 7 – 11, 4-nights / 3-days, 4 rods
    May 28 – June 4, 7-nights / 6-days, 16 rods

    Bair’s Lodge, Andros

    February 12 – 16, 2020, 4-nights / 3-days, 4 rods
    April 5 – 11, 2020, 6-nights / 5-days, 2 rods
    April 11 – 18, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 2 rods
    June 13 – 20, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    June 20 – 27, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods

    Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge, Andros

    January 11 – 18, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    January 25 – February 1, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    February 1 – 8, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 2 rods
    February 29 – March 7, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    March 21 – 28, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    April 11– 18, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    April 18– 25, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    April 25 – May 2, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 2 rods
    May 16 – May 23, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    May 23 – May 30, 2020, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods

    Andros Island Bonefish Club, Andros

    January 11– 18, 7-nights / 6-days, 12 rods
    January 18 – 25, 7-nights / 6-days, 12 rods
    January 25 – 31, 6-nights / 5-days, 12 rods
    February 15 – 22, 7-nights / 6-days, 14 rods
    March 1 – 8, 7-nights / 6-days, 12 rods
    March 8 – 15, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    March 17 – 21, 4-nights / 3-days, 12 rods
    March 21– 28, 7-nights / 6-days, 12 rods
    April 4 – 11, 7-nights / 6-days, 14 rods
    April 18 – 25, 7-nights / 6-days, 14 rods
    April 25 – 30, 5-nights / 4-days, 16 rods
    May 2 – 9, 7-nights / 6-days, 20 rods
    May 9 – 16, 7-nights / 6-days, 20 rods
    May 16 – 23, 6-nights / 5-days, 20 rods
    May 30 – June 6, 7-nights / 6-days, 20 rods
    June 8 – 13, 5-nights / 4-days, 12 rods
    June 13 – 20, 7-nights / 6-days, 12 rods
    June 20 – 27, 7-nights / 6-days, 12 rods

    Andros South, Andros

    February 2 – 9, 7-nights / 6-days, 2 rods
    February 9 – 16, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    March 1 – 8, 7-nights / 6-days, 3 rods
    April 12 – 18, 7-nights / 6-days, 2 rods
    May 10 – 17, 7-nights / 6-days, 2 rods

    Crooked and Acklins Trophy Lodge, Crooked Island

    January 11 – 18, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    January 18 – 25, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    February 8 – 15, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    February 15 – 22, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    February 29 – March 2, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    March 7– 14, 7-nights / 6-days, 10 rods
    March 21 – 28, 7-nights / 6-days, 4 rods
    April 4 – 11, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    April 11 – 18, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    May 2 – 9, 7-nights / 6-days, 10 rods
    May 9 – 16, 7-nights / 6-days, 10 rods
    May 16 – 23, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    May 23 – 30, 7-nights / 6-days, 10 rods

    Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn, Acklins Island

    January 11 – 15, 4-nights /3-days, 8 rods
    March 18 – 25, 7-nights / 6-days, 6 rods
    April 22 – 29, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    May 2 – 9, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    May 9 – 16, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods
    May 16– 23, 7-nights / 6-days, 8 rods

    In addition to supporting the Bahamian people by spending money on a fishing trip, which is the start of the stability that many need to move forward, there is still a great need in general on both Abaco and Grand Bahama. During Evan’s visit, it became clear that in addition to Bahamians who are trying to rebuild their homes, there’s a second and third circle of needs for many living on Abaco and Grand Bahama.  In other words, people may have their minimum needs met, but there are secondary needs that are important to the rebuilding process. Our continued support for our friends in the Bahamas is needed as mush now as it was right after the storm. The following is a quick update from our September 9, 2019 email highlighting the Hurricane Dorrian Relief funds that are in need of money to continue the direct support of the people of Abaco and Grand Bahama.

    Air Flight Charters:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/victims-of-hurricane-dorian-bahamas

    The Delphi Club: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-delphi-club-abaco-relief-fund

    East End Lodge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dorian-relief-effort-east-end-grand-bahama

    H2O Bonefishing: https://www.gofundme.com/f/h2obonefishing-hurricane-dorian-recovery-fund

    Please make note the currency is UK Pounds £

    North Riding Point Club: The club is very fortunate to have a 501(c) (3) through which we can direct assistance allowing your donation to be tax- deductible. Issue checks to Amiable and mail to Amiable, Inc., c/o Mark Andrews, 755 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC, 29464. Alternatively, if you would like to wire us funds send us an email and we will forward wiring instructions for Amiable’s 501(c) (3).

    Stay tuned for a more detailed write upon Evan’s Abaco and Grand Bahama Trip after the holiday.

    Happy Holidays from everyone here at Angler Adventures!

  • Bahamas Hurricane Dorian Relief

    Bahamas Hurricane Dorian Relief

    Bahamas Hurricane Dorian Relief

    Hurricane Dorian has left massive damage behind on both Abaco and Grand Bahama after hammering the Northern Bahamas.  Our hearts continue to break as more photos, videos, and reports reveal the full extent of the damages.  While we’ve heard from several of our friends and partners on both islands on the status of their fishing lodges, it pales in comparison to the importance of supporting the people of Abaco and Grand Bahama.  These are the people that hosted us in their country, guided us to bonefish, permit and tarpon, and became our friends.  Just about every one of them has lost their Homes, Boats, Cars, Businesses / Livelihoods, or most tragically, Family, and some have lost everything. 

    It’s been an emotional week at Angler Adventures as we’ve had conversations, many of them tear filled, with our friends in the Bahamas. It’s impossible to comprehend the true severity of the situation on Abaco and Grand Bahama, but we can all see that the people of both islands are in immediate need of our help.  They need an initial wave of support for basic items like clothes, food, water, medicine, temporary housing, and tools to start cleaning up.  Then they’ll need a second wave of support to rebuild their lives.  The first wave of support is starting to reach the people of Abaco and Grand Bahama, and so many people have made generous donations to one of the several GoFundMe campaigns recently established, which is a blessing and makes us proud.  However, the Hundreds of Thousands of dollars raised so far should be considered the beginning.  Please consider continuing to support our friends on Abaco and Grand Bahama by donating to any of the GoFundMe pages each of the lodges has set up to directly benefit their staff.  

    Please find links below for the fundraising efforts by some of our friends and partners, as well as a snippet about what the funds will go towards in this massive relief effort.  Each of these lodges is pledging to pass on 100% of these donations to their staff members. 

    Abaco Lodge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/abaco-lodge-hurricane-dorian-relief-efforts/

    The lodge is insured and we will be fine but our family, friends and staff are not so fortunate. We have set up a GoFundMe to support them – we hope you can contribute and we will keep everyone updated as we learn more.

    Air Flight Charters: https://www.gofundme.com/f/victims-of-hurricane-dorian-bahamas

    Friends & Family,

    We are happy to announce that we will be flying 2 – 3 relief supply flights per day for 30 days to the Bahamas based on your support and the support of others.  This funding will only cover 30 days of supplies.  We will adjust based on the needs that arise which appear to be large and ongoing.

    We have 5,000 square feet at Fort Lauderdale International Airport (our home / hub) specifically dedicated for this relief effort.  We will make this space available for any organizations that would like to join forces with us to send over relief supplies.

    Because we are located at a major airport, we ask for you to CALL IN ADVANCE if you are planning on dropping off supplies so that we can coordinate an escort to the hanger for the safe storage of the supplies.

    The Drop-Off address will be
    1420 Lee Wagener Blvd, Suite 103
    Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

    If you’re looking at buying online and have it shipped to use, you can send it to

    Air Flight Charters
    1420 Lee Wagener Blvd, Suite 103
    Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

    Deep Water Cay Club: https://www.gofundme.com/f/deep-water-cay-family

    Deep Water Cay has apparently sustained catastrophic damage. We are working with our DWC team members and homeowners to get a closer fly over and to soon land on our beloved Cay. More importantly, we are still attempting to reach all of our DWC staff. One thing we are sure of is that they and their families will need all the help possible to put their lives back together.

    We have received many kind words, requests for news, and offers to help. We have set up a GoFundMe page to accept donations for our staff and their families to offer the help they so desperately need now and in the coming weeks and months.

    We are asking for your help on their behalf while they begin to rebuild their lives and homes. This will be a long road. We will post updates on social media. We will also send another email when we have substantial news.

    Thank you for your support and generosity. Please share this news and request with your friends.

    Delphi Club: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-delphi-club-abaco-relief-fund

    While we were very fortunate at Delphi to have been far enough south of the eye of the storm to escape any real damage, many of our staff live in Marsh Harbour and they have experienced significant damage or total loss of their homes from both the winds and flooding. While our first priority is to help our staff and guides we also want to contribute to other local relief efforts too. Our goal is to raise $100,000 (or more) to help them rebuild their lives. This fund raiser is run by the partners / owners of the Delphi Club.

    East End Lodge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dorian-relief-effort-east-end-grand-bahama

    I have started a GoFundMe, not for the lodge, but specifically for the people on the east end of Grand Bahama Island. For the residence of places such as McLean’s Town, High Rock, Pelican Point, Freetown, Bevans Town, Gambier Point etc. 

    When people think about Grand Bahama, they think about Freeport…I heard one newscaster report that “no one lives on the east of the island, it’s covered in sand flats.” Many reading this have been to the lodge and know that this is not the case.

    The people of east end Grand Bahama need our help.

    Funds raised will go to get much needed immediate supplies such as first aid, batteries, water, portable fans, generators, clothes, flashlights, food, baby food and so much more to the people there. Any excess funds will go to build back the homes of those affected.

    H2O Bonefishing: https://www.gofundme.com/f/h2obonefishing-hurricane-dorian-recovery-fund

    We are trying to generate some funds through a go fund me account set up for our staff who have lost varying amounts as to home and property and will have no income for months to come as the island and it’s infrastructure is rebuilt. We would appreciate any distribution of our link for funds….

    Please make note the currency is UK £. This is because the fund was set up remotely and from where I am, it cannot set up a US $ option.  To calculate your donation amount just multiple the Us $ amount you want to donate by 0.81 so if you wanted to donate for example $100 dollars then that is $ 100 x .81 – so you would then type in your donation amount as 81 UK pounds ( £ ).

    Little Abaco Bonefish Lodge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/little-abaco-dorian-relief-fund

    Little Abaco Bonefish Lodge was devastated by Hurricane Dorian. Your contribution will be put towards medical supplies, food, water, a generator, chain saw, batteries, lights, lodge repairs, boat repairs, etc.   Every penny helps and is very much appreciated!

    Sydney and Ketta are looking for any help available.  All proceeds will go towards emergency needs, repairing the extensive damage and hopefully, getting their lives as close to normal as quickly as possible.

    North Riding Point Club: Direct Donations are being accepted by wire or check.  Call or email for those details.

    Thank you for your overwhelming concern for North Riding Point Club’s employees in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian and its catastrophic effect on the island of Grand Bahama.

    The NRPC family needs immediate help. We are arranging to get supplies to Grand Bahama by air and sea. As soon as transportation is cleared by the GB Port Authority items such as food, water, medical supplies, baby essentials, clothing, tarps, etc. will be in these initial cargo shipments.

    Many of you have generously expressed a willingness to make donations to aid NRPC employees, all severely impacted by Dorian. Please know that 100% of funds received will go directly to our employees.

    More Information:

    For anyone who’s interested in learning more about how much of a donation made through GoFundMe reaches the intended recipient, please visit their page at https://www.gofundme.com/c/blog/gofundme-fees.

  • Bonefishing Essential Destinations: The Lodges of South Andros, Bahamas

    Bonefishing Essential Destinations: The Lodges of South Andros, Bahamas

    I loved visiting South Andros for the second time to explore its fishing lodges. I saw and fished with virtually every lodge there including the remote Mars Bay on Andros’s southern-most tip. As most of my clients know, I love fishing and the more I learn about an area the more enthusiastic I become.

    The South Bight of Andros is a large, virtually untouched land mass surrounded by flats and mangroves. My purpose this trip was to investigate each lodge there to determine whether it had all of the essentials. By essentials, I mean those qualities that make a specific lodge worthy of any angler’s wish list; specifically, excellent fishing, guides and management as well as amenities suitable to specific anglers’ needs.

    Transportation to the island can be easily arranged by flying into Andros’s Congo Town Airport via Nassau or Ft. Lauderdale. Flights are usually very reasonably priced, making the trip quite convenient from most the U.S.

    My journey started on Andros’s southern reaches at Mars Bay Lodge. I couldn’t wait to visit Mars Bay’s remote and undiscovered flats. Mars Bay’s location equates to less time spent traveling to spectacular southern fisheries like Jack Fish Cay, Water Cays, and Curley Cut Cays. And of course, less time in the boat means more time fishing. The facility at Mars Bay consists of two buildings designed in the practical, minimalist style of the Bahamaian Villa. The main building consists of two bedrooms, with shared bath. The second one has one bedroom, private bath, Satellite TV, dining room, kitchen and a very nice sitting area. The lodge emphasizes basic, clean comfort.

    Debbie is the assistant manager as well as the lodge’s gourmet cook. Bill Howard, the on-site owner / manager makes Mars Bay function very smoothly. Bill has very strict standards concerning his staff which are especially noted in his team of guides. Wilfred, for example, has been a south Andros resident all of his life and has been guiding professionally for over 20 years. A true Bahamian, he is one of the finest boatman I have ever come across as well as an expert flats wader. George is also an excellent boatman and a determined flats stalker. Chris has the best eyes of the group and spots fish at impossible distances. Mars Bay keeps Rahming skiffs and nicely kept poling boats.

    From Mars Bay I traveled to Bair’s Lodge. I had been to Bair’s once before for an extensive stay during which I enjoyed optimal fishing with one of my clients. I knew immediately that I would have to visit again.

    Upon my return I received a warm welcome from managers, Nicolas and Cecelia, Argentine citizens whom also manage Futa Lodge for Bair’s parent company, Nervous Waters. Nicolas and Cecelia are great managers. Their personal, hands-on approach to guests and the lodge’s daily operation has made Bair’s the “5 Star of South Andros.” Nicolas also oversees Bair’s professional and experienced guiding staff. The staple guides, Leslie, Nate, “T” and Gary all have slightly different areas of guiding expertise. Nicholas takes advantage of this by putting his guides on a rotation, which allows guests to explore the large flats, creeks, and mangroves thoroughly. Depending on tides, trips to Andros’s west side can be made as well. Nervous Waters is continually re-investing in Bair’s by rigorously maintaining and improving boats and accommodations. Nervous Waters is very consistent in its ability to maintain the perfect mix of staff, guides and management.

    Bair’s has recently added space for two more anglers; the lodge can now accommodate 10 rods at a time.

    Past trips to Andros South (formerly the Bonefish Bay Club) have made me a bit wary of recommending it to my clients. Having come under new management and ownership, though, I decided to return to see what future clients could expect. I could have not been more pleased with the changes made by Andros South’s new owner, Andrew Bennett. He has made ambitious improvements to the plumbing systems, single accommodations, landscaping, boats and other equipment. He has also added a Tiki bar and casting area beside the white sandy beach in front of the lodge.

    The meals were also very good, often consisting of a fresh catch of the day reeled in by manager John Toker. Like Bair’s, Andros South uses a rotating-guide system that works well to make each guide’s specific knowledge and experienced accessible. All guides at Andros South are hardworking and extremely enthusiastic. Their are quickly becoming legends on the island due to their fishing zeal.

    Before leaving south Andros I stopped at three other lodges: Glatos, Sunrise, and Nathan’s Lodge. I would not recommend Glatos or Sunrise.

    I was somewhat impressed by Nathan’s Lodge. The atmosphere there was friendly, comfortable, and it offered real Bahamian charm. The inconsistent guiding quality, however, makes me a little hesitant about giving Nathan’s my full endorsement.

    I can confidently say, though, that the south Andros fishing lodges as a whole have improved considerably since my last visit. At Mars Bay, Bair’s and Andros South anglers will certainly find those fishing essentials that make guest return again and again. Given the right conditions, these lodges can provide an atmosphere of fishing nirvana, allowing guests to see why this area of the Bahamas has become part of fishing lore.

  • World Class Bahamas Bonefishing in South Andros Island, Bahamas

    World Class Bahamas Bonefishing in South Andros Island, Bahamas

    In recent years the southern tip and southwest side of Andros Island, Bahamas, has become one of the hottest bonefishing destinations in the world. South Andros is a relatively new spot on the angling map and is comprised of vast, unpressured flats, tidal creeks, mangroves and unique inland lakes. Few other locales offer such a diversity of bonefishing habitats, and visitors to south Andros can often experience all of them in the same day. Roaming these remote waters are schools of unsophisticated 2- to 4-pound bonefish numbering in the

    thousands. Anglers will also find bigger, warier bonefish and the occasional double-digit giant in Deep Creek, Little Creek and along the west side.

    I recently fished this bonefishing hot spot to see exactly what it has to offer and to investigate the area’s bonefish lodges. I visited Bair’s Lodge, Glatos, Andros South, Nathan’s Lodge, Sunrise Lodge and Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge.

    Bair’s Lodge is the most centrally located of these operations. While there is good fishing just five minutes to the north in Deep Creek and five minutes to the south in Little Creek, the guides are willing to take long boat rides to the southernmost fishing areas. Consequently, I saw an enormous area of fishable water during my stay, including crossing through Little Creek to access the west side. This trip can take an hour or more depending on tides, but the protected creek offers a smooth ride and is home to some very large bonefish.

    Bair’s has done an excellent job of hiring a team of guides whose skills are as

    diverse as the south Andros fishery. I fished at different times with Leslie, William, “T,” Chip and Gary, each of whom has a different specialtyand takes a different approach to daily fishing. This guide rotation allowed me to experience each guide’s favorite spots and techniques.

    In terms of accommodations, food and management I found Bair’s Lodge to be among the best lodges in the Bahamas. For more information on Bair’s Lodge please visit www.www.angleradventures.com/bairba.

    Andros South, formerly the Bonefish Bay Club, has been taken over by Andrew Bennett who has had great success with his Alaskan fishing lodges. Andros South takes full advantage of the fishery’s variety. Andros South guides will fish the east coast and southern tip of south Andros as well as its west side. They are expert at navigating the maze of tidal creeks that runs through south Andros and can almost always find good, leeward fishing there.

    They have also discovered a network of inland flats and saltwater lakes that can be loaded with fish under certain conditions. These areas cannot be accessed by boat and so are very rarely fished. A good deal of walking and bush whacking is required to reach them but, as an experienced bonefisherman, I enjoyed the novelty and ingenuity of these inland excursions. Andros South also offers exploratory blue water fly fishing for tuna, dorado, sharks and billfish aboard a 25-foot Power Cat with twin 150hp Yamaha four-stroke outboards.

    The accommodations at Andros South are not as luxurious as they are at Bair’s, though they have recently been renovated and updated. They are now modern, clean and comfortable, and are all single occupancy.

    Meals focus on freshness. Some of the dinners consisted of manager John Toker’s daily catches skillfully prepared by the lodge chef. The daily lodge operations run very smoothly and I found the staff to be friendly and attentive. For more information on Andros South please visit www.www.angleradventures.com/androssouth.

    Being the southernmost lodge on Andros, Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge has the quickest access to the island’s southern tip and south east side. This equates to more time fishing. The pristine fisheries of Jack Fish Cay, Water Cay and Curley Cut Cay, which can be difficult to reach from other lodges, 20-30 minutes north of Mars Bay. Mars Bay guides rarely, if ever, venture north, preferring to take advantage of their proximity to the renowned flats of the south end of Andros.

    Accommodations at Mars Bay bonefish lodge are clean and comfortable, but very basic. Bill Howard manages the lodge expertly and the chef offers very good Bahamian cuisine. The lodge does not offer many amenities, but it does offer some of the best bonefishing in the Bahamas.

    I would recommend Mars Bay for the serious angler wishing to concentrate on large numbers of smaller, unpressured bonefish. For more information on Mars Bay please visit www.www.angleradventures.com/marsbay.

    I would be happy to discuss these lodges or to answer any questions. Please call or email me for details or to reserve space in south Andros for this season.

    Tight lines,
    Judy Hall

    U.S.: 800-628-1447 – Int’l: 860-434-9624
    Fax: 860-434-8605
    E-Mail: judy@angleradventures.com
    PO Box 872, Old Lyme, CT 06371
    Website: www.www.angleradventures.com

  • Prime Time Space, Deals & Discounts, and Fly Fishing Travel News: Bahamas, Mexcio, Seychelles, and St. Brandon’s Atoll

    Black Fly Lodge

    The new Black Fly Lodge (photo right) opened March 1, 2013 with a capacity of 8 anglers in single rooms. Located in Schooner Bay, Abaco, the lodge overlooks the picturesque habour that is the center piece of this “community” development by Lindroth Development Corp. Black Fly has 4 new 18-foot East Cape, custom skiffs to compliment their new digs. Click here for rates and info.

    Open Dates: March 10 – April 6 (1 – 3 rooms); April 14 – 20(4 rooms); April 28 – May 4 (2 rooms); May 12 – June 1 (2 – 8 rooms); June 9 – 22 (8 rooms)

    North Riding Point Club

    North Riding Point Club (NRPC) has acquired 5 new 17-foot Hells Bay Marquesa Skiffs with 90 HP Yamaha 4-stroke outboards and new trailers. Also added to the fleet is a new GMC Yukon SUV. The boats are equipped with padded seats, leaning bar and power poles. The Hells Bay skiffs have been in use for over a month and clients and guides alike are raving about the comfort and speed, especially when making the run to Sale Cay. Click here for more info.

    Open Dates: (Call for Additional Dates)
    April 28 – May 1, 4 rods, $2,500 per person (pp)
    May 6 – 13, 4 rods, $5,340 pp

    Bair’s, Rickmon, Tranquility & Pesca Maya Complete Renovations

    Bair’s Lodge

    Bair’s Lodge spent January 2013 doing a major lodge renovation and boat restoration. All 6 dolphin skiffs have been reglassed top to bottom, as well as having all the seats and cushions replaced, new hardware, wiring, fuel tanks, lines and filters installed. Also installed were jack plates, so they can run in shallower water, and trim tabs.

    The kitchen has been expanded and remodeled. A sitting area was added adjacent to the bar. The retail shop has been upgraded. There is now a desk with a computer for guest use. The fly tying table and supplies have been upgraded. Bair’s is also in the process of finishing a common bathroom, so guests don’t have to go back to their rooms to use the bathroom. Click here for more info.

    Open Dates: March 24 – 30, 4 rods, $4,395 pp and March 30 – April 3, 8 rods, $3,095 pp

    Rickmon Bonefish Lodge

    Rickmon has upgraded each of their 11 previously double rooms to single occupancy. The new configuration cuts the maximum number of anglers in half. More space and fewer anglers! Great fishing, experienced guides, remote location, and a single room. Click here for more info.

    Open Dates: April 8 – 14, $3,000 pp and May 1 – 8, $3,520 pp and May 24 – 31, $3,520 pp. Single Room / Shared Guide.

    Pesca Maya

    Pesca Maya is in the final stages of a major renovation which will make it among the nicest lodges in the Yucatan and Belize. The centerpiece is the massive, 5,000 sq ft traditional, ocean front Mayan “Palapa”, which houses the kitchen, dining area, bar and lounge, the fly shop and a well stocked fly tying area. The kitchen will open next week and the palapa will be completed March 15. Click here for more info.

    Open Dates: April 14 – 20, $3,065 pp and April 27 – May 4, $3,575 pp and May 11 – 18, $3,575 pp. New Palapa Special: Take 20% off the rates listed for each of these openings.

    Tranquility Hill

    Tranquility Hill has upgraded and “resized” the lodge. The new configuration reduced the number of rooms to 5 spacious double rooms, each with 2 double beds, and 3 slightly smaller single rooms with double beds. Each room has a new couch/sitting area with 32 inch flat screen TV, small refrigerator, coffee maker and new quiet AC units. Also added is a brand new “Cottage” with 2 double bedrooms, common sitting area and kitchenette, for groups of 4 anglers. Outside is a new rod rack/ washing station with a rigging area. Click here for more info.

    Single Room Deal

    Tranquility Hill is also offering single rooms at a bargain price plus a free trip with a 12-pound Bone!
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    Open Dates: (Call for Additional Dates)
    March 16 – 23, $2,995 pp
    April 6 – 13, $2,995 pp
    May 11 – 18, $2,995 pp
    • Single Rooms (no sleepless nights with your snoring buddies)
    • 7-nights / 6-days fishing is $2,995 per person
    • 4-night / 3-day rate is $1,665 per person
    • Free return trip if you catch a 12-pound bonefish on the fly

    Available exclusively through Angler Adventures for 2013.

    Bahamas · Belize · Venezuela · Mexico · Seychelles · St. Brandons

    Abaco Lodge, Bahamas

    March 22 – 27, 2 rods, $3,825 pp
    April 6 – 13, 7 rods, $5,150 pp

    Grey’s Point Inn, Bahamas

    April 3 – 10, 6 rods, $3,250 pp
    April 27 – May 1, 4 rods, $3,250 pp

    Farquhar, Seychelles

    April 13 – 20, 3 rods, $7,500 pp
    May 4 – 11, 4 rods, $7,500 pp

    Sight Cast, Los Roques, Venezuela

    April 1 – 6, $3,290 pp
    May 11 – 18, $4,250 pp

    Mars Bay Lodge, South Andros

    April 13 – 20, 2 rods, $3,650 pp
    April 26 – May 3, $3,650 pp – Exclusive use with 6 rods

    Pleasant Bay Lodge, South Andros

    March 9 – 16, 4 rods, $3,300 pp
    April 18 – 25, 4 rods, $3,300 pp
    May 1 – 5, 4 rods, $1,650 pp

    St. Brandon’s, Mauritius

    April 20 – 29, 2 or 4 rods, 6,700 Euro pp – Permit Tides!
    May 13 – 22, 2 rods, 6,700 Euro pp

    Turneffe Flats Resort, Belize

    March 16 – 23, $2,849.33 pp (with 2 anglers)

    This is only a partial listing of available dates. Call or email for additional space or deals.

    Space availability subject to change (call for updates). The dates & prices published are per person and based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide daily. Please call for more information.

    Hosted Trip to Grey’s Point Inn, Acklins

    Join Doug Schlink of Angler Adventures and John Frazier of Fly Fishing in Saltwater magazine at Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn, May 4 – 11, 6 rods available, $3,250 pp.

    New & Improved “What to Bring List”

    What you bring on a fishing trip is almost as important as where you go. Look for our newsletter on tackle, flies, leaders, and techniques for fishing the flats, coming to your inbox in early March.

  • Thinking Outside the Boat: Wading for Bonefish in Bahamas on the Flats

    Thinking Outside the Boat: Wading for Bonefish in Bahamas on the Flats

    “The challenge and rewards of sight-fishing for bonefish with fly tackle increase greatly once you step outside the boat and pursue them on foot. Wading for bonefish provides every textbook fly fishing scenario imaginable. Virtually every bonefishing destination offers wading opportunities, but there’s one Bahamian island in particular that’s home to a true mom-and-pop lodge that specifically caters to those who want to experience bonefishing in its purist form – Acklins Island, home of Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn.” – John Frazier

    Wading puts you in the bonefish’s environment. It allows you to get close to the fish. It provides the opportunity to approach fish down wind. Two anglers can fish at the same time. It’s good exercise. It enables you to fish water too shallow for a boat. Sometimes it’s easier to catch fish on foot, sometimes it’s harder. Regardless, there’s a lot of satisfaction to tracking down your prey on foot

    In his fascinating article in the November / December issue of Fly Fishing in Salt Waters entitled, “Thinking Outside the Boat”, Editor John Frazier refers to his wading experiences as Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn, Acklins Island, Bahamas, as a “religious experience”.

    If you’d like to add a little religion to your favorite sport, click all the links below!

  • Top Wading Destinations for “Shallow Minded” Anglers: Bahamas, Seychelles, Mauritius, Belize, Venezuela and more

    Top Wading Destinations for “Shallow Minded” Anglers: Bahamas, Seychelles, Mauritius, Belize, Venezuela and more

    Are you “shallow minded?” Have you been known to carry carpenter’s knee pads, or snow shoes on your bonefishing trips? We love to wade for bonefish and the skinnier the water, the better. So where’s the best place to get your feet wet, and little else? Here’s a quick list of our favorite wading destinations and how they rank. Click on the links below for more information on each lodge or destination.

    Bahamas

    Grey’s Point Inn – 99% wading: Grey’s Point on Acklins Island is the winner in the Bahamas as virtually all bonefishing is by wading, much of this in water only 3 – 6 inches deep!

    Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge – 85% wading: Mars Bay is a close second to GPI. MBBL is furthest south and closest to the vast wading flats of South Andros. Except for high spring tides, you’re walkin’!

    Bair’s Lodge & Andros South – 80% wading: Located further north on south Andros, these lodges also fish Deep and Little Creeks which have a mix of wading and skiff fishing.

    Rickmon Bonefish Lodge & Blackfly – 75% wading: The flats of southern Abaco, Mores Island and Gorda Cay are mostly firm, beautiful wading flats. For the guy who prefers to wade, you can expect to spend most of your fishing time on foot.

    North Andros Fly Fishing – 75% wading: North Andros and The Joulter Cays sport beautiful, white sand wading flats with some impressive size bones and occasionally permit too!

    Seychelles

    Alphonse Island Fishing Company – 95% wading. With exclusive access to the famed St. Francois Lagoon, as well as the flats of Alphonse Island and Bijoutier, AIFC is one of the world’s top wading destinations for bonefish and a myriad of other species, including Giant Trevally and milkfish.

    Farquhar Atoll – 90% wading. This southernmost atoll in the Seychelles chain offers astounding wade fishing for more than 10 species, including above average size bones, Giant Trevally, Indo-Pacific Permit, Trigger Fish and a myriad of other exotic species.

    Mauritius

    St. Brandon’s Atoll onboard the MY Gryphon Mothership – 99% wading. Quite possibly the #1 wading destination for trophy size bones and an exotic mix including Indo-Pacific permit, 5 species of trevally including Giant Trevally to over 100 pounds! Not for the faint of heart!

    Belize

    Turneffe Flats Resort – 90% wading: The Turneffe Atoll is famed for minimal tidal fluctuation and tailing fish all day long. The only skiff fishing is for permit in the lagoon or tarpon in the creeks.

    Tarpon Caye Lodge – 90% wading: For permit! The infamous flats of Permit Alley where you can stalk tailing permit on foot!

    Venezuela

    Sight Cast Los Roques: – 100% wading: Perhaps the premier bonefishing wade fishery in the northern hemisphere, the atoll of Los Roques features tailing bones on the unique, challenging but bewitching “Pancake Flats”.

    Turks & Caicos

    Beyond the Blue Bonefishing – 90% wading. Another unique fishery, the flats of South Caicos are accessed by airboat. Once the fish are located, anglers disembark and wade or use paddle boards, unguided, to stalk the schools.

    Christmas Island

    Capt. Cook Hotel – 99% wading. While perhaps not as prolific as it once was, Christmas Island remains one of the premier wading destinations for anglers seeking good numbers of medium sized bonefish.

    Want to know more about wading, or looking for a great read?

    “Thinking Outside the Boat”

    by John Frazier, editor of Fly Fishing in Salt Waters

    (This large file may take 30 – 60 seconds to download, but it’s well worth the wait!)

    Ask the Wading Experts

    Want help picking the best wading destination for your next trip? Call or email.

  • Cold Weather = Hot Fishing at Grand Bahama: #2 Simram Fools 14 Pound Bonefish

    Cold Weather = Hot Fishing at Grand Bahama: #2 Simram Fools 14 Pound Bonefish

    The bonefish in the photo above is a 14-pounder landed in February off the north shore of Grand Bahama. Carl Heilman, who landed this monster, also landed a tarpon (the group jumped 3 and landed 2). Chris Bamford landed the other tarpon, as well as the triggerfish, John Wilson jumped a tarpon and Scott Trerotola landed a 10 lb Mutton Snapper that was cruising behind a Ray. Each member of the group also landed several bonefish between 5 – 10 pounds..

    Bill & Liz Aldendifer also had a fantastic trip to Grand Bahama. Together, they landed several fish in 7 – 8 pound range, a couple 9 pounders, a 10 pounder, and a 12 pounder on Bill’s birthday. Bill came close to having a 14+ pounder in hand, but lost it at the boat when the guide grabbed the leader. Bill, a permit aficionado, said that the 14+ pound bonefish fought harder than any permit he’s hooked, even his 30 pounder in Ascension Bay.

    All of the above mentioned were Angler Adventures’ clients staying at North Riding Point Club. Click or Tap here to see Bill, Liz, Scott, and more photos of our clients with their fish on our Facebook page.

    Abaco has long been known for providing some of the best permit fishing in the Bahamas, especially down around Sandy Point. It’s only been getting better and the guides are seriously cracking the code. Oliver White, owner of Abaco Lodge, had a nice fight with decent permit on the outer edge of marls. Blackfly Lodge had a couple of good sized permit caught in the last month: One angler’s first permit was 25 pounds and another angler landed an astounding 38 pound permit.

    Blackfly anglers might have the permit bug, but there is more than just permit. Mac Haskell joined the 10 lb bonefish club and landed his first tarpon.

    Just south of the Bahamas, South Caicos produced exceptional bonefishing this season. Mike Rietbrock and his group found lots of fish over 6 pounds, and few pushing double digits. John Potter and his group barely made it to Beyond the Blue due to a snow storm, but were rewarded with several fish over 10 pounds. What makes these big fish special is that the fishing is 100% wading and mostly unguided. Click or Tap here for more information on wading for bonefish.

    Speaking of wading destinations, Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn on Acklins is the best in the Bahamas. Click or tap here for John Fraizer’s article that appeared in the last issue of Fly Fishing in Saltwaters (be patient while it loads….it’s worth the wait).

    Blackfly Lodge, Abaco Island

    April 10 – 13 – 2 rods
    May 10 – 13 – 2 rods
    June 12 – 20 – 2 rods
    June 21 – 27 – 6 rods
    June 29 – July 7 – 8 rods
    July 6 – 20 – 8 rods
    July 21 – 25 – 4 rods
    July 26 – 30 – 2 rods

    Abaco Lodge, Marls, Abaco Island

    March 6-10 (4/3) – 6 rods
    March 18-23 (5/4) – 2 rods
    April 28 May 3 (5/4) – 2 rods
    May 8-12 (4/3) – 4 rods
    June 14-20 (6/5) – 10 rods

    North Riding Point Club, Grand Bahama

    March 21 – 25 – 6 rods
    April 7 – 14 – 6 rods
    April 14 – 21 – 4 rods
    May 4 – 8 – 6 rods
    May 23 -30 – 12 rods
    June 1 – 5 – 8 rods
    June 14 – 30 WIDE OPEN!

    Grey’s Point Inn, Acklins Island

    March 22 -29 – 10 rods
    March 29 – April 5 – 10 rods
    April 12 – 19 – 6 rods
    April 26 – May 3 – 6 rods
    May 3 – 10 – 6 rods
    May 17 – 24 – 8 rods
    May 24 – 31 – 10 rods

  • Summertime: Light Winds, Less Pressure, Great Fishing for Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon

    Summertime: Light Winds, Less Pressure, Great Fishing for Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon

    Some of the best Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon fishing occurs in the summertime. Due to cool ocean currents / breezes, the Bahamas temperatures typically never get over 85o F in the summer and don’t heat up like the large land masses in the U.S. Rain showers are short lived and there’s little or no wind to deal with. Some lodges close down, but the ones that remain open know it’s the best chance for a Grand Slam all year. Permit prefer warm water, Migratory Tarpon begin to show. Glistening Bonefish tails are a common sight, early and late in the day.

    Abaco Island

    Rickmon Bonefish Lodge in Sandy Point, Abaco is open in June and July, because it’s the best time for Permit and Mutton Snapper (Yes on the fly rod!), according to Ricardo Burrows.

    Abaco Lodge, The light summer winds allow you to do “More Cool Stuff”, like trailering up north, fishing out of the Upper Cays and Oceanside flats in pursuit of Big Bones, and Mutton Snapper.

    Available Dates:
    June 14 – 20, 10 rods
    June 22 – 26, 8 rods
    June 26 – July 3, 8 rods

    Blackfly Lodge In addition to flats fishing for Bonefish, Permit, Mutton Snapper, and occasionally Tarpon, Blackfly has an offshore option with its 31′ Yellow Fin docked on the East Side just minutes from Reefs and Blue Water.
    The last openings are June 24 – July 7 and Aug 1 – 13

    Andros Island

    Prescott Smith of Stafford Creek Lodge says emphatically that summertime is your best chance at a Grand Slam (Tarpon, Permit & Bonefish). Mutton Snapper fishing in June and July is exceptional. If you prefer Reef and Offshore fishing, go for Tuna in the morning, (catch your dinner) and hit the flats in the afternoon.

    Pleasant Bay and Bair’s Lodge are open in June and still have some great space available. Some of the best fishing in South Andros takes place in June with plenty of fish and no pressure!

    Bair’s Lodge is a luxury lodge with good management and great bonefishing.

    Available Dates:
    June 4 – 8, 4 rods
    June 4 – 11, 4 rods
    June 8 – 12, 10 rods

    Click or Tap here to for more on Summer Fishing on Grand Bahama and in Belize.

  • Angler Adventures Clients Catch Big Fish!

    Angler Adventures Clients Catch Big Fish!

    After seeing Bob Cosgriff’s massive Permit, we got to thinking about other big fish Angler Adventures clients have landed recently. Most of the time, these anglers don’t stumble into huge fish, they’re hunting them. For us that means, helping them choose the right destination and making sure they’re prepared.

    Bob Cosgriff, Acklins Island, Bahamas

    The photo says a lot, however you can read Bob’s point of view on our Blog.

    Carl Heilman, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas

    , biggest bonefish

    A great photo of one of the biggest bonefish we’ve ever seen. Read more on our Blog about the other fish landed that week, including a pair of tarpon.

    Steve Renehan, Patagonia, Argentina

    This buff 8 lb Brown Trout was among 2 dozen fish landed on dry flies in Argentina with Fly Fishing Andes. You can find more details in our April 2014 newsletter.

    Carl Heilman, Patagonia, Argentina

    It’s not a surprise to see a photo of huge rainbow from Jurassic Lake, but this fish was too big not to share. Also, the group landed a ton of big fish. Check out the video they put together.

    Coming up next: Angler Adventures Clients and Double Digit Bonefish from North Riding Point Club. It’s no coincidence our clients are joining the 10 lb Club!

    Hint: While you’re waiting, check out our Blog on Winter Bonefishing

  • Swap That Snow Shovel for a Fly Rod! Come to Mauritius, Bahamas, or Mexico with Angler Adventures

    Swap That Snow Shovel for a Fly Rod! Come to Mauritius, Bahamas, or Mexico with Angler Adventures

    If you don’t have a winter getaway planned, there’s still time and plenty of space (click here for a complete listing of available dates at 19 of our best lodges).

    Mauritius – US Dollar Rules, Save $1,500

    St. Brandon’s is one of the most remote, exotic bonefish destinations on the planet. Now is a great time to tick St. Brandon’s off your bucket list – The exchange rate for US Dollars to Euros is the lowest in well over a year (1.17 on January 16, 2015). This is akin to a $1,500 per person discount. The cost of a 9-night / 6.5 day fishing dream trip is 7,100 Euro’s pp, approx US$8,037.
    April 27 – May 6, 3 rods
    May 8 – 17, 8 rods
    May 27 – June 5, 2 rods
    September 26 – October 5, 4 rods
    October 7 – 16, 2 rods

    Click here for more information on St. Brandon’s Atoll, Mauritius.

    Bahamas – Save $700

    Delphi Lodge on Abaco is a spectacular ocean front property with access to the famous Marls of Abaco, which remains the most prolific bonefishing in the Bahamas. Book anytime April 1-11 and get a $100 per night, per person discount. That’s $700 off per person for the week! Or, book in June and take off $1000 per week. Click here for more on Delphi, including rates.

    Don’t forget about other destinations priced in local currency: Iceland, New Zealand & Canada.

    Mexico – Free Rod & Reel

    Book a trip to Pesca Maya Lodge on Mexico’s stunning Yucatan Peninsula and get a free fly rod and reel! Booking 7 nights/6 days at $3,848 per person, double, or 6 nights/5 days at $3,305 per person, double, gets you a free Templefork BVK 9 foot 8 weight fly rod and a TFO 375 large arbor reel, a $660 value! Booking 5 nights/4 days at $2,762 or 4 nights/3 days at $2,219 gets you the BVK rod, a $310 value. We’ve got the dates you want. For details contact Doug Schlink: doug@angleradventures.com 860-434-9624 or 800-628-1447. Click here for more on Pesca Maya.

    Abaco Island – Abaco Lodge | Blackfly Lodge | Delphi Club | Pete & Gay’s | Rickmon Bonefish Lodge | Acklins Island – Grey’s Point Inn | Andros – Andros Island Bonefish Club | Andros South | Bair’s Lodge | Flamingo Cay | Kamalame Cay | Mangrove Cay | Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge | North Andros Fly Fishing | Pleasant Bay Bonefish Lodge | Stafford Creek Lodge | Tranquility Hill | Crooked & Long Islands – Cape Santa Maria | Crooked Island Lodge | Grand Bahama – Deep Water Cay | East End Lodge | H2O Bonefishing | Grand Bahama Bonefishing | North Riding Point Club | Water Cay Lodge

  • Angler Adventures Client Lands Grand Daddy: 60 Pound Permit Caught

    Angler Adventures Client Lands Grand Daddy: 60 Pound Permit Caught

    Angler Adventures client Bob Cosgriff landed this massive permit while fishing at Grey’s Point Inn on Acklins Island with head guide, Garon Williamson. Bob sent us the story of how he caught and landed this fish of a life time. Click or Tap here to read Bob’s account.

    Related Links

    Photo Credit: Barry Kanavy – www.naturalanglers.com

  • Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge, South Andros, Bahamas

    Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge, South Andros, Bahamas

    The vast flats of South Andros have been one of our favorite bonefishing destinations for over 2 decades. This is a true wilderness fishery, offering an incredible variety of places to target bonefish. There are a myriad of creeks, cuts, cays and mangrove lagoons to explore with the skiff. Best of all, and our favorite part, there are miles and miles of firm, clean sand flats where you can wade for days! These flats are home to massive schools of nicely sized bones (3 – 5 lbs), as well as singles or smaller pods of bruisers ranging well above the double digit mark!

    Sitting at the end of civilization, literally “the end of the road” on South Andros, is Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge – a down-to-earth, comfortable, no frills fishing lodge for anglers focused on great fishing, not the amenities.

    The guides are excellent, the staff is friendly and attentive, and the rooms are clean, comfortable and cool with new beds and new AC units. The food is always a highlight; with a carefully planned menu balancing meals focused on local flavors and comfort food. Don’t forget about the location! Mars Bay offers the shortest travel time of any other operation on Andros to the Southern Flats, which can equal as much as an extra full day of fishing time on a week long trip. Add in that the guides work as hard as any guide we’ve fished with, plus they don’t punch a clock at 4:00 PM, and we’ve got a recipe for some of the longest fishing days you’ll find in the Bahamas.

    Mars Bay was 99% full last year, but a few recent group cancellations have opened up some excellent space for the Spring 2018 season, especially for some larger groups.

    March 10 – 17, 4 rods
    March 31 – April 7, 4 rods (Easter is April 1, 2018)
    April 14 – 21, 4 rods
    April 28 – May 5, 8 rods
    May 5 – 12, 6 rods
    May 12 – 19, 6 rods (May 13 is Mothers Day)

    The cost for a 7-night / 6-day fishing package is $4,550 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide daily.

    Have questions? Evan just got back from a January trip to Mars Bay and would be happy to recommend weeks, give a report, or just talk flies.