Cape Santa Maria (CSM) Beach Resort, located at the northern tip of Long Island in the Southern Bahamas, is famous for its warm hospitality and spectacular beaches. Over 4 miles of deserted beach, great snorkeling and fishing make Cape Santa Maria an ideal family vacation spot.
When you walk down the beach, the sand is like silk beneath your feet. Swim in the calm, turquoise waters of the gently sloping bay or play in the talcum powder sand. In the evening, you’ll witness picture postcard sunsets from the resort villas, which are only steps from the water.
Species: Bonefish (nice-sized, good numbers), White and Blue Marlin, Kingfish, Wahoo, Shark, Tuna, Grouper, Dorado, Sailfish, Yellow-tail Snapper, Horseye Jacks, Amberjacks, King Mackerel, Barracuda
Location: Northern tip of Long Island, Southern Bahamas
Wadeable flat within walking distance of resort (productive around low tide)
Fleet: 16′ skiffs for flats fishing, 31′ Bertram for deep sea, 26′ Mako for reef fishing
Get a custom quote for your Cape Santa Maria fishing adventure!
Cape Santa Maria owns its own fleet of 16′ skiffs and draws from local experienced guides. The bonefish flats are located along the western and northern sections of the island. These flats are not extensive, but produce nice sized bonefish in good numbers. The bonefish flats are almost all wadeable. There is also a wadeable flat within walking distance of the resort which can be productive around low tide.
Deep Sea Fishing
For a deep-sea adventure, charters are available aboard the resort’s 31′ Bertram. Using ballyhoo, small bait fish and feather hoochies, you can fish for White and Blue Marlin, Kingfish, Wahoo, Shark, Tuna, Grouper, Dorado and Sailfish. The resort provides top of the line tackle.
Reef Fishing
Off Long Island are some of the best salt water reef fishing opportunities in the Bahamas. A reef fishing excursion puts you where the bottom fish are. From a comfortable 26′ Mako, you’ll admire vast coral and rock reefs as your bait attracts Grouper, Yellow-tail Snapper, Horseye Jacks, Amberjacks, King Mackerel, Tuna and Barracuda. Bring your catch back to the lodge for dinner!
The Resort
The beachfront villas, featuring tropical décor, are comfortable and spacious with many villas having an additional bedroom for family or friends. Take a romantic stroll down the boardwalk that lines the beach and winds through gently swaying palm trees. Watch another picture perfect sunset from your private veranda or steal a tender moment along the boardwalk that is enchantingly lit up at night.
Your private villa is complete with marble floors, air conditioning, coffee maker, hair dryer and ceiling fans. Water is supplied by a reverse osmosis water plant and excellent for drinking.
Non-Angling Activities
Take a stroll along four miles of talcum powder white sand beach. Explore fascinating caves and gorgeous bays. Swim in calm waters, scuba dive, beach comb or experience great sailing on our Hobiecats right in Cape Santa Maria’s beautiful bay. Get aboard one of the scheduled snorkeling trips, and in minutes, you’ll be among stunning tropical fish and brilliant reefs.
The activity center, located in the Beach House, has all the equipment and information that you will need for an exciting vacation. A wide variety of recreational equipment, services and facilities, many of them complimentary, are available including: Hobiecats, Boogie boards, Snorkeling gear, Bicycles, Kayaks, Beach chairs, Children’s games, Nature tours. Other services include: Rental cars, Taxi service, Island tours, T.V. room, Library, Gift shop, Fitness center, Internet access, Complimentary laundry and Beach combing.
Get Your Custom Quote for Cape Santa Maria
Angler Adventures arranges completely customizable packages at Cape Santa Maria to meet your fishing and/or non-fishing preferences.
Our services are free! We’ll work with you to create the perfect Bahamas fishing vacation package.
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Experience world-class bonefishing, deep sea fishing, and reef fishing at Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort. Our team will help you create the perfect custom package for your Bahamas fishing vacation.
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Cape Santa Maria (CSM) Beach Resort, located at the northern tip of Long Island in the Southern Bahamas is famous for its warm hospitality, and spectacular beaches. Over 4 miles of deserted beach, great snorkeling and fishing make Cape Santa Maria an ideal family vacation spot.
When you walk down the beach, the sand is like silk beneath your feet. Swim in the calm, turquoise waters of the gently sloping bay or play in the talcum powder sand. In the evening, you’ll witness picture postcard sunsets from the resort villas, which are only steps from the water.
Flats Fishing
Cape Santa Maria owns its own fleet of 16′ skiffs and draws from local experienced guides. The bonefish flats are located along the western and northern sections of the island. These flats are not extensive, but produce nice sized bonefish in good numbers. The bonefish flats are almost all wadable. There is also a wadable flat within walking distance of the resort which can be productive around low tide.
Deep Sea Fishing
For a deep-sea adventure, charters are available aboard the resorts 31′ Bertram. Using ballyhoo, small bait fish and feather hoochies, you can fish for White and Blue Marlin, Kingfish, Wahoo, Shark, Tuna, Grouper, Dorado and Sailfish. The resort provides top of the line tackle.Reef Fishing
Off Long Island are some of the best salt water reef fishing opportunities in the Bahamas. A reef fishing excursion puts you where the bottom fish are. From a comfortable 26′ Mako, you’ll admire vast coral and rock reefs as your bait attracts Grouper, Yellow-tail Snapper, Horseye Jacks, Amberjacks, King Mackerel, Tuna and Barracuda. Bring your catch back to the lodge for dinner!
Accommodations
The beach front villas, featuring tropical décor, are comfortable and spacious with many villas having an additional bedroom for family or friends. Take a romantic stroll down the boardwalk that lines the beach and winds through gently swaying palm trees. Watch another picture perfect sunset from your private veranda or steal a tender moment along the boardwalk that is enchantingly lit up at night.Your private villa is complete with marble floors, air conditioning, coffee maker, hair dryer and ceiling fans. Water is supplied by a reverse osmosis water plant and excellent for drinking.
Non Angling Activities
Take a stroll along four miles of talcum powder white sand beach. Explore fascinating caves and gorgeous bays. Swim in calm waters, scuba dive, beach comb or experience great sailing on our hobiecats right in Cape Santa Maria’s beautiful bay. Get aboard one of the scheduled snorkeling trips, and in minutes, you’ll be among stunning tropical fish and brilliant reefs.The activity center, located in the Beach House, has all the equipment and information that you will need for an exciting vacation. A wide variety of recreational equipment, services and facilities, many of them complimentary, are available including: Hobiecats, Boogie boards, Snorkeling gear, Bicycles, Kayaks, Beach chairs, Children’s games, Nature tours. Other services include: Rental cars, Taxi service, Island tours, T.V. room, Library, Gift shop, Fitness center, Internet access, Complimentary laundry and Beach combing.
Our Services are Free!
Angler Adventures arranges completely customizable packages at Cape Santa Maria to meet your fishing and/or non-fishing preferences. Please call Angler Adventures at 1-800-628-1447 for a quote.
Deep Water Cay Club (DWCC), located on Grand Bahama Island, is hard to beat for consistently productive bonefishing, top Bahamas’ guides, state-of-the-art bonefish skiffs, outstanding facilities and management, all within close proximity to the USA. Founded in 1959 by Gil Drake, Sr., DWCC has become an institution in the world of light tackle angling.
Set on the very private east end of Grand Bahama Island, Deep Water Cay Club is the gateway to over 250 miles of clear, pristine flats. The wadeable flats are hard-packed white sand, and the bones are easy to spot. Bonefish average 4-5 pounds up to 14 pounds.
Species: Bonefish (4-14 lbs), Permit, Barracuda, Sharks, Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Sailfish, White and Blue Marlin, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Tuna
Location: East end of Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas
Wadeable flats within walking distance of lodge; 250+ miles of pristine flats accessible by boat
Fleet: Hell’s Bay Professional and Marquesa skiffs, 16ft Dolphin skiffs, 33′ World Cat for offshore/reef fishing
Get a custom quote for your Deep Water Cay Club fishing adventure!
Deep Water Cay Club offers bonefishing as good as can be found in the Bahamas. The wadeable flats are hard-packed white sand, and the bones are easy to spot. Bonefish average 4-5 pounds up to 14 pounds. An estimated 250 miles of flats are within an hour’s boat ride of the Lodge.
There is also a flat within walking distance of the lodge for independent fishing. This and many other flats are wadeable at the lower stages of the tide. The three hour tidal difference between the east and west ends of the cay enable guests to fish medium to low tides and locate bonefish all day.
In addition to great bonefishing, there are good numbers of barracuda and sharks on the flats, as well as snapper, jacks and sometimes tarpon (not commonly) in the deeper cuts that dissect the cays. Two of the notable permit hot spots are Burrows Cay (30 minutes) and Moores Island (1 hour) by boat from the lodge. Both areas hold big permit averaging 28 to 34 pounds. The club permit record is 46 pounds. Mutton snapper and cudas can also be found on these flats.
Offshore and Reef Fishing
Besides the world class flats fishery, Deep Water Cay offers excellent offshore and reef fishing. From the Fall through the Spring, Wahoo, Sailfish, White and Blue Marlin, Mahi Mahi, and Tuna are found in the nearby Northwest Providence Channel, a short run for the Club’s 33-foot World Cat center console sportfisherman.
Reef fishing is also close by – less than a mile offshore. Grouper, snapper and barracuda are the commonly caught fish, and the action can be fast and furious. Reef fishing is a perfect activity for everyone, and remains strong year ’round.
Lodge Accommodations and Amenities
Deep Water Cay Club accommodates a maximum of twenty-two guests in oceanfront cottage rooms, which offer great views of the blue waters surrounding Grand Bahama. The well-appointed cottages are freshly painted and refurbished with all new bed and towel linens, air conditioning units, storm-proof front doors, fly rod racks and porches. Each cottage is clean and well-maintained and contain two full size beds, mini-fridge, coffee maker and walk-in closet for your convenience. Oceanfront porches with Teak Steamer Chairs complete the appointments.
The Founders Cottage and Drake House offer an even more spacious option for groups of four. Each has 2 bedrooms, full kitchen with dining areas, sitting and living room. Each offer great views from a wrap-around, beach-front veranda. These are a nice option for families or parties of 4.
Added to the original lodge in 1996, the DWCC Clubhouse elevated Deep Water Cay Club to the position of one of the most prominent fishing lodges in the world. With views of both sunrise and sunset, the lodge contains a dining room, kitchen, restrooms, a cocktail bar with fishing photos and fishing log book, a living room/library, a game room equipped with a poker table, pool table, backgammon, computer with access to high-speed internet as well as a fully equipped fly tying table.
Attached to the lodge is a covered walkway to the Barracuda Bar, which overlooks the infinity pool and includes a grill room for parties/events, a flat screen TV, as well as a workout facility.
Dining and Activities
DWCC’s cuisine includes fresh seafood grouper, snapper, lobster as well as that all time favorite, conch. In addition to superb seafood, traditional fare such as roast rack of lamb with crusty rosemary potatoes is served.
Other activities and amenities include bottom fishing, shelling, birding, jogging and walking, beaching, swimming, snorkeling, massage and fitness center. There are thatched umbrella-like covered areas for shade located directly in front of the lodge. There is a saltwater infinity swimming pool with lounge chairs nearby or you can swim just off the shore west of the main dock.
Professional Guide Staff
Deep Water Cay Club employs a highly professional staff of Bahamas bonefishing guides including Mervin, Walter, Meko, Wendy, Joe T, Cecil, Simeon, Steve, Randy, and Mike T. who carry on the Pinder legacy, founded at Deep Water Cay Club. All are conscientious and knowledgeable about how to fish with bait or flies.
The service at Deep Water Cay Club is old fashioned in the best sense of the word. As with most Caribbean resorts, there is a noticeable informality in the way things are run, but activities are punctual. Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. The fishing day lasts from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Get Your Custom Quote for Deep Water Cay Club
Angler Adventures arranges completely customizable packages at Deep Water Cay Club to meet your fishing and/or non-fishing preferences.
Our services are free! We’ll work with you to create the perfect Bahamas fishing vacation package.
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Experience world-class bonefishing, offshore fishing, and reef fishing at Deep Water Cay Club. Our team will help you create the perfect custom package for your Bahamas fishing vacation.
Rickmon Bonefish Lodge offers fantastic bonefishing on the southern tip of Abaco. Lodge owner Ricardo Burrows has put together an attractive, well situated fishing lodge with access to the expansive flats around Sandy Point, the flats running North and South of Sandy Point, plus Gorda Cay and Mores Island. Ricardo is considered to be one of the best fishing guides in Abaco.
Rickmon Bonefish Lodge sits directly on a beach overlooking a fishable flat. The lodge was built in 1999 with 11 air conditioned guest rooms, which have been converted to single occupancy rooms. Guests can access a small bonefishing flat immediately in front of the lodge. Beyond the flat is a creek and another very productive bonefish flat, known as Town Flat, which offers world class bonefishing.
Vast areas to the North, West and South of Rickmon are comprised of hard sand, with areas of turtle grass. In total, about 75% percent of the flats are wadeable. The bonefish flats around Sandy Point are home to large numbers of bonefish in the 3-5 pound range, though Rickmon Lodge guests have seen fish in the 14 pound range.
Also within a short boat ride is Mores Island. This is one of the best places in the Bahamas to target permit on the fly. This is also the place to go to fly fish for large bonefish, mutton snapper, jacks and big barracuda. To the west is Gorda Cay, another spot renowned for large bonefish and permit that will take flies. Boat rides to these destinations can range from 20 – 50 minutes, depending, of course on the unpredictable Bahamian weather.
Sandy Point is one of the few places in the Bahamas with a predictable Permit fishery and Rickmon’s is an excellent place to target Permit in the Bahamas from May – November.
Lodge Accommodations
Rickmon Bonefish Lodge sits directly on a beach overlooking a fishable flat. The lodge was built in 1999 with 11 air conditioned guest rooms, which have been converted to single occupancy rooms. Guests can access a small bonefishing flat immediately in front of the lodge. Beyond the flat is a creek and another very productive bonefish flat, known as Town Flat, which offers world class bonefishing. For a tip, you can ask your fishing guide drop you off there for after hours fishing.
After a hard days fishing, you will return to the fishing lodge to relax in your room or perhaps sit and enjoy the expansive 50 ft. deck over looking the water.
Dining and Daily Schedule
Dinner, consisting of Bahamian dishes such as conch chowder, lobster, grouper, chicken and vegetable dishes is served between 6:30 – 8:00PM. Coffee will be available in the dinning room at 6:00 AM. Breakfast begins at 7:00 AM. The fishing day normally runs from 8:00AM – 4:00PM. Under proper weather conditions the guides may be able to make the crossing to Mores Island or Gorda Cay. Lunch is usually packed in a cooler and taken aboard.
Tackle and Equipment
Rickmon Bonefish Lodge does not sell or rent tackle or lures. Rickmon sells some flies but supplies are limited. Some of the fishing guides carry back-up tackle should you break a rod. It is imperative that each angler bring his own tackle, flies, and lures. We recommend that you bring tackle suitable for bonefish, permit, mutton snapper, barracuda and shark. There may also be opportunities to cast to tarpon at the lodge, although tarpon are not very common.
Get Your Custom Quote for Rickmon Bonefish Lodge
Angler Adventures arranges completely customizable packages at Rickmon Bonefish Lodge to meet your fishing preferences.
Our services are free! We’ll work with you to create the perfect Bahamas fishing vacation package.
Ready to Plan Your Adventure?
Experience world-class bonefishing at Sandy Point, Abaco. Our team will help you create the perfect custom package for your Bahamas fishing vacation.
Water Cay Bonefish Lodge is ideally located just east of the Horn off Grand Bahamas North Shore. The lodge is situated on the southern shore of Water Cay, a small island 3-miles north of mainland Grand Bahama. Water Cay is a remote island with only 3-full time residents and despite the glow of Freeport (the second largest city in the Bahamas), the experience at Water Cay is similar to the more remote out-island lodges in the Bahamas.
This north central habitat is rarely visited because the other lodges on Grand Bahama (all located on the southern shore) do not need to travel to Water Cay to find good fishing of their own. As a result, there are very few boats fishing these waters near Water Cay and by taking only 6 anglers at any one time, Water Cay Bonefish Lodge ensures that the north shore’s vast bonefish habitat remains virtually untouched.
Species: Bonefish (big fish and school-sized), Permit, Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Jacks
Location: Water Cay, 3 miles north of Grand Bahama, North Shore
Vast wilderness bonefish flats with deep cuts, perfect flats and rocky bottomed bays
Fleet: 18′ Beavertail Bonefish skiffs with 40-hp Evinrude E-tec engines
Get a custom quote for your Water Cay Bonefish Lodge fishing adventure!
Untouched Bonefish Habitat on Grand Bahama’s North Shore
Many anglers opt for more “remote” areas, like Andros or Abaco, believing Freeport is too developed. But as the second largest island in the Bahamas chain, there is more to Grand Bahama than the hustle and bustle of Freeport, and the North Shore offers countless miles of wilderness bonefish flats. In many ways, the fishery is similar to the Marls of Abaco or the west side of Andros, with deep cuts, perfect flats and rocky bottomed bays that allow for a fair mix of fishing from the skiff and wading.
It is not unusual to spend a few hours poling an area (while casting to many schools of fish) and then pop out around a corner and see the lodge! The complexity of the bays, creeks and flats that surround the lodge can be quite deceiving.
The winter months are the times for big fish, but as the water temps stabilize in late March, the school fish show up in massive numbers and the big trophy fish mix with the schools. This integration lasts until late fall when the big fish once again go out on their own as they are able to better tolerate the cooler water temps. For the angler, this means Water Cay has it all, both big fish and school-sized fish. Permit show up consistently near the northern cays as soon as the winter winds calm and the water temps climb.
Master Guide Sidney Thomas and Team
Water Cay Bonefish Lodge’s fishing program is run by master Bahamian guide Sidney Thomas. Sidney has a tremendous bonefish pedigree. At 44 years of age, he has worked for all the best lodges on Grand Bahama either as their head guide or as a key bonefish guide. Devoted and hard working, Sidney is the “real deal” when it comes to guiding.
Sydney and his team of guides (Ezra Thomas and Greg Rolle) have adapted a unique style of catching big bonefish: “Bonefish got to eat. And to eat, bonefish got to get up onto their flats and find food. It’s nice to see those big tails waving in the sunlight on the incoming water. We see them and we fish ’em directly. What I mean is that I like to have my guys go straight for the fish. No leading or putting that fly where you think them fish are gonna be. Just try to hit them on the head. The fish at Water Cay haven’t seen many flies and so when they are hungry, they ain’t shy. You might think that your cast spooked them because they take flight twenty or thirty feet. But more times than not, the fish spin in a circle looking for what made the fuss. If they think it’s a ‘cuda or shark or maybe a bird, they’ll keep moving. But if the coast is clear, those big fish will come right back to the spot. If you are there, then they are gonna eat every time. We hook a bunch of BIG bonefish this way.”
Lodge Accommodations
The lodge building consists of a common area, 3-guest rooms and 6-staff rooms. The common area contains the kitchen, dining area, lounge, bar, and fly tying area. The 3-guest rooms are located to the left of the common area, and each air-conditioned room contains two twin beds, full bathroom and shower, a closet, a chest of drawer and a ceiling fan. The rooms are decorated in traditional Bahamian colors and native décor.
All the water for the lodge is produced and filtered by an extensive reverse osmosis system allowing guests to have purified water right from their bathroom taps. The lodge also has small deck in front of the lodge, a guest favorite for swapping fishing stories and sipping a cold Kalik as the sun sets over Bahaman flats.
Fleet and Equipment
The guides at Water Cay Bonefish Lodge use 18′ Beavertail Bonefish skiffs with 40-hp Evinrude E-tec engines on jack plates. Each boat has steering console, two seats for anglers in front of this console, automatic trim & tilt engines. A cooler for lunches and cold drinks doubles as a seat for the guide behind the console. All boats are double hulled, self-bailing and each has a cell phone and a VHF radio for communication with the lodge and with one another at all times. Each boat is also equipped with 2 spinning rods for anglers to use if they choose. One rod is a med-action rod for bonefish and the other is a med-heavy action rod for barracuda or permit.
Get Your Custom Quote for Water Cay Bonefish Lodge
Angler Adventures arranges completely customizable packages at Water Cay Bonefish Lodge to meet your fishing preferences.
Our services are free! We’ll work with you to create the perfect Bahamas fishing vacation package.
Ready to Plan Your Adventure?
Experience untouched bonefish habitat on Grand Bahama’s North Shore. Our team will help you create the perfect custom package for your Bahamas fishing vacation.
Tranquility Hill Fishing Lodge is situated on top of a hill, overlooking the Eastern entrance of the North Bight, near Behring Point, Andros Island, Bahamas. Tranquility Hill’s location gives bonefishermen quick access to miles and miles of virgin flats and the numerous Cays of North Bight. Large numbers of bonefish averaging 3-6 pounds roam these flats. Plenty of fish in the 6- to 9-pound class can be found, and there are good chances at double-digit fish. Tranquility Hill also has wadable flats directly in front of the lodge and around the dock, where bonefish can be caught tailing, if the tide is right. The bonefishing waters of Middle and South Bights are less than an hour boat ride.
GREAT for bonefish, permit, and more
Favorable weather conditions year-round
A varied fishing paradise with expansive flats
Book now, get a quote, or chat with us about Bahamas fly fishing!
Tranquility Hill is a well run Bahamian Lodge. In early 2013, they 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. The dining room / common area includes a comfortable couch, satellite TV, bathrooms, and 2 tables to enjoy some delicious meals. The bar is a separate building with a patio. Hors d’oeuvres are served in the bar every afternoon along with Kalik’s, Exotic Caribbean cocktails, including Bahama Mama’s and Goombay Smashes, plus a wide selection of brand name liquors. This is a great place to sip your favorite cocktail, or the beer of the Bahamas, Kalik, while watching the sunset over the North Bight.
In addition to the many bonefish flats, there are numerous creeks and lakes, which could offer opportunities for record size Tarpon, Grey Snapper and Jacks or you may choose to fish the three “Sunken Rocks” where you find large quantities of Barracudas, Permits, Spanish Mackerels and Mutton Snappers or you may choose to fish off the third largest reef in the world for Dolphins, Marlins, Tunas, Kingfish, Wahoo, or the Graceful Sail Fish, just five minutes away from Tranquility Hill.
If you have any special fishing desires (you want to wade, target big bones or tarpon, etc.), please tell Ray Mackey your preferences upon arrival. That way your guide can discuss the options with you based on current conditions, and then work your requests into his overall plan for your trip.
Tranquility Hill’s chef, Cora Neymour, prepares delicious meals with a homemade feel and a Bahamian flare. Dinners are typically comprised fresh seafood, however Cora’s menu also offers barbecued chicken, ribs and steaks, as well as Bahamian specialties like homemade Johnny Cake, conch chowder, peas and rice, and baked spicy macaroni and cheese. The homemade bread, served with each meal, will have guests asking to take a few loaves home.
President Raymond Mackey, who started Tranquility Hill Fishing Lodge with legendary Andros guide, Ivan Neymor, leads the Tranquility Hill staff and guides. Prior to Ivan’s passing in September 2008, Ivan and Ray had over fifty years of experience guiding on Andros Island, making finding fish second nature. Ray Mackey capably continues the tradition leading one of the deepest and most complete guide rosters in the Bahamas, most of whom were trained by Tranquility Hill. Beyond catching fish, Tranquility Hill stresses the importance of having knowledgeable and friendly guide in any fishing situation. The guides at Tranquility Hill will greet you with an eager smile and can-do attitude the first day on the dock and will make every effort to give you the type of fishing experience you most want.
2025-2026 Rates
Contact us for Seasonal Discounts, Special Offers or Promotional Pricing
Room Rates
Length of Stay
Double
Single
L/Single/F/Double*
3 NIGHTS/2 DAYS
$1,977.00
$2,482.00
$2,027.00
4 NIGHTS/3 DAYS
$2,554.00
$3,334.00
$2,584.00
5 NIGHTS/4 DAYS
$3,201.00
$4,351.00
$3,352.00
6 NIGHTS/5 DAYS
$3,806.00
$5,216.00
$3,966.00
7 NIGHTS/6 DAYS
$4,290.00
$5,863.00
$4,363.00
8 NIGHTS/7 DAYS
$4,774.00
$6,275.00
$4,925.00
Cottage Rates
Length of Stay
Double
Single
L/Single/F/Double*
3 NIGHTS/2 DAYS
$2,083.00
$2,591.00
$2,091.00
4 NIGHTS/3 DAYS
$2,662.00
$3,443.00
$2,693.00
5 NIGHTS/4 DAYS
$3,310.00
$4,460.00
$3,460.00
6 NIGHTS/5 DAYS
$3,915.00
$5,260.00
$4,010.00
7 NIGHTS/6 DAYS
$4,399.00
$5,972.00
$4,472.00
8 NIGHTS/7 DAYS
$4,883.00
$6,384.00
$4,634.00
(Rates are per person and Subject to Change) | *Living Single/Fishing Double
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The above rates include: Accommodations, Meals, Guide / Boat daily; Lunch, Water, Laundry service and Taxi transfer to and from Andros Town Airport.
The above rates do not include: Airfare; Any Airport or Departure Taxes, Alcoholic Beverages, Local Beers, Bahamas VAT, Bahamas fishing license, Personal Items and Gratuities.
If you choose not to fish you may beach comb, sun bathe or collect shells on the seemingly endless white sand beach of Wood Cay. On lazy days you may wish to lie around in your spacious air-conditioned room, and watch satellite television or play games, like chess or checkers, with your traveling partner. You may even just lounge around the bar and watch for bonefish swimming in the flats or try a game with one of our smiling bartenders.
Flights from Fort Lauderdale to Andros Town Airport are now offered commercially on certain days of the week, making access to Andros more convenient than ever, and just a short 12 minutes from Nassau. Once in Andros Town a representative of Tranquility Hill Lodge will meet you.
Crooked Island Lodge has a lot of fishable water close by and it isn’t all just bonefish! There are extensive systems of interior creek and lagoon areas that have big bonefish, an assortment of snapper, barracuda and small grouper, some permit and the occasional small to medium sized tarpon – all catchable on a fly rod or spinning gear.
Towards the outer edges of the islands, out in the Bight, it’s entirely different fishing: poling or wading crystal-clear sand flats, which hold thousands of school-size (2-4 pound) bones. Along the edges of the mangroves on a high tide you’ll again find larger single and double bonefish nosing through the roots and marl.
Species: Bonefish (2-4 lbs, some larger), snapper (mutton, mangrove, yellowtail), barracuda, permit, tarpon, grouper, wahoo, blue and white marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi, jacks, sharks
Location: Northernmost tip of Crooked Island, Southern Bahamas
Private 3,500-foot airstrip on-site; also accessible via Colonel Hill Airport (MYCI)
Accommodations: 8 air-conditioned hotel rooms and 6 private cottages with kitchenettes
Get a custom quote for your Crooked Island Lodge fishing adventure!
The beach in front of the lodge offers excellent fishing opportunities for jacks, small permit, grouper, snapper and such with the fly rod. If you’re willing to use a spinning rod or can cast a needlefish fly a considerable distance, you can also catch barracuda up to 5 feet long, either casting from the skiff, trolling behind the skiff or fishing from shore.
The fishing can be fantastic for bonefish that haven’t seen enough pressure to become spooky yet, averaging 2-4 pounds, with some much larger fish on certain flats, tailing or cruising alone or in pairs. Besides bonefish, there are lots of snapper (mutton, mangrove, yellowtail), jacks, some big permit, a few tarpon, ocean triggerfish and tons of barracuda. Photographers will want to catch a bonefish within view of some of the thousands of Flamingos that inhabit this part of the Bahamas.
Offshore Fishing
If you like the big fish – the offshore stuff – the lodge operates a completely equipped boat. Offshore fishing with Captain Robbie Gibson is incredible. The lodge is fishing water that no other sport fishing boats are touching. Daily catches may exceed thirty fish and are not uncommon. Fall & Winter are excellent for wahoo and mackerel and some tuna. Spring & winter are excellent for tuna, dolphin (mahi mahi), and marlin. Wahoo and mackerel are also good.
At the hotel, there is a picture of this fellow holding a wahoo that scaled reliably at 148 pounds. That’s a damn big wahoo. Billfish, tuna, dorado and other offshore species abound (seasonally) just a mile or less from shore or you can arrange longer excursions to productive offshore fishing spots for the day or a sleep over trip to the renowned Diana Banks.
For fly-casters looking for deep water fish, the lodge has been experimenting successfully with live baiting big jack crevale, horseyed jacks, amberjacks, mutton snapper, dorado and tuna. Live baiting involves releasing live pilchards to attract schooling fish to the boat and then casting flies. Bring your 10-12 weight rods and big deceiver patterns if you’d like to try this (subject to availability of the big boat and access to the live bait).
Reef Fishing
Light tackle or inshore fishing is very popular and highly productive with all our guests. Fishing in about 100 ft. of water produces nice catches of grouper, snapper, hard fighting jacks, mackerel, sharks, and cudas. Guests are invited to bring their catch back to the hotel, where the experienced and skilled Crooked Island Lodge chef will prepare your catch for dinner at the Sunset Bar & Grill. Chumming, jigging and live bait techniques are used for inshore fishing. Excellent catches are available all year long. Because of the low population density (the total population of Acklins/Crooked Islands is less than 1,000), the reefs have barely been touched.
The Lodge
The setting is lovely – a very dramatic bit of coastline with beautiful beaches and shells, great reef fishing 10 yards from shore and a 30-minute run to the flats. The hotel itself is informal, not luxurious, but modern and comfy, quiet, small and nicely tree-shaded. There are 12 rooms in 3 villas, a separate dining area, a beach cabana where dinners and lunches are sometimes served, a bar and a private airfield. The nearest village is about a mile away. The Crooked Islanders are wonderful, dignified people with big smiles; quiet, polite, religious and good-humored.
Crooked Island Lodge offers eight air-conditioned hotel rooms, each featuring two double beds, a private bath, sitting area, microwave, coffee maker, and mini-fridge. These rooms provide spectacular sunset views. Six private cottages are also available, equipped with two double beds, a private bath, seating and dining area, and a kitchenette that includes a refrigerator/freezer, microwave, and coffee maker. Private patios overlook the marina.
Dining & Activities
The Sunset Bar & Grill, located steps from the main lodge, offers incredible views of Bird Rock Lighthouse and is named for the magnificent sunsets enjoyed almost nightly. The restaurant serves fresh, locally caught seafood such as grouper, snapper, tuna, mahi-mahi, lobster, and conch, prepared in traditional Bahamian recipes. Breakfast includes fresh coffee, juices, fruit, pastries, breakfast meats, and eggs cooked to order. Lunch options are available for individuals and groups, with “cooler lunches” prepared for those fishing or exploring. Dinner features hearty portions of locally influenced dishes, accompanied by homemade breads and desserts. Special dietary requests can be accommodated with advance notice.
The lodge overlooks Bird Rock Lighthouse, surrounded by an extensive reef system. Guests can snorkel steps away from their rooms or experience unique “wall diving” just off the beach. Sea kayak tours of the coast and visits to the historic lighthouse are available. Self-guided snorkeling is also an option.
The lodge features a 35-slip marina accommodating vessels up to 160 feet, with amenities such as high-quality RO water, full electrical hookups, and fuel services available daily.
Getting There
Crooked Island is located in the southern Bahamas, a 1 hour and 15 minute flight south of Nassau. Bahamas Air services the island from Nassau twice per week (Wednesdays and Saturdays), landing at Colonel Hill Airport, a 4,000′ airstrip on the southwest portion of the island, approximately a 30-minute drive to Crooked Island Lodge. For a more convenient travel option, charter flights can also be arranged. Crooked Island Lodge has a 3,500′ private airstrip which makes it ideal for private planes as well as charter flights.
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Crooked Island Lodge has a lot of fishable water close by and it isn’t all just bonefish! There are extensive systems of interior creek and lagoon areas that have big bonefish, an assortment of snapper, barracuda and small grouper, some permit and the occasional small to medium sized tarpon – all catchable on a fly rod or spinning gear.
Towards the outer edges of the islands, out in the Bight, it’s entirely different fishing: poling or wading crystal-clear sand flats, which hold thousands of school-size (2-4 pound) bones. Along the edges of the mangroves on a high tide you’ll again find larger single and double bonefish nosing through the roots and marl.
The beach in front of the lodge, the fishing can sometimes be quite good for jacks, small permit, grouper, snapper and such with the fly rod. If you’re willing to use a spinning rod or can cast a needlefish fly a considerable distance, you can also catch barracuda up to 5 feet long, either casting from the skiff, trolling behind the skiff or fishing from shore.
Off Shore
If you like the big fish – the offshore stuff – the lodge operates a completely equipped boat. Offshore fishing with Captain Robbie Gibson is incredible. The lodge is fishing water that no other sport fishing boats are touching. Daily catches may exceed thirty fish and are not uncommon. Fall & Winter are excellent for wahoo and mackerel and some tuna. Spring & winter are excellent for tuna, dolphin (mahi mahi), and marlin. Wahoo and mackerel are also good.
Reef Fishing
Light tackle or Inshore fishing is very popular and highly productive with all our guests. Fishing in about 100 ft. of water produces nice catches of grouper, snapper, hard fighting jacks, mackerel, sharks, and cudas. Guests are invited to bring their catch back to the hotel, where the experienced and skilled Crooked Island Lodge chef will prepare your catch for dinner at the Sunset Bar & Grill. Chumming, jigging and live bait techniques are used for inshore fishing. Excellent catches are available all year long. Because of the low population density (the total population of Acklins/Crooked Islands is less than 1,000), the reefs have barely been touched.
At the hotel, there is a picture of this fellow holding a wahoo that scaled reliably at 148 pounds. That’s a damn big wahoo. Billfish, tuna, dorado and other offshore species abound (seasonally) just a mile or less from shore or you can arrange longer excursions to productive offshore fishing spots for the day or a sleep over trip to the renowned Diana Banks.
For fly-casters looking for deep water fish, the lodge has been experimenting successfully with live baiting big jack crevale, horseyed jacks, amberjacks, mutton snapper, dorado and tuna. Live baiting involves releasing live pilchards to attract schooling fish to the boat and then casting flies. Bring your 10-12 weight rods and big deceiver patterns if you’d like to try this (subject to availability of the big boat and access to the live bait).
The setting is lovely – a very dramatic bit of coastline with beautiful beaches and shells, great reef fishing 10 yards from shore and a 30-minute run to the flats. The hotel itself is informal, not luxurious, but modern and comfy, quiet, small and nicely tree-shaded. There are 12 rooms in 3 villas, a separate dining area, a beach cabana where dinners and lunches are sometimes served, a bar and a private airfield. The nearest village is about a mile away. The Crooked Islanders are wonderful, dignified people with big smiles; quiet, polite, religious and good-humored.
The fishing can be fantastic for bonefish that haven’t seen enough pressure to become spooky yet, averaging 2 – 4 pounds, with some much larger fish on certain flats, tailing or cruising alone or in pairs. Besides bonefish, there are lots of snapper (mutton, mangrove, yellowtail), jacks, some big permit, a few tarpon, ocean triggerfish and tons of barracuda. Photographers will want to catch a bonefish within view of some of the thousands of Flamingos that inhabit this part of the Bahamas.
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Contact us for Seasonal Discounts, Special Offers or Promotional Pricing
Please call Angler Adventures for custom packages at Crooked Island Lodge, including guided flats fishing, blue water fishing, reef fishing, non-fishing activities, and non-fishing activities.
Crooked Island is located in the southern Bahamas, a 1 hour and 15 minute flight south of Nassau. Bahamas Air services the island from Nassau twice per week (Wednesdays and Saturdays), landing at Colonel Hill Airport, a 4,000′ airstrip on the southwest portion of the island, approximately a 30-minute drive to Crooked Island Lodge. For a more convenient travel option, charter flights can also be arranged. Crooked Island Lodge has a 3,500′ private airstrip which makes it ideal for private planes as well as charter flights.
LOWEST Prices of the Year at North Riding Point Club
Some of the best fishing for big “trophy” bonefish is on the North Shore of Grand Bahama. North Riding Point Club is the only lodge fishing a vast and remote area of the North Shore. Launching at North Riding Point, they are the only boats fishing prime flats 10+ miles east & west, and extending north including the remote water around the Sale Cays, Strangers Cay, and Carter Cay. The fall and early winter are one of the most productive times to fish this area, especially for trophy, double-digit bones. We just received some awesome openings at North Riding Point Club, and with the lowest prices of the year, now is the time to make a reservation at North Riding Point Club.
in quest of permit. The first day out, just a couple were taken, one by first time permit fisher Dr. Ralph Cifaldi. Ralph was using a crab pattern of his own concoction; a variation on the Dorsey Kwan, distinguished by a long tail of amber dyed polar bear barred with a brown marking pen.
"Tara" with a nice Ascension Bay Permit
The second day, there was better success in the group, with Ralph coming in as top rod with a “hat trick” – 3 more permit on this just his second day chasing permit! This piqued our interest a bit more in Ralphy’s unorthodox pattern.
The third day, more permit were released by the group, but again the top rod was Doc Ralph, with another hat trick! 3 days into the trip and Ralphy had 7 permit under his belt. The excitement over Ralphy’s fly grew, and being the generous soul that he is, he stayed up late cranking out more of his crab patterns so as to present each one of us with one at breakfast.
There was no doubt in my mind what fly to tie on that morning! We ran back into the bay, inside of the tip of Vigia Grande. The wind had slightly clouded the water along the south side of the bay, and my superb guide Manuel (Tarantula) worked the edge between the cloudy and the clear water. Suddenly I spotted a huge permit working up tide toward us. I called to Manuel and he kicked the boat right, and with a couple of strong pushes on the pole put me in position to intercept the fish. I launched Ralph’s fly, it landed perfectly, I made a one-foot long strip and the big fish quivered, lunged forward and ate it. It immediately took off on a searing and what I expected to be a “reel-emptying” run. But about 70 yards out, it just stopped, and slowly pulled. I looked at the bottom and it was moving. Yes, now he was just leisurely towing the boat across the bay! This went on for 42 minutes until finally we got the fish close enough to tail it. But Manuel couldn’t get it over the gunnel! Finally, he went over the side in chest deep water to “wrassle” the beast into submission. We didn’t have a boga grip, but Manuel said his largest “bogaed” fish was 38 pounds, and allowed as how this guy was just about as big! We settled on 35 as an estimate.
By the end of the week, our party of 8 had tallied an amazing 35 permit on fly, and quite a few over 20 pounds. And Ralph’s pattern accounted for 17 of these, and the fly didn’t even a name. The last evening, our group sat around the palapa having beers and trying to come up with an appropriate name for Dr. Ralph’s (a gynecologist by the way) remarkable fly. Finally John Canavari burst out, “I’ve got it! The Gyno Crab”. And the name stuck. Google it!
I can’t swear there’s something special about the pattern – maybe it was just a case of a lot of happy permit eating well. But if any fly catches any permit, I want to have it in my arsenal! Hope this works as well for you.
Dr. Ralph Cifaldi’s Gyno Crab – Tied by Doug Schlink
Mid-Morning Permit Snack
Hook: Daiichi X452 or similar in #2 or #4 Thread: Danvilles Flat Wax, Fl. Green Weight: Lead Eyes – sized to water depth and hook size Tail: Appx 2 – 2 ½ inches, Polar bear, dyed golden orange (Rit golden yellow dye does it) and barred with a dark brown (*) marking pen Body: 8 pieces of Tan Aunt Lydia’s Rug Yarn (Antron) figure-eighted in (Merkin fashion) on top of hook shank, and trimmed to appx dime shape. Legs: 2 (**) Amber/flecked black Sili-Legs, square knotted in (Merkin style), trimmed slightly long (about 1 inch) and set with Krazy Glue (***)
* I didn’t have a dark brown pen, just dark umber. The barring should be darker – more contrasting. ** While conventional wisdom would dictate 3 legs (per side), Ralph contends permit can’t count, so this is tied true to his original pattern (which worked, so apparently they can’t count). *** I didn’t have any Krazy Glue handy – just used some head cement. Ralph put drops of Krazy Glue on the legs near the edges of the yarn body (and worked into the yarn slightly) to keep these sticking out at the appropriate angles.
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Long time favorite bonefishing lodge, Andros South, has just added another incentive to take a bonefishing trip this fall. For October, November and December, Andros South reduced their 7-night/6-day fishing package rate from $3,950 per person to $3,250 per person, a savings of $700 per person.
The $3,250 rate includes 7 nights having your own room, 6 days fishing south Andros Island with 2 anglers guide, all meals and drinks (including beer, wine, and liquor), round-trip transportation to Andros South from the South Andros airport, loaner fishing equipment (if needed), Global Rescue enrollment, and Bahamian room tax.
And you get your own room!
There is currently space in the following weeks (please call or email to confirm that space is still available).
A great example comes from a group of ours that just got back from Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn, Acklins Island, Bahamas. There is something special about Bahamas bonefishing that isn’t found wading a flat or casting to tailing fish. The charm and arms wide open welcome of the Bahamas is even more apparent in the outer islands, like Acklins. Group member Alec Kempe was describing a photograph taken after dinner on their last night said, “Shirley gave a speech in which she quoted Shakespeare from Romeo & Juliet “Parting is such sweet sorrow”; Peter baked us a wonderful cake & as a finale, Peter, Lavanda (wonderful singing voice) & Shirley sung to us. What a great show of appreciation & warmth – really a nice family!”
That being said, the other reason to bonefish in the Bahamas is, well, BONEFISH!!! Here’s a nice “10-pounder” landed by Pierce Walmsely. Alec Kempe prefaced the image of Pierce’s bonefishng with “Lemon sharks & ‘cudas were all over us that day. Gator kept Lemons from eating this particular fish with some great pole-on-the-sharks-head work.”
The colors are another reason – photo credit Alec Kempe
Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn is one of the unique destinations where almost 100% of the fishing is done wading, unless you choose to fish from the skiff. Want more information on Grey’s Point or fishing the out islands of the Bahamas – call Angler Adventures at 800-628-1447 (860-434-9624) or drop us an email at info@angleradventures.com.
The following is from the preface to the second edition of Bonefish Fly Patterns by Dick Brown. There are some great bonefish flies included in this edition that we’ve been recommending to our clients, specifically the Simram and the Bully Special (by Bully Bevins of North Riding Point Club – one of our favorites). Check out the image of Trodella’s Ghost, it’s like a modernized version of our favorite skinny water bonefish fly – the Bunny Bone!
This revised edition of Bonefish Fly Patterns contains forty-seven new flies that were not in the original 1996 edition. Some are recent patterns created by new flats anglers with fresh, inquisitive eyes—like Victor Trodella’s killer Ghost tailing fly and Omeko Glinton’s Meko Special. Others like Eric Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp, Vic Gaspeny’s Threadhead, Rick Simonsen’s Simram, and Patrick Dorsy’s Kwan and Bone Slappa are creations of skilled flats veterans willing to pass along the exact recipes of go-to favorites they’ve relied on for winning tournaments. Still others are well-known classics that I simply could not get into the original book for one reason or another—like the Horror and the Mini-Puff, which have produced on flats around the world for decades. A few new creations, like the Toad and the Slinky Toad, were developed in response to the significant findings of recent bonefish feeding studies that have established the importance of newly discovered prey forms in the diet of Florida and Bahamian bonefish—especially the gulf toadfish. Four—the Bastard Crab, Big Ugly, Merkwan, and Bunny Crab—come from Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s Aaron Adams, who is both a marine research scientist and an avid angler. Finally, several new entries, like the Skok/Boyle Reverend Laing fly, the Bevin’s Bully Special, and Trodella’s Ghost, were driven by new tying materials and new uses of existing materials, which have enabled tiers to find novel solutions to old bonefish challenges like flash intensity and splash impact.
Saltwater flats fishing authority, Dick Brown, is releasing the second version of his Bonefish Fly Patterns book in June 2011. Both of Dick’s books are considered must reads for any angler interested in improving his skills and learing more about bonefishing. Sharing Dick’s passion for the sport, we’re excited to celebrate this all-new second edition by posting exclusive excerpts from Dick’s 2 books (Bonefish Fly Patterns and Fly Fishing for Bonefish) over next few months. Many of you may have fished with guides mentioned in the book like Meko or Bully, or in locations after which flies are named, such as Mores Island.
Belize is a great destination for anglers traveling during the summer months due to its neo to sub-tropical climate, whose daytime temperatures only vary between 10 – 15 degrees over the course of a year. This consistency makes the fishing in Belize fairly predictable, as well as productive, each month of the year. The following write up by Doug Schink (doug@angleradventues.com) on Tarpon Caye Lodge recently appeared in The Angling Report.
Tarpon Caye is a 10-acre private island situated 15 miles east of Placencia, Belize in the area referred to as “Permit Alley”. The Caye takes its name from its tarpon lagoon that reliably holds a resident population of mid size (30 – 60 lbs.) tarpon. There are also some fair to good bonefish flats in the area, but permit is the main attraction at Tarpon Caye. On the top half of the tide, permit predictably flood the dozens of flats found within a 5 – 20 minute run of the Caye. These are skinny, gin-clear ocean water flats and dorsal as well as caudal fins are frequently out of the water. While you can skiff fish, it’s often more productive to wade these firm, shallow flats. It’s not unusual to have 20 or more legitimate shots over a tide.
Love at First Sight
Tarpon Caye Lodge is owned by “Permit Guru”, Charlie Leslie who has spent over 35 years guiding permit anglers on these flats. What distinguishes the fishing program from more conventional “8 to 4” lodge programs is that they will fish the tides. ‘We do fishing here’, is Charlie’s motto, and he means it. If you are there over a full or new moon, your highest tides occur during the middle of the day and thus the best permit fishing will be during the midday hours. However if your stay coincides with a quarter moon when low tide typically occurs around midday, Charlie will schedule “split day” fishing. For example, during these tides, you might fish from first light until the permit leave the flats with the falling tide, say from 5:30 to 8:30 am. You’ll then return to the lodge for a breakfast/brunch, and a siesta. Around 2:00 pm, you’ll head back out to meet the permit returning to the flats on the incoming tide, and fish until dark.
Accommodations are in basic but comfortable double occupancy cabañas on stilts, each with full tiled bath with hot and cold water and generated electricity. The clubhouse features the bar and dining room where guests enjoy libations and excellent meals featuring the freshest local seafood.
Tarpon Caye Lodge is competitively priced and is currently offering a special for 7 nights/6-days fishing for $1,999 per person double occupancy.
Permit Alley is a challenging fishery to be sure, but if stalking tailing permit on foot on gin-clear flats appeals to you, you owe it to yourself to take the challenge!
We’ve put up a couple of report type posts on the fishing around Turneffe Atoll this week. Since Belize is a great summer fishing destination and there are some great special fishing rates at 5 of the best fishing operations in Belize, we thought we’d get those special rates all posted in one place. Click on the links below to visit each destinations web page or call (800-628-1447) / email (info@angleradventures.com) for more information or to confirm your reservation.
The cost for 7-nights/6-days fishing is $2,859.72 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide. The regular rate is $3,384 per person.
The cost for 7-nights/6-days fishing is $2,587.50 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide. The regular rate is $2,868.75 per person.
Belize River Lodge – July 24 – December 18, 2011 (limited space available)
The cost for 7-nights/6-days fishing is $2,412 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide. The regular rate is $3,668 per person.
The cost for 7-nights/6-days fishing is $2,595 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide. The regular rate is $3,474 per person.
The cost for 7-nights/6-days fishing is $1,999 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide. The regular rate is $2,890 per person.
The following recap of Angler Adventures owner Chip Bates’ trip to Turneffe Flats Resort appeared as a newsletter in September 2010. Kevin Sheehan’s recent report got us excited about the summer tarpon fishing on Turneffe Atoll as the numbers of large, migratory tarpon rapidly increase over the next few months. Enjoy!
My son Tyler wanted to catch a big Tarpon on a fly and I wanted to wade flats for Bonefish and Permit in case the Tarpon weren’t “on”. We had a week in August between Tyler’s summer job and school.
The Turneffe Islands have a migratory population of big Tarpon that usually arrive in May and remain through most of October. Bonefish and Permit are year round. On paper, it appeared that that Turneffe Flats Resort had what we were looking for. In reality, it was better than expected.
First, it’s great bonding to travel with your son. Because of his work and college schedule, we hadn’t done this since high school. Secondly, Tyler and I love the fishing lodge schedule: up early, eat, fish, eat, and to bed early. Well, that’s where we differ…at least I was in bed early.
We were assigned Dubs as our guide. Dubs is an upbeat, happy guy who takes his fishing seriously. The only disappointment of the trip was that neither of us landed a Permit. Not for lack of trying. We had multiple, if not dozens, of shots daily. We’ll save the Permit for another trip.
Chip's 8 lb Belize Bonefish
We warmed up on Bonefish and caught plenty. Turneffe Flats has some of the best wading anywhere, but we also poled some deeper flats for larger fish and caught bones up to 8 lbs. To me this was a delightful way to fill in the gaps between Tarpon and Permit.
One afternoon about 3:00 PM, Dubs suggested the tide was good for Tarpon. We motored back to a large creek, adjacent to the lodge, that connects the ocean to the lagoon. This creek is too deep to pole, but it’s crystal clear. As we approached the creek, Tyler spotted something break the surface at a distance.
We stopped and looked but could confirm nothing. We continued towards Dubs’ favorite Tarpon spot. Dubs dropped anchor and asked Tyler to cast his intermediate line perpendicular to the current, let the fly sink, then swing in the current on the retrieve. While Tyler was straightening his line, Dubs saw activity in the area we’d just come from. Next we saw two 100 lb Tarpon come completely airborne like dolphins at Sea World. Holy #$*@!, we all said in unison. Up came the anchor and we got our butts to that spot in a hurry. For the next 45 minutes it was mayhem. Big Tarpon everywhere around the boat, under the boat, airborne on both sides of the boat, all chasing big needlefish and ballyhoo. It was one of the most incredible sights I’ve seen in lifelong fishing career.
Bottom line: Tyler jumped 4 tarpon from 80 – 120 lbs. Every fish eventually threw the fly. The frenzy petered out just before dark. Time for dinner. Dubs said the tide would be good again in the morning. He wanted to be on water before sunrise.
Tyler, Dubs and a nice Tarpon
We got to Dubs’ favorite spot in the pre-dawn light. It was beautifully quiet and calm, except for the tide. Tyler straightened his line, ready to cast the black and purple Puglisi Tarpon Streamer tied on a circle hook, the same fly the 4 tarpon ate the day before. It wasn’t long before we saw Tarpon roll in the current left of the boat. One cast and Tyler was dancing with a tail walking Tarpon that again spit the fly.
Not being a fan of circle hooks, I suggested to Dubs that we change the fly. We selected the exact same pattern tied on an Owner Aki traditional bend hook. Tarpon remained active around the boat and it wasn’t long before Ty connected again. This time the fly held through the first jump, the second and third jumps. 30 minutes later we landed this gorgeous fish, estimated at 80 lbs.
The Tarpon had stopped rolling. We were back in time for breakfast, ready to sight fish for bones and permit the rest of the day.
Attention all bonefish anglers: We here at Angler Adventures are raffling off a free bonefishing trip for 2 anglers to one of the best destinations in the Bahamas, North Riding Point Club. This trip to Grand Bahama Island is valued at $6,600. The trip is for 4-nights/3-days of fishing for 2 people anytime North Riding Point Club has space available during the months of January, February, March, June, July, October and December 2011 or 2012.
It’s easy and free to enter – just email Evan@angleradventures.com for a chance to win this awesome bonefishing trip. Or, give us a call at 800-628-1447 (860-434-9624) and we’ll be happy to add you.
Plus, to sweeten the pot, we’ve added a bonus promotion for everyone who enters the raffle. Stay 5-nights/4-days for the price of 4-nights/3-days. In other words, you pay $2,640 per person (October to the end of February and July), a savings of $660 per person or pay $3,300 per person (March through June), a savings of $900 per person.
Gerhard Laubscher of FlyCastaway is visiting Angler Adventures in Connecticut next week and giving a couple of presentations about FlyCastaway’s cutting edge fishing operations on St. Brandon’s Atoll, Mauritius and Farquhar Atoll, Seychelles. Both destinations offer spectacular fisheries that get almost no fishing pressure due to their remote locations and are priced like rare commodities, adding exclusivity to both destinations attributes (Farquhar prices at $7,500 US and St. Brandon’s prices at 6,500 Euro).
To get started, here’s the guides report from the April 4 – 11, 2012 week at Farquhar that included one of our clients, Steve Gross, who was looking to tally up as many species as possible.
Like a tide eager to begin its initial surge, our new group of guests arrived on the shores of Farquhar champing at the bit to explore the multitude of flats and species Farquhar has on offer. After our customary quick briefing and some hasty rigging of tackle, the group which consisted of 9 men and one hard core fisherwoman set out to get a brief taste of what was in store for the rest of the week. The weather was set to be stable …we were hoping for an absolute cracker!
Yves quickly enticed his first Trigger to eat the fly. Jeff joining the action as he got stuck into a Milky as they are still here and feeding hard! Clare quickly showed the boys she was here to do business by landing the first GT, sadly her Dad. Finally after countless attempts, Wayne O finally managed to land his Trigger, which has been eluding him for years. And it didn’t end there for Wayne as he recorded our first Farquhar Slam, that being GT, a Bone and a Trigger in one day. Now that’s some serious angling and bragging rights!
But back to the rest of the week, the Milkies were still hanging around and after and epic battle, Alex landed his first Milky, awesome fish Alex! His action didn’t stop there either, he also managed to land a GT and a Bone in the same day, quite an achievement. Good fishing was being experienced by all, although we did have a fair number of large GTs lost due to hooks pulling and lines breaking. Clare however had the pink touch (literally), and landed another good GT. Things were heating up and the pressure was on to get the desired species.
Ian subsequently also made his way in to the record book by landing all three of the species and Yves just failing to qualify by losing his GT. Wayne, Dean and Jeff had one truly memorable day whereby they landed 5 GTs, although Wayne did get smoked by a Yellowfin Tuna which tore off 300m of backing in less than 20 seconds late in afternoon!
2 Slams in two days. Let’s make it 4 in three days. Dean and Jeff decided they also wanted a taste of that action and had no trouble landing a Trigger, a Bone and a GT. Piece of cake, all in a day’s work at the office….these were the comments around the dining room table each evening. Steve continued his species count and landed a truly impressive Napoleon.
Last day out on the flats and Ian once again showed his metal landing a 98cm GT which was the largest of the week. Jeff and Wayne muscled in some Bumphead Parrotfish, whilst Steve braved “THE WALK” and reaped the rewards, landing Bones, Bluefin and two Blackfin Sharks. It was really good to have Steve out fishing with us after months of preparations and planning!
An amazing week of fishing with 4 Farquhar Slams, 15 GTs, 6 Triggers, 2 Napoleons, some Bumpheads, a Milkfish and countless Bluefin, Grouper and Snapper. That is what Farquhar is all about!
The Seychelles became a bucket list destination because it’s a beautiful, remote destination with fantastic wading for bonefish on hard sand & coral flats and a variety of other species both on and off the flats that added depth to the fishery. Recently, a new fishing operation has opened on Farquhar Atoll, which has taken those credentials to the next level.
Beautiful and remote? Farquhar is called the “Jewel of the Seychelles” and considered to be the most beautiful island in the archipelago and also the southern most atoll (2 hour flight from Mahe). The staff and guests are the only people on the atoll, living in the islands only accommodations. Check.
Fantastic Bonefishing? The fishing is 100% wading. The average schooling bonefish is 4 – 6 pounds and there will be quite a few bonefish in the 6 – 8 pound range. Most anglers end up leaving the schools to find fish in single and doubles for a bit more of a challenge. Check.
Variety of Species? In addition to Bonefish, there are the normal fish you’d expect to see on a flat in the Seychelles: Shark, Barracuda, Snapper, Triggerfish, Trevally (including Giant Trevally), Milkfish, Napoleon Wrasse and Indo-Pacific Permit. The guides on Farquhar have also figured out how to catch Humphead Parrotfish, which were previously though to be uncatchable on the fly and become experts at targeting GT’s (Giant Trevally). You can also fish deeper water for Sailfish, several Grouper species, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Job fish, and more. A client of our landed 18 different species on the fly…all with a floating line! Check.
This is truly one of the special fishing destinations in world, and the reservations book shows it – the first availability is for late-October 2013. If you’re interested in fishing Farquhar, we suggest getting started now. Like Farquhar, but more interested in Bonefishing? Check out Farquhar’s sister operation St. Brandon’s Atoll, which has better bonefishing with less variety.
Protect Your Feet with a good pair of wading shoes or boots designed for flats fishing, a few pairs of wet wading socks, and don’t forget to break in your shoes. Wading shoes and socks will help to keep sand out and reduce blister forming friction, as well as giving support for a day of wading. But, if the first time you put on your wading shoes in the Bahamas, it’ll be a long week. Break in your shoes by wearing them around the house for an hour or two a couple times per week. It’s much better than blisters or sore arches. Do Not wear last years sneakers with cotton socks or open sandals – your feet will thank you.
Find a Comfortable lumbar pack or chest/sling pack. Bigger is not always better. The pack should have the essentials (flies, leader and tippet material, nippers, hook file, pliers / hemostats, light rain jacket, camera, water bottle, and maybe your lunch / snack) but not packed full so it disturbs your casting.
Wading is Exercise and it can be a lot of work, especially at a destination like Grey’s Point Inn, South Caicos or the Seychelleswhere there are extensive flats and you might wade all day. Some flats are firm and easy to wade, while others can be slightly soft or have uneven bottoms, which make walking more difficult. To be sure you’re physically prepared for long wading sessions, schedule long walks or hikes months before your trip. It’s also a great way to find some more remote areas on your local waters, so don’t forget your rod and a box flies!
A Little Practice Casting can make the difference between getting your fly to that 9-pound bonefish, or watching it leave a rooster tail as it runs for deeper water. The majority of shots at bonefish while wading happen between 40’ – 60’, so accuracy and versatility are more important than speed and distance (but the later can also be helpful). The best practice casting is to targets in that 40’ – 60’ range, from different angles (click here to see a diagram of the casting clock). Be sure that you’re not just casting with the wind at your back – knowing how to handle wind blowing in your face or from your right / left will make getting your fly in the right place much easier. Don’t forget to practice your casting while wearing your pack!
You can encounter tailing fish on any fertile bottom, but weedy bottoms hold the most prey, therefore the most fish. Big fish seem more comfortable feeding in the shallows over a dark bottom. Click here for tips on Shallow Water, Tailing Fish.
The end of the outgoing and beginning of the incoming brings the skinniest water that’s when you’ll find fish tailing over the weeds. To catch them, you’ll need a fly that doesn’t “plop” when it hits the water: go small.
A tailing fish is focused on a small area. Frequently he’ll create a cloud of sand or mud where he’s feeding. You must put the fly in the area where’s he’s rooting, a matter of inches from his nose. You must throw a fly that doesn’t spook him when it lands: go light.
Once the fly lands in front of the fish, let it sink, then give it the tiniest of strips: go weedless.
There are loads of excellent flies for bonefishing in skinny water, but our number one fly is the Bunny Bone when we need to go small, light or weedless. Having a variety of Bunny Bones in your fly box is a necessity, especially when wading for bonefish. Tan or brown (tied with tan or pink thread) rabbit fur tail with a little gold Mylar and mono eyes are top producing colors. It’s also a great fly in slightly deeper water with small or medium bead chain eyes, instead of mono. Try adding crazy legs and don’t forget the weed guard! Click here for more information on tying bonefish flies, including the Bunny Bone.
We haven’t stopped talking about Bob Cosgriff’s HUGE PERMIT since he sent us the first photo February 25, 2015 on his way home from the Bahamas. You can read Bob’s write up and see a photo below. More photos from Bob’s trip can be found on our Facebook Page.
Photo Credit to Capt. Barry Kanavy
“PERMIT – IT’S HUGE!”
by Bob Cosgriff
These are the words we all long to hear. But let’s start at the beginning.
After several months of miserable winter weather my friend Capt. Barry Kanavy and I were looking forward to six days of fishing on Acklins Island at Grey’s Point Bonefishing Lodge. Acklins is known for its bonefishing so we loaded up on equipment for the grey ghost. Evan Peterson at Angler Adventures had suggested we hook up with the head guide at Greys, Garon Williamson to show us around.
My motto is be ready for “anything”. So that means 5 rods: Three eight weights for Bones, a nine weight for Permit and a ten weight for Barracuda . Every thing was packed, lines cleaned, leaders checked and five boxes of flies; just the basics!
The week started with three days of fly tying as a cold front shut everything down. On day four & five the clouds parted and we got to experience what Grey’s Point is noted for, stalking bones on expansive wading flats. On our last day, I made a casual comment to Garon that we’d like fish from the boat and try our luck with the Cudas we had seen prowling the deeper flats. That request would change our fishing lives forever.
Photo Credit: Barry Kanavy
Two hours later Barry and I surveyed our frayed leaders, mangled wire, shredded Barracuda flies and some great photos to remember our time stalking these torpedoes. Garon mentioned he had one more place to show us for barracuda and the occasional permit.
We motored over on the ocean side and cruised around for five minutes when I heard Garon call from the back of the boat “PERMIT – IT’S HUGE” …tailing behind a ray.
I jumped off the poling platform where I had been sitting and walked forward as Barry pulled out my permit rig of choice: Helios2 9wt, Nautilus NV reel , Rio 9 weight permit line connected to a Rio 20lb leader, ending with a tan Kung fu crab size 4. I was ready. I was confident. After all I had recently tamed some bad ass cudas! I stripped out my line, saw the ray, and on my third attempt cast 65 feet landing the leader 2 feet over the ray. I let the fly sink in the 5 foot water and then felt a small tug. I set the hook and the permit was on. Things stayed pretty calm, the line cleared the deck and everything was under control. I had caught small permit before, so how bad could this be? I would soon find out.
The fish then began a slow turn on my right side. Not a full run but a slow drive by so he could give me a once over. It was then that I realized Garon had been trying to keep me calm when he said, “huge Permit”. It wasn’t huge, it was a monster! I felt my confidence drain as if I’d sprung a leak. I clicked down the drag three times . . . I was going to need all of it. I looked at the nine weight in my hands and realized that I had brought a knife to a gun fight. Seconds later my reel started to scream and I said goodbye to my fly line for the next 35 minutes as the permit began his run to open water and large swells. Barry grabbed the back of my belt to stabilize me in the rolling water and to relay commands to Garon. Twice the fish surged out to deeper water and I was still hanging on. Then I looked down at my reel to see the backing getting very thin. I estimated I had 50 feet left and yelled to Barry and Garon to fire up the engine and we slowly regained some backing only to have the fish take off again. We kept this game up for 20 minutes until he made a run to some rocks on a point. Now I had my moment of truth. I had to stop him from reaching the rocks, even if I broke him off. I swung the rod to the left, put as much pressure as I could and hoped he would turn before the rod exploded. Ten feet from the rocks the fish turned and for the first time in the battle I felt I really had a chance to land this beast.
Slowly I gained backing and started to control his head. Finally I saw my fly line coming back through the guides. 35 minutes had gone by and my arms and legs were on fire. Slowly he came to the boat moving back and forth using his body as a brake against me. He was three feet off the bow when I had a new panic attack that I had lost my leverage and the big fish was taking advantage of that. Finally he came around the side, Garon touched the leader and grabbed the tail like his life depended on it.
Barry and I waited for Garon to stand up with our trophy, but nothing happened. Then we heard him yell that the fish was too heavy. Barry grabbed Garon’s belt and back pack and pulled our guide back into the boat – holding the biggest permit we had ever seen. The fish sat on the floor – We were stunned! No one did anything or spoke for 15 seconds, we just looked at a truly colossal permit. We regained our composure and with both Garon and I holding the fish Barry took some quick pictures.
Photo Credit: Capt. Barry Kanavy
Now our efforts reversed as we scrambled to get the fish back into the water to live another day. He was tired but slowly he got stronger and Garon let go of the tail as he headed off to deeper water.
How big was the permit? We estimated sixty pounds. Other veteran guides, after seeing the pictures say, 60-70 pounds – others less. Is it a record? We will leave that to others to decide. We quickly measured the length against the rod – 45 inches! The girth not measured but look at the photos – you guess.
All we know is that on February 24, 2015 something special took place out there. Garon summed it up best when he said “We will fish the rest of our lives and never catch a fish like that again”. Barry and I quietly nodded our heads as we slowly motored back to the lodge. We were done for the day.
Ultimately, it wasn’t about breaking or claiming records. The best part was watching the fish swim away.
2015 will be remembered in Angling history as the year it became legal for US Citizens, in possession of a “people to people” travel letter from the non-profit fisheries research and conservation organization Bonefish Tarpon Trust (BTT), to sport fish in Cuba.
2015 is also the year travel restrictions were lifted, making it legal for US airlines to fly to Cuba, US travel agents to book travelers to Cuba and US insurance companies to offer travel insurance to US Citizens traveling to Cuba.
Angler Adventures has been assisting a limited number of US anglers traveling legally to Cuba for several years. But, the easing of restrictions in general and the travel license from BTT in particular, opens the door for any US angler wanting to fish Cuba.
What hasn’t changed (and will take years to catch up) is the tourist infrastructure within Cuba and the transportation network to Cuba. Traveling to Cuba is still complex. We recommend using a knowledgeable, qualified travel agent, whether it’s your first trip or your twelfth.
In addition to having a staff of fishing experts, Angler Adventures is a full service travel agency, licensed to sell travel insurance. Angler Adventures can assist you in selecting a fishing location in Cuba, prepare you for what to fish for and what to bring, assist you in obtaining the travel letter from the BTT, assist with your Cuban Visa, create the most efficient travel itinerary for you and your group and offer you the protection of travel insurance for trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical evacuation, and more.
Call us today at 1-800-628-1447. There is so much more we’d like to share with you about this fascinating country and phenomenal saltwater fishery.
Want to know more about traveling to Cuba and its amazing Fisheries: Click or Tap below.
Cuba: Now Available – Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook & More
The beach in front of the lodge, the fishing can sometimes be quite good for jacks, small permit, grouper, snapper and such with the fly rod. If you’re willing to use a spinning rod or can cast a needlefish fly a considerable distance, you can also catch barracuda up to 5 feet long, either casting from the skiff, trolling behind the skiff or fishing from shore.
