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Tag: greys point bonefish inn

  • 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

  • Preparing for Your Bonefishing Trip: Wading

    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.

     Click here for more information on wading shoes

    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 Seychelles where 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!

    Want more tips on flats fishing; check our “What to Bring” list by clicking here.

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  • Religious Experience vs Purpose in Life

    Religious Experience vs Purpose in Life

    by Chip Bates

    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 at Grey’s Point Bonefish Bonefish Inn, Acklins Island, Bahamas, as a “religious experience”.

    I’m an extremist member of that congregation.

    I’m celebrating a half century of fly fishing this year. I’ve seen my passion for the sport get more and more focused over the years. In the 70’s, I caught my first bonefish on a fly in the Bahamas. In the 80’s, I added tarpon and permit (Belize, Mexico, Bahamas, Los Roques and Florida Keys). In the early 90’s, I chalked up my first double digit bone (Andros). In the late 90’s, I gravitated toward wading, mostly to enable my partner and me to fish at the same time, one in the boat, one on foot. That was also the decade I fished the Seychelles for the first time. Wow!

    All-day-walking miles of gorgeous flats, searching for underwater movement of any kind, keeping sharks at bay when bones were in sight, mixing it up with milkfish, trevally and permit. It was way too much fun to call exercise.

    By the year 2000, I had blinders on. I’d become a wading junkie, transfixed by catching big bonefish on foot in water so shallow, the fish couldn’t hide it’s own body parts!

    Bonefish-tailing-on-the-Flats

    Knowing where to find them, what tide, time of day, how to approach and catch these hyper sensitive, actively feeding fish, became my “purpose in life”!

    Being in the right place at the right time, then having it confirmed by the sudden appearance of an enormous tail, creates an explosion of urgency, nervousness, opportunity and energy …. An adrenalin rush beyond compare. You get pretty good at judging the size of the fish by the thickness and width of the fork in his tail. Think jaws of life, not pruning shears!

    Chip’s progression:
    Sightfishing
    Fishing for bonefish
    Fly fishing for bonefish
    Fly fishing for big bonefish
    Fly fishing for big tailing bonefish
    Fly fishing for big tailing bonefish while wading!
     
    That's a big tail!
    That’s a big tail!

    Back to Fly Fishing in Salt Waters Editor, John Frazier.  John fished 3 days at one of the premier wading destinations in the Bahamas, Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn on Acklins Island, with Angler Adventure’s fishing “pro”, Doug Schlink. Three days was hardly enough, but John adapted quickly, caught lots of fish to 6 pounds and got a shot at a 10 + pound fish in 6 inches of water! I’ll give John a few years to ratchet up “religious experience” to “purpose in life”.  For a great read, by a talented writer, fisherman and photographer, check out this link to the:

      “Ultimate Wade Fishing Special” in the November/December 2013 issue.

  • 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

  • 60 Pound Permit Landed on Fly in the Bahamas

    60 Pound Permit Landed on Fly in the Bahamas

    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.

    60 lb Permit
    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.

    5 Foot Barracuda on the Fly
    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.

    Check out that mouth!
    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.

    Angler Adventures

    Phone (800) 628-1447 * (860) 434-9624 * Fax (860) 434-8605

    Email info@angleradventures.com

    Website www.www.angleradventures.com