Tag: mutton snapper

  • Soul Fly Lodge

    Soul Fly Lodge

    Updated on

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

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

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

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

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

    Perfect for anglers traveling with non-angler companions

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

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    History + Location

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

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

    The Fishery of the Berry Islands Chain

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

    Expert Guidance from the Soul Fly Lodge Team

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

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

    Excellent Management + Convenient Traveling

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

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

    Soul Fly Lodge 2025-2026 Fishing Package Rates

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

    Rates are per person in US$ and subject to change

    Contact us for Seasonal Discounts, Special Offers or Promotional Pricing

    Booking at Soul Fly Lodge is easy:

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

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

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

  • Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge

    Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge

    Updated on

    Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge is located 90 miles south of Cancun in the amazing 1.3 million acre Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve– Sian Ka’an is Mayan for “where the sky is born”. Situated on a long, narrow strip of barrier beach, the lodge is virtually surrounded by water. To the east lies the blue Caribbean and a few hundred yards off shore, the Palencar Barrier Reef, the second longest barrier reef in the world, stretching from southern Belize to north of Cancun. To the western side lies the vast “El Rio” system of flats, channels and mangrove. 10 miles to the north is the famed inlet through the barrier beach known locally as the “Boca”. And 4 miles to the south lies the incomparable Ascension Bay, offering some of the world’s greatest flats fishing for bonefish, permit, snook, tarpon and more.

    bonefish, permit, tarpon, cuba snapper, jacks, snook + baracuda

    Favorable weather conditions year-round

    A varied fishing paradise with expansive flats

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

    Destination Inquiry

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    Fly Fishing at Pesca Maya

    Ascension Bay

    The Fishing: The waters of Ascension Bay and the adjacent lagoon system are most noted for flats fishing. Pesca Maya’s location is ideal to fish both areas. The dock is a short walk from the lodge and productive fishing can begin immediately.

    When fishing Ascension Bay, the boats run 10 minutes south to the outlet of the lagoon into the bay. From there, running times to some of the most productive areas are: 5 minutes to Maravilla, 25 minutes to Cayo Culebra; 40 minutes to Tres Marias; 30 minutes to Esperanza or the tip of Vigia Grande. Blessed with the protection afforded by the barrier reef, the bay is a unique ecosystem providing literally miles of flats and ideal habitat for bonefish, tarpon, permit and snook. Ascension Bay is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest permit fisheries. The average size permit is around 12 – 14 pounds but the Bay has produced monsters topping the 50-pound mark! And for some unknown reason, Ascension Bay permit seem to eat flies better than permit in other areas. For flyrodders in quest of landing this most coveted and challenging of species, we know of no other fishery that produces more fly caught permit than Ascension Bay.

    While migratory tarpon up to 100 + pounds may be encountered on the flats anytime from April through November, resident juvenile tarpon are found near the back of the bay year round. Areas like Los Rios (The Rivers) bring fresh water into the bay providing an ideal brackish water environment tarpon favor.

    The back of the bay is also where you’ll find the snook. Ascension Bay produces some exceptionally large snook, some topping 30 pounds! They are typically found tight to the mangroves presenting dual challenges of getting the fly to them, and then landing them! But on occasion, you’ll find them crossing the flat. Seeing a 20 + pound snook cruising across shallow open water is a thing of beauty!

    The bay opens to the east and periods of strong easterly winds can make fishing difficult. One solution is to fish the El Rio lagoon system, which runs north and south and offers miles of flats protected from the easterly wind by the barrier beach and vast mangrove system.

    Fishing El Rio Lagoon

    Fishing the lagoon can begin at El Rio Lagoon, and fish are sometimes caught within poling distance of the Pesca Maya dock (one client caught a 20 pound permit within 100 feet of the dock!). Heading north the lagoon system are San Miguel Lagoon (20 minutes); the “Boca” and Boca Paila Lagoon (45 minutes); and the Campachen Lagoon (60 minutes). Bonefish and permit are found the entire length of the lagoon and there a few known hot spots for baby tarpon and snook.

    Bonefish are plentiful at Pesca Maya and will average 1 – 3 pounds in the lagoon system and 2 – 5 pounds in the bay. In recent years, the average size of the bones seems to have increased, and fish in the 6 – 8 pound class may be encountered in the bay. There are an abundance of good wading flats for bonefish on Ascension Bay, and permit are often taken by the wading fisherman.

    This fishery has produced more “Grand Slams” (bonefish, permit, tarpon in a single day) than any other fishery in the world, and the rare Super Grand Slam (the snook as the 4th) has been achieved a number of times. Other species you might encounter include barracuda, jacks, mutton snapper, ladyfish, triple tail and cubera snapper.

    Lock in a trip to Pesca Maya in 2025

    Tap a button below to inquire, get a quote, or book!

    Fishing from the Beach

    Fishing from the beach at Pesca Maya can also be productive. Beach fishing can be done on your own before or after the guided fishing day. Available species from the beach include: bonefish, barracuda, jacks and mackerel. For jacks and mackerel try poppers or sinking lines.

    Pesca Maya Boats

    Pesca Maya runs a fleet of 23 foot, shallow draft “pangas” powered by 50 – 60 hp 4-stroke Yamaha outboards. All 8 boats were completely redone with new gel coat and paint in 2013. The boats are equipped poling platforms and casting decks with optional leaning posts, rod holders, comfortable bucket seats for the anglers, radio and safety equipment including life preservers and first aid kits. These pangas are exceptionally seaworthy and feature higher gunnels, which provide added protection from splash on windy days.

    Pesca Maya boats carry 2 anglers, one guide and one “apprentice guide”. All of the guides speak English, (some better than others) and have years of experience. In fact the core of the guide staff have guided for the lodge since it opened in 1996. The apprentice’s are part of Pesca Maya’s innovative guide training program. Each must participate in the lodge’s “Guide School” (and pass) before spending several years as an apprentice guide. Those who excel ultimately are promoted to Guide. The apprentices are adept at basic guide skills including knot tying and spotting fish and can be a tremendous aid to the anglers, especially when wading.

    Pesca Maya’s rental tackle inventory has also been beefed up with the addition of 8 new top of the line Sage Xi3 rods with Hatch reels spooled with new Rio Bonefish taper flylines. 10 new Shimano spinning rods and reels are also available for spinfishers.

    Accomodations at Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge

    Pesca Maya offers accommodations in a beautiful 4-bedroom house for up to 8 anglers at a time.  The house is located a few steps from our white sand beach.  Close enough where guests can enjoy the Caribbean breeze and the sound of the waves. The four double occupancy rooms are well appointed and very comfortable, each has air conditioning and a quality Starlink internet connection.  Pesca Maya uses solar panels to provide the electricity.

    The house has a comfortable dining room where Pesca Maya serves a variety of Mexican dishes for dinner.  Breakfasts are also expertly prepared and served in the dinning room. A lunch buffet is set out each morning consisting of a selection of meats, spreads, breads, condiments, fruits and other snacks for anglers to build their own designer lunch.  There is a comfortable sperate sitting area with a sea view where clients are often found enjoying a cold beer after a long day of fishing.

    While first and foremost a fishing lodge, non-anglers will feel welcome at Pesca Maya. Besides miles of world-class beaches to comb, the lodge can arrange a number of ecotours or sightseeing excursions including a boat trip to the Mayan ruins at Tulum.

    Fishing Calendar at Pesca Maya

    DatesWhat to Expect
    JANUARY – MARCHBonefishing and permit fishing is excellent. Some tarpon and snook may be taken
    APRIL – JUNEBonefishing and permit fishing remain excellent. The larger migratory tarpon arrive in early April and stay well into November.
    JULY – SEPTEMBERThese are rainy months but winds are usually light, which facilitates seeing and casting to bonefish and permit. There’s a “Little Dry” season in August. Tarpon fishing continues to be very good.
    OCTOBER – DECEMBERExcellent for all flat species. The rainy season diminishes through October, and November and December are dry months. An excellent time for “Grand Slams”. The migratory tarpon start to move out in late November.

    Pesca Maya 2025 Season Rates & Information

    Length of StayPrice Per Person

    (Rates are per person and subject to change) | Rates listed are still being confirmed as of Feb 11, 2025

    Take the guess-work out.

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

    Included: round-trip ground & boat transfer from Cancun Airport to Pesca Maya; lodging in beach front cabana with private bath and air conditioning; three meals a day; flats skiff with native guide daily; use of lodge’s tackle (offshore trips only); use of lodge’s fly tying facility and materials; beverages, table wine, beer, liquor; Sian Ka’an entrance fee.

    Not included: air travel to Cancun; baggage overweight charges; airport departure tax; laundry bills and other items of a personal nature (NOTE: cellular phone service is available at camp for emergency use. Long distance and cellular charges will be added to your final bill); tackle; gratuities for guides (suggested $50 – $58 per boat per day) and kitchen/housekeeping staff (suggested $20 per person per day); fishing license; special transfer costs necessitated by late arriving, early departing or missed flights ($250 per vehicle trip); optional trips to fresh water lagoon and Mayan Ruins (arranged in advance with resident manager).

    Get a Grand Slam at Pesca Maya!

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

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

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

    Abaco Island

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

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

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

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

    Andros Island

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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 ClubClick 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