Where's a good place

[venture]

Where's a great place to go bonefishing where I can wade some productive flats without a guide and fish the morning tide for "tailers", and have the rest of the day to enjoy in the warm tropical waters with my girlfriend......including a few marguaritas.

Howie

[mctrout]

Harbour island, eleuthera. Pink Sands, Romora Bay or The Landing are the hotels. Direct flights from Ft Lauderdale.
heard Abacos are good for this as well..

[bonesnbass]

Grand Bahama Island Bigger fish Gambling Direct flight from Newark or LaGuardia

[mctrout]

where do you fish for a few hours in the morning on your own in Grand Bahamas? have often wondered? do you need a car, map, etc...?
thanks

[EAN]

I'd be interested in hearing where to do some bonefishing on my own on grand bahama as well. I'm traveling there in a couple of weeks and will be fishing with a guide a couple of days but would really like to do it by myself if possible. It's just a little more satisfying...I've heard that the flats on the north side are too deep to wade and pretty much inaccessable except by boat...but what about the east end of the island?

[JoeJ]

If you plan to fish solo in Grand Bahama check the local law's. About a year ago there was some talk of the Govt. making it illegal for a non-resident to fish w\o a guide I'm not sure of the outcome. You might be able to find some info here. http://www.intlbonefishingsociety.com/home.asp

[teflon_jones]

If you plan to fish solo in Grand Bahama check the local law's. About a year ago there was some talk of the Govt. making it illegal for a non-resident to fish w\o a guide I'm not sure of the outcome. You might be able to find some info here. http://www.intlbonefishingsociety.com/home.asp

This came up in another thread recently, and was shown to be untrue. I think it was on this forum? Maybe on flytalk? :confused:

[mctrout]

Hello BonesandBass- you had some dope on Grand Bahama it sounded like? are you gonna hold out on us, or did you misfire?
thanks

[albacore00]

howie,
if you want these kind of conditions this time of year your best bet is to go as far south in the bahamian chain as possible,i.e.: Long Island(stella Maris,Cape santa Maria,deadman's cay), or perhaps the crooked/acklins,or turks and caicos. These places won't be as affected by cold fronts as the northern part of the bahamas.

[venture]

Many thanks for the tips......although nothing I am reading is impressing me.

Brandon : I actually have been to Harbour Island off Eluthera, and stayed at the Pink Sands......and waded the flats near town solo. I saw fish, but no takers all week. Heard the fish were well trained and shy away from flies. Did spook them, but they just would not bight. And I did not like the island either. Not too pretty a place.

Also heard about the "big Bones on Grand Bahama, but I am not a gambler nor want to be around gamblers........and that kind of envirnment with my girlfriend.

Albacore : Thanks for the tip......Understood that I should be as south as possible. But the last thing I want to do is to be on a flat scrubby Bahamian Island. Last year I went to Turks and Caicos and was not impressed with the island nor the beaches. Too crouded, to commercial, not to pretty.
But I did do some 7am - 10am bonefishing there "solo" on some flats that a guy dropped me off on a flat and Island after just a five minute boat ride and then picked me up a few hours later. I did great there wading solo......took at least 2 to 3 fish per morning....and had shots at a dozen more and either broke them off or spooked the hell out of them. Some great "tailers" there too......a lot of action for solo wading for three hours. I did consistantly better than the guides sports. But I do not like Turks and Caicos.


Now I will share a little secret with you guys..... I think I am going to go back to my favorite place. I was just trying to discover some new and beautiful places to go with my GF and enjoy...... I think I am going to go back to St. John (US Virgin Islands). This has to be the most beautiful Island I have ever been to. Mountains, forests, the most beautiful beaches in the world....which all look like lagoons with islands in the distant, 90% of the island is a National Park, no large hotels, no airport....must get there by ferry, a few great little towns with great restuarants, and great five star resort named Caneel Bay. Oh, I forgot to mention......there are two great flats on the other side of the island that no one knows about. Hard bottom, mix of grass and sand.......and Oh, some of the biggest Bones you will ever see. Not many of them......but really big. And the greatest thing is that every time I waded those flats I saw fish.....either tailing or cruising.....really big. I do not catch a fish every morning, but I always see fish every morning. That's my little secret place. I recomend it highly, especially for someone who wants a mix of fishing and shear beauty and pleasure......

P.S. Funny thing is that the last time I swam in one of those beautiful lagoons, I swam right next to a bonefish and then a mid sized tarpon. Didn't have a rod, but enjoyed being with them just the same...... I think I should just go back instead of seeking greener pastures....... Howie

[bonesnbass]

Howie, you didn't say whay time of year you were going, but fronts can be a problem this time of year and south and east would be wise, maybe Cat Island, just rent a car, (but maybe too much scrub and brush and you'll be happy. But the N. W. Isands typically have the largest bones and February and March are when the largest fish are usually caught. If your going for a week you should see good weather. Grand Bahama is nice cause the size of the fish, small fish suck, you don't have to gamble or see gamblers if you wish , your not in the middle of nowhere. House rentals are available if you choose. Plus it's big and has beautiful beaches where you can be alone, picnic with your girl and go chase some bones while she's getting some color or reading a book. You can get a direct flight! More time playing less time in the air and you should see your luggage no problem. You can get an independant guide for a day if so inclined or rent a car and drive to some flats. I've done all that roughing it stuff, even sea-kayaking and camping out in the Berry Islands and it's just easier and you've still go nice bones to all to yourselve. Just make sure you stay away from the full and new moons, that goes for any bonefish trip you go on, plus in the bahamas gives you primo tides.

[venture]

Bonesnbass,

I was thinking of going sometime in mid March. So if you were me, and wanted to stay in a really nice place, that is not commercial, yet has all the luxurious creature comforts one could ask for, and at the same time do some fine wading on some skinny productive flats at my own leasure, were would you go......in March. Do you have a name of some place? and the exact Island....... Lemme know and I'll do some research.

Howie

[RIBill]

Howie: you sound like a tough customer! we went to Grand Bahama last year and had a hell of a trip. I'm talking about the entire family... 6 kids! my 15 year old son and I had a great guided trip with Tommy Rolles (sp?) and landed our first bone. it wasn't cheap but it was worth every penny. Our guide was great company and after a couple hours we were both stalking bones and enjoying great conversation. I just wish I was going back this year. my research brought me to the conclusion that it was not really a do-it-yourself island. the north flats are very tough to access and the nearshore flats are variable and muddy. the east end trip is probably your best bet, although its a bit of a ride. that'd probably be just what you're looking for, although better if guided.

we stay at the Sheraton in Our Lucaya. dynamite, but likely too populous and commercial for you. its what you make it, however. you'll love the pools and beach, and nothing to stop you and your babe from renting a car and going on safari. when my wife and I go alone to the Caribbean, we spend many of our waking hours bombing around in a jeep exploring. but, its always nice to return to some creature comforts at the resort.

in addition, of course, at the resort you have restaurants, shopping (again, think about your girl!) and great day trips for snorkeling and mahi! check out the pics (I didn't have a copy of the picture of my daughter's big bull dorado here at work... sorry) and have fun wherever you end up. cheers! :)

[bonesnbass]

Howie, Port Lucaya as RIBill mentioned, Pelican Bay, theres also lots of other hotels around. You'll need to rent a car, I won't tell you all spots, but east end, good drive, nice flats south side of island, North Riding Pt. area and also north west of Freeport there are flats you can access from shore. Do some research, get some maps, you'l have no problem finding enough water to be happy. And also treat yourself to guided trip and choose this for the eastern end of the island, it's very diverse habitat down there from creeks, pure sugar sand flats and flats you can walk a mile. And ask the guide for some spots you might try on your own. I like it there and have been to most of the islands in the bahamas and fishery wise it's right there with Andros, plus if the weather sucks theres other stuff to do and you can pick the best days to go fish.

[venture]

Thanks RIBill for sharing your trip with us. Looks like a great place for the family. And great you had a family to enjoy it with. It looks to me as though I am bent on going back to this special resort on St John called Caneel Bay..... www.caneelbay.com A great get away on a close to perfect island.
And every bone is a precious challenge.

And thanks Bonesnbass for your advise. Sounds like you are a seasoned bonefisherman with much experience. I also prefer fishing without a guide and taking my chances. Each fish is a reward no matter how small or big. But of coarse the big ones are really great. First fish last year on Turks and Caicos was a ten pound tailer. While walking up a beach adjacent to a great flat, I walked up to a tailer no more than 10 feet off the dry sand. I put my first cast to him laying most of my line laying on the dry sand. The first strip and he was all over it. That's what I love about solo... I would have forgotten about that fish if some guide shouted "12 oclock 60 feet".......and bang, I was on........

Howie

[EAN]

Thanks for the good info on Grand Bahama guys! I'm looking foreward to my trip in a couple weeks. Hopefully I will find some fish. Venture, have you ever taken the hike down to Turtle Bay on St. John?

[venture]

Yes, I've been to Turtle Bay. Nice beach, if it is the same place you are talking about. I once swam there with snorkling gear and was swimming with a bonefish in the shallows. The bonefish did not seem to mind my presence. Swam along with him for a few minutes at close range before he took off into the blue.

But I fish several flats on the far end of the Island. One is through a cemetary, and one is by the old sugar plantation. I have caught fish in both places. In fact the small flat that is off the road, through a cemetary is one I love to go to if the tide is low in the morning. I've caught some "tailers" there as well as seen a permit or two cruising the outer limits of that small flat. The big flat that is next to the Old Sugar Planation is quite big, and can be productive, especially in the morning or late afternoon on low tide. And as I said, all the bones on this Island are on the large side. Never saw on smaller than 5 pounds.

Howie

[Luyen]

I did a DIY trip to Eleuthera with Thorne last year with great success. Check out my 'blog for more details (click on the link in my signature -- anglersjournal.blogspot.com -- for more details). Head south as far from civilization as possible, and hit some of the lesser known flats. Great access by car and foot. A great book for planning DIY trips to the Bahamas is Stephen and Kim Vletas's The Bahamas Fishing Guide. Good luck!