Bahamas

[bugger]

I am in the process of trying to book a 3-4 day trip with my wife to somewhere in the bahamas, carribean or maybe even florida. It has to be relatively easy travel and can't be a "fishing camp" tyope of place.

I looked at Tiamo resort on S. Andros which looks really nice except for 2 disturbing comments I read. The No Seeums biting flies and the guides who are maybe not so good.

Has anyone been to Tiamo in MArch? How was it?

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

P.S. I am looking to do maybe 1 day flats fishing and maybe 1 day with my wife reef or even offshore fishing.

[Mark Dougherty]

Ever Consider Abaco ? Here's a link.....with more links...that link to places to stay....guides...the woiks....http://www.drralph.net/index.html

[Mark Dougherty]

This place "looks good"......but I have no info/reports on it....

http://www.chezpierrebahamas.com/

[Vic T]

I don't recommend Chez Pierre as a place to bring your wife. I didn't stay there but as we drove down their drive to check it out last time on Long Island, we turned around because it just kept getting more unpleasant along the road. A British gent who was staying there was very displeased with the place. Exuma (Peace & Plenty) or Abaco are better choices. Or Stella Maris or Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort on Long Island (both a bit pricy but very nice).

That's a long expensive plane ride for 3 days vacation.

[BobG]

I wonder if Nettie Symonette is still running her eco/toursim/bonefish lodge?
I've persoanlly never fished out of there, but my wife and I have gone there for lunch a couple times. The last time we were there, CNN was filming a special on bone fishing the Abacos.
It might be worth investigating b/c to the best of my knowledge, this was far more than just a bonefish lodge. They offered kayaking, snokeling, bird watching, etc.

[catspaw]

Try Coco Da Mama on Eleuthera. Very nice young Italian owners, very clean, good food. Kayaks, snorkle stuff, and bonefish out the front door. This is not a fishing lodge but they're there. Govenors Harbour airport is closer but North Eleuthera has more flights. Maybe 40 min drive from N. Eluethera airport, 5 min. from Gov. Harbour airport.

[Loopy]

How about Pelican Bay in Freeport? http://www.pelicanbayhotel.com/

They used to have bonefish packages but I don't see them on their website. If they no longer have the guides, there several private bonefish guides who will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel.

The hotel is right next to Port Lucaya which has loads of restaurants , bars, etc. UNEXSO and the dolphins are next door. There are both deep sea and reef fishing opportunities. Also available in the immediate area are beaches, casino and golf courses.

[bugger]

Does anyone know if there is any sort of guided fishing in Jamaica?

There are non stop flights and really nice hotels 1/2 hour from the airport!

Pelican Bay is also a good possibility as the fishing is really good and they have non-stop flights. However it is a little more built up than we were wanting.

Also I found out that S. Andros (Tiamos Resort) is prone to no seeums, so forget that.

:-%

[dcsam]

I'm the one who does all the research in our family. I enjoy bonefishing, but I'm not a 'die-hard'. My husband is, however. I like nice, white-sand beaches, great snorkeling, very comfortable accommodations and crystal clear water. We will be vacationing on Great Exuma in April. If we could afford it, and if the flights were easy, I think we would have stayed at Cape Santa Maria on Long Island. Do check that place out. It looks wonderful, but too pricey for our budget. We decided on Palm Bay on Great Exuma. The most recent reviews make it sound like we made the right choice. It's not a 'fishing' type of accommodation, but we do intend to do quite a bit of fishing outside of the resort - through guides and on our own. Good luck.
Caroline
WA state

[BobG]

Just a suggestion for another place that frequently(and fortunately) gets overlooked. Anegada, BVI is a pretty decent bonefish destination, and offers "get away from it all" surroundings.
We've stayed at the Anegada Reef Hotel, and combined DIY bonefishing and hired local guide Garfield Faulkner with very good results. Anegada Reef Hotel is a funky, bare bones hotel that brings to mind what things must have been like in the Caribbean in the 1950's. Accomodations are comfortable, but Spartan-like. The meal plan is fabulous, highlighted by a nightly beach bbq which is certainly second to none in the Caribbean!
If you're not into the hotel thing, there's a lovely little villa named appropriately "Bonefish Villa" located right on the bonefish flats. It has all the modern ammenities, and you can literally walk out your back door, and go bone fishing.
Anegada is very remote, and features a vast barrier reef with excellent snorkeling and diving. Marine and bird life abound.

Here:http://www.anegadareef.com/
Here:http://www.unusualvillarentals.com/caribbean/anegada/bonefish/index.shtml

[teflon_jones]

I looked at Tiamo resort on S. Andros which looks really nice except for 2 disturbing comments I read. The No Seeums biting flies and the guides who are maybe not so good.

Has anyone been to Tiamo in MArch? How was it?

I was there for 11 days in December with my wife. It's an amazing resort, and I highly recommend it! Here's the deal with the no see-ums, or sand fleas as they call them. About an hour before sunset, the bugs come out in force on the beach. Bug spray helped some, but after a few days we realized that the best course of action was to stay inside until dinner. After dinner, some deep woods Off (or other high deet spray) worked wonders in keeping the bugs off. During the rest of the day the bugs weren't around, it was only that time around sunset. I wouldn't let this dissuade you from going there. Just bring some bug spray, and don't plan to sit on the beach at sunset. They have sailboats and kayaks to use for free, so I'd recommend going out on the water around that time, or relaxing in your bungalow.

I used one guide down there that wasn't great, but I was the only person who used that guide. There were two other guides around and both of the got good reviews. Having had 11 days to check out the fishing though, I discoved that the flat right next to the resort produced the biggest and most bonefish of anywhere around. You don't need a guide at all. I consistently saw 6-8 lb fish on that flat, and several schools too. Keep in mind this was the first time I'd ever gone for bonefish! I could have hooked into bonefish every day on that flat without a problem. There were also a lot of sharks on that flat, at least 2 every time I went there, and some nice barracuda.

I guess the best thing I'd say about the place is that I'd definitely go back.

P.S. The food is unbelievable! And it's so remote you can fish for an entire day without seeing anyone. If you want more info, feel free to PM me. :)

[bugger]

Sounds like a great place but I only have from Thursday to Sunday and with both travel days killed (at least the one going, the one coming back has a 3:30 western air commuter to Nassau) we're only left with Friday and Saturday.

Do you know if they do any offshore from the resort?

[teflon_jones]

Sounds like a great place but I only have from Thursday to Sunday and with both travel days killed (at least the one going, the one coming back has a 3:30 western air commuter to Nassau) we're only left with Friday and Saturday.

Do you know if they do any offshore from the resort?

I could swear that they do offer it, but I'm not sure! However, if there's somebody in the area that offers offshore charters, Tiamo will arrange everything for you.

As for traveling, if you can do an overnight Weds/Thurs flight into Nassau, there's a flight out to South Andros that I think gets in at 10 am.

[capt ed]

I've been to Jamaica many times. Stayed in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. Don't think there is anywhere there to fly fish. Some of the locals tried to talk me into going out with them in a small boat to bait fish for Mackeral, but that's all the fishing I saw. Nothing as far as DIY as far as I saw.
I could recommend Pelican Bay, as someone else did. I took my wife and she enjoyed the beach nearby while I fished with Sam Taylor. He picked me up at the motel. He does half days and full.

[bugger]

I'm going to Kamalame Cay on Andros. 1/2 day flats 1/2 day offshore and 1 full day on both sides to chill with my wife. She's possible going to come on the offshore day.

There's a million places out there to choose from so I appreciate all the info along the way.

[mbrown]

One of the best spots I have found for a combo trip is Pelican Bay in Freeport.My wife gets to shop till she drops,the bonefishing is very good with lots of LARGE bones,the luxury suites are well appointed,the dive and dolphin swim venue is on site,free entertainment @Count Basie square nightly,snorkling tours within easy walking distance,free water shuttles every 15-20 minutes-(to several other resorts where you have trespass privileges).We are there the first week of June every year.You can diy if you rent a jeep and don,t mind driving on the right side of road.Last June caught a 9lb bone while having a picnic with wife.Easy flights (stay away from American airlines if you can) email me direct for"secret fishing spots" and independent guides-they are less expensive than Pelican Bay guides.saltfish@comcast.net

[Darton]

mbrown,

My wife and I will be in Freeport this June from the 10th - 17th. We are staying at the Island Seas resort, which I believe is very close to Pelican Bay. I wanted to stay at Pelican Bay, but we have a time share that we've exchanged so our options were limited. If you are there during this time and want to get together just let me know. My email is msheiter@earthlink.net
I will be fishing with Sam Taylor on the 11th and then hopefully DIYing it after that. Take care.

Mike

[bugger]

I'll be on Andros at the Kamalame Cay resort on March 3-6. One day bonefishing and 1 day offshore fly-fishing. I was told that the mahi-mahi fishing has been great along with wahoo and tuna (not sure what kind).

Hopefully I'll be posting my first JPEG online.