Lucaya

[flyinsalt]

I'm taking my wife to Grand Bahama in March. We will be staying at Pelican Bay, where we have stayed before. I have a couple questions, if anyone can answer. First, I have fished with Sam Taylor before and enjoyed it, but can anyone recommend another guide in this area who will go out for a day or half day. Some of the guides I have contacted won't let you hire them unless it's through a package deal. Second, has anyone fished around Lucaya DIY (within walking distance, I won't have a vehicle)? Any species on fly rod would be fine. Thanks for any help you can give.

[ArthurB]

You can fish with Jeffrey or David Pinder by the day (Grand Bahamas Bonefishing).

[mbrown]

1-go to paradise cove,walk away (west) from the snorkling area.I cosistently see nice bones and permit here.2-get a taxi ride out towards Mcleans Town ,anywhere along the beach will fish well.I have done my best on a low tide or just starting to rise.3 take the free ferry over to Tiamo beach,walk east,mixed bag here and can be busy.

[widdoes]

3 of us were in Freeport/Lucaya in Oct. and we fished with Sam Taylor. Our "second" guide was Tommy Rolle, head guide at PB and son of the one-and-only "Bonefish Foley". See if you can get Tommy, he's an all-star (also noted as such by Steve and Kim Vletas in "The Bahamas Fly Fishing Guide").
The Pinders are top notch as well.
Good luck.

[Loopy]

Paradise cove is a victim of Wilma, so tours out there won't work.
You could try Banan Bay for lunch, then walk the beach east on a rising tide, if you want a pick up and drop you off tour.
You can walk west on the beach from Our Lucaya, but unless you are pretty lucky, it probably won't be productive.
There is a canal at the west end of the beach, but I never had any luck there either.
Capt Phil at
http://www.bahamasvacationguide.com/p&mbonefishing/index.html
will pick you up and drop you off; it is an hours ride each way. They fish the same area as Deep Water Cay, and it is very productive.
Sam will also do half day trips if that is what you are interested in.
Pelican Bay has their own guides and will set you up, but that may be the most expensive option. Tommy Rolle is based there and (as above) he has an excellent reputation.
You could rent a car and drive east past the Waterway and any of the beaches on an early rising tide. It would probably cost less than hiring a taxi. A reasonable choice would be Bishop's place at High Rock (if he has reopened since the hurricane) for lunch then fish the beach in front while your wife enjoys one of the most beautiful and unoccupied beaches around.

[flyinsalt]

Thanks everyone for all the help. Didn't know I had so many options.

[Bonz]

Here's a couple of names

East End:
Enjoy the "out Island" experience - you will forget that your staying on the second largest Island in the Bahamas.
Perry Demeritte - 242 353 3301 - Great guide, great boat (maverick), will pick you up at the hotel and fish you on the East End (Deep Water Cay).

Hawksbill Creek (freport Area) - Tommy Rolle - 242 559 2956 CP, 242 346 6060 - Will also pick you up at the hotel - Great guide, average / below average boat if he uses Sam's, good boat if he uses his own. Will fish you 15 miniutes from the hotel in Hawksbill area. He can also put you in touch with his brother Carl if he is booked. I would wary of using anyone else. Some on this board speak highly of Wilka I do not. So if those two cannot help you I would go with..Sam Taylor - Good solid guide, thought I heard here that he just purchased a new boat. 242 557 6284 CP, 242 352 8679 H. The Pinders are great as well but I have had a difficult time boking the last two years (thats a good thing - busy= many return customers).

Call them directly and not through Pelican Point.


Mike

[widdoes]

If Sam got a new boat it was after Oct. '05 :eek: Of course, he may need one after the little accident we had --125-3
Ditto to all of Mike's info. Based on his latest report, I will move Perry to the top of the list.
PS- funny thing about Tommy and using Sam's boat- he says he likes it better than his boat because it draws less water. Definitely a scruffy craft, but it surprised me that Tommy would say he liked it better- incuding the galvanized steel pole. And yes, you can be fishing and catching 15 minutes from Freeport- our last morning we did exactly that. If we'd had the whole day to fish I think we would have been in double digits each. :brow
-WJ