fmw
05-08-2006, 12:41 PM
Hey, a little late but I've been meaning to put up a report on the bonefish trip I took in early April to the lodge Andros South on (where else) South Andros. It was a great trip with perfect weather and lots of fish.
This lodge was previously known as Bonefish Bay Club and was operated by Jerry Botcher, who owns the Hungry Trout in the Adirondacks. Some months ago the operations were taken over by a company called Deneki Outdoors that also operates a tent lodge called Alaska West. It seems that the company's business plan is to aggregate a number of fishing camps/lodges around the world on the common theme of "great location and fishing program with focus on catering to serious anglers and acceptable accomodations (but certainly no linen tableclothes)." Andros South seems to fit this profile to a tee.
Here's the skinny:
-This was my second bonefish trip (went to same place last year when it was called bonefish bay club) and I caught probably 3x as many fish as the first time . . .a combination of knowing a little bit more and the weather being great every day. Biggest fish went around 8lbs. Brought a spinning rod this time and used it to catch a few big 'cudas on popping plugs.
- I'm a huge fan of South Andros as a bonefish destination. It is vast and there are so many places to fish: down south, in the creeks, out back on the west side. Lots of opportunities to get out of the boat and wade (I would say that maybe two thirds of my time was wading). In fact, if you have never been bonefishing before, I see it as an ideal place for a first experience as you will be exposed to a lot of different stuff. One day you might spend the day wading among big schools of smaller bones down south, the next day you may be in the boat casting to big singles and doubles in the creeks.
- The consistent comment by people on the trip -- and this includes people who've fished with the most famous Andros guides -- is that the guides were all consistently excellent. Very different personalities, etc. among them -- some are hard partying jokesters, others are very quiet religious men -- but its such that no one in the group ever felt like they got stuck with the bum guide on a particular day.
- The lodge is well run and the management accomodating to special requests, etc. The place is basically like a "Motel Six on the beach." They've done plenty of improvements since last year -- like a tiki bar on the beach. Though accomodations are fairly basic, everyone gets their own room (which I don't think is the norm at these lodges). I assume that the next improvements are going to be bathrooms/plumbing/etc., which still could use some work. If you happen to be reading this post for a 2007 and 2008 trip, I can only assume that the things are going to be even more in shape.
- Final props to Drew from Tight Lines Fly Shop out in New Jersey that put together the group and runs trips down there twice a year. An easy way to do a trip like this as he takes care of the reservations from Nassau to South Andros, etc.
This lodge was previously known as Bonefish Bay Club and was operated by Jerry Botcher, who owns the Hungry Trout in the Adirondacks. Some months ago the operations were taken over by a company called Deneki Outdoors that also operates a tent lodge called Alaska West. It seems that the company's business plan is to aggregate a number of fishing camps/lodges around the world on the common theme of "great location and fishing program with focus on catering to serious anglers and acceptable accomodations (but certainly no linen tableclothes)." Andros South seems to fit this profile to a tee.
Here's the skinny:
-This was my second bonefish trip (went to same place last year when it was called bonefish bay club) and I caught probably 3x as many fish as the first time . . .a combination of knowing a little bit more and the weather being great every day. Biggest fish went around 8lbs. Brought a spinning rod this time and used it to catch a few big 'cudas on popping plugs.
- I'm a huge fan of South Andros as a bonefish destination. It is vast and there are so many places to fish: down south, in the creeks, out back on the west side. Lots of opportunities to get out of the boat and wade (I would say that maybe two thirds of my time was wading). In fact, if you have never been bonefishing before, I see it as an ideal place for a first experience as you will be exposed to a lot of different stuff. One day you might spend the day wading among big schools of smaller bones down south, the next day you may be in the boat casting to big singles and doubles in the creeks.
- The consistent comment by people on the trip -- and this includes people who've fished with the most famous Andros guides -- is that the guides were all consistently excellent. Very different personalities, etc. among them -- some are hard partying jokesters, others are very quiet religious men -- but its such that no one in the group ever felt like they got stuck with the bum guide on a particular day.
- The lodge is well run and the management accomodating to special requests, etc. The place is basically like a "Motel Six on the beach." They've done plenty of improvements since last year -- like a tiki bar on the beach. Though accomodations are fairly basic, everyone gets their own room (which I don't think is the norm at these lodges). I assume that the next improvements are going to be bathrooms/plumbing/etc., which still could use some work. If you happen to be reading this post for a 2007 and 2008 trip, I can only assume that the things are going to be even more in shape.
- Final props to Drew from Tight Lines Fly Shop out in New Jersey that put together the group and runs trips down there twice a year. An easy way to do a trip like this as he takes care of the reservations from Nassau to South Andros, etc.