little deadmans island rental

[distant angler]

planning my winter trip.searching all boards.
anyone have first hand info on the island rental off deadmans cay?
only one house on a small island.
if you have been there would you recommend it?
were the adjacent flats fish worthy?
thanks for your reply.

[BobG]

Is that the house on that tiny spit of sand on Long Island? If it is, I spoke with someone in Miami airport who was just returning from a couple weeks there with his family. The guy was a senior VP with Merrill Lynch I believe.
He liked it, but told me it was typical 'Bahamian spartan conditions'. Electricity was sort of iffy as it was either solar or a wind generator. Water needed to be used carefully. But that's often the case all over the Bahamas.
He told me the bonefishing around the island was only so-so. But, the house came with a boat, and he did OK on his own.
But he did say, if total seclusion is what you;re after, this was the place. :brow

[kelso]

If it was about 5 years ago. That's when I was there with my family for a couple weeks that spanned Thanksgiving.

Little Deadman is certainly a place where Caveat Emptor takes on an important meaning. Everything that Bob states is true. The biggest surprise is that when I heard Island I pictured a spot with maybe deep water on one side a flat on the other with reefs, snorkeling, and other fishing on top of bonefishing. This ain't that place. It's in the middle of the bight and there's virtually is no deep (over 2-3' depending on tide) water execpt for a blue hole about a 15-20 minute boat ride away. There are some flats on the back of the house that have consistent bonefish and plenty of spots to take the Boston Whaler to. Plus local guides will be happy to pick you up at your dock. It's on the way for the most part anyway.

The other tough thing is that there is no store close. You need to really buy a lot when you land. Have the guy take you before he takes you to the boat. After that it's a boat ride (very short) to the dock on the mainland and a mile walk (or hitch hike) to the store. It's the walk back that kills you.

But it is a unique experience. I won't go back, but I'm glad I did it. And I do like Long Island. Both the fishing and the people.

Pete

[distant angler]

thank you for the info.
staying on the main island appears to be the option although it sounds like it could be a trip worth doing one time.

[Count]

The Deadman's Cay area offers excellent bonefishing, but you're not likely to find too many bones on your own. You have to have a guide, who knows where the fish will be on any given tide.

Furthermore, you could very easily get lost out there without a guide. This area is a tropical wilderness and it's no place for a casual boater or angler.

DIY here is just a waste of time, as there is simply too much habitat and the odds of you finding the fish, on your own, are slim.