PDA

View Full Version : Abaco Report


Mark Dougherty
11-10-2006, 08:49 AM
Well, it is often said ......your guide can put you on fish, but cannt make the cast for you....other relevant sayings.....you cannt control the weather..had
3-5 chop everyday but one......no guided fishing (saved a few bucks there)...
hit the Treasure cay "flats" entering Treasure Cay....always very early in the morning before the high winds started...took a few bones...nothing special...
lots of single mangrove in this area hence a lot of "walking the dog" around individual mangrove shoots....took a small Lemon Shark (my first) on a 12wt just blind casting off the beach....about a 5 foot toothy fellow....did not bother to measure, just cut and release if ya know what I mean...he was not happy. I was a little "anxious" ??.......Bottom line, a blow out.....this is my 2nd blow out.....Late April-June will be my next trip, with better conditions a stronger possibility. Dont think I will roll the dice on fall fishing the Bahamas.
Other than that I have been in contact with Don Cornish, Minister of Tourism for Abaco....yep, car rental folks over charged me $145 bucks....beware of any "bargain rental car" agencies. I usually use Sea Star car rental but they were booked. Next trip I will stay in Cherokee....ya I know they roll up the streets at 7PM , but the TC area now has a security checkpoint to enter, cars on all roads are under video cameras (or so the sign says)....this did not leave me feeling very safe....with nothing but a 9 Iron golf club for personal protection....oh....also some jacks blind casting......fun anyway...wife had a blast (guys this is important)...so all in all, in spite of my genetic Irish DNA that temps me to "spin a tale or two" I will refrain. Thanks for all the good wishs....I had the tides right.....just not the sometimes gale force fronts. And finally, even with a 12wt, I recommend all blind casting from beaches, in high winds be done side arm...7/0's can be a real pain in the a$$ and hard to remove........

figen
11-10-2006, 11:22 AM
Thanks for the update, Mark. Sorry to hear about the weather. It's a roll of the dice sometimes.

ps! What caused your security concerns about TC? Might be naive, but that's about the last thing to be on my mind when on Abaco..

n1gdo
11-10-2006, 03:05 PM
Hi Mark .. (Hey Chris..!)

Well nice try anyway Mark...thanks for the report... I also tried the Abacos last November ... first days were great then the winds and rain and overcast skies killed the next few days.... its a hit or miss that time of year... but sounds like you made lemonade out of lemons..

Henry
11-11-2006, 04:14 AM
"Took a few bones...Nothing special"?...every bone to me is special!. Size to me doesn't matter (much). The point is...you made the best of the conditions you had...plus, your wife had an apparently good time. What more could a person hope for? You were "there" doing what you love...with a person you love. To me the catching is secondary...just like my "pinned" quote says!.

Good on ya for a great trip and I hope everything comes together as you expect on your next.

Best regards,

Mark Dougherty
11-12-2006, 07:47 AM
Henry,

Well said. By nothing special I guess I mean that the flat/area is not blue ribbon B-Fish territory........a couple 3 lbrs over 4 days of wading (I dont count #'s of fish, by I will brag about other things, but this is a family board)
All in all, I need to find another island (but not Andros) next time. Expand my horizons so to speak. I love to eat Italian food, but not everyday...and Abaco is getting too familiar, hence I need a fix of new and exciting places to fish. Cook Island comes to mind. I see you left YOUR GEAR HOME ???!!!???
Shame on you !! Is the Duck Inn still operational ?

Mark.........aka can cast like an amature under perfect conditions :)