Lucaya DIY

[flyinsalt]

I am taking my wife to Grand Bahama for a few days next month. I won't have time to hire a guide and have promised to spend the time with her, but I will be taking a fly rod. We are staying in the Lucaya area and I want to get out to the beach at dawn to try and catch something before the crowds arrive. Species of fish is not important, just want to give it a try. Anyone ever done this before or have suggestions for fishing within walking distance of the resorts there?

[brushfly]

I've entertained the idea of going down to Lucaya mid winter but the weather is still chilly up there from what I've been told that time of year. With that said, I've read favorable reports about DYI and Lucaya. Sounds like a place for me and my wife, she can play the tables, I can play with my fly rod. This off another website after I googled "FLY FISHING LUCAYA":

The expanse of flats that unfurls to the north and west of Freeport is vast and productive, and Pelican Bay is one of the few operations with a license to fish this water. The bonefish here eat eagerly, almost to the point of being reckless. Careful presentations are nearly always met with a voracious take, but even fish that are "lined," though they may initially dart a short distance away, usually wheel around to see what caused the disturbance and search frantically until they locate the fly. In addition to being particularly unwary, the fish here are also abundant. Most notable, however, is the average size of these bones which, we can say with confidence, is 5 pounds. Many fish in the 5- to 8-pound range are caught and even double-digit bones are lurking around these flats. And, as if trophy bonefishing like this weren’t enough, this region has also shown itself as a developing permit fishery with multiple permit releases. Permit are the typical large Bahamas variety, averaging over 20 pounds.

Good luck and report back.

[Loopy]

Sounds like an advertisement from Pelican Bay. There is no license required for flats fishing in the area.
The north side is not easily accessible without a boat. You can fish off of any of the beaches on the south side, but around Lucaya there are a lot of tourists walking the beach making back casts a problem. The biggest problem with fishing there in the winter isn't the water temperature, but the wind. If your time is limited, you might do well to try a half day charter because you can spend a lot of hours without getting a good shot at a fish. If you want to rent a car, try any of the beaches going east, past most of the heavily touristed areas.

[flyinsalt]

Thanks for the replies. I'm thinking about renting a car for the day and heading east, as you suggested. Are the beaches fairly accessable that way? Looking at a small map I see North Riding Point, Free Town & High Rock. Are the beaches good in that area?

[Loopy]

Here is an answer to basically the same question I gave on a different forum.

I have fished with Phil and Sam both on:
http://www.the-bahamas-fishing.com/#Freeport
You might also do a search on this website:
http://reel-time.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7
You are most likely to do well with a guide. The beaches in and around Port Lucaya tend to have so many tourists, that it is difficult to fish. Same with Taino beach which is the next beach going east. If you try it without a guide, the closest relatively non tourist filled beaches would be around Banana Bay. That is a beach about half a mile from the west side of the Grand Lucayan Waterway, just turn south on Fortune Bay Drive and you will see it on the ocean side. At dead low tide there is an ankle deep pool and you can fish on either the east or west side depending on the wind and the sun. Pick out a spot and consider throwing some conch or squid into the water if you are not averse to increasing your odds. You should see some fish as the tide rises. If you go past the breakwater to the east, you may have to climb the breakwater at high tide. If you go west from Banana Bay, there is an all inclusive resort and more tourists walking the beach.
From there you can drive east and pick a beach on a rising tide and you have a chance of seeing fish. The next beach on the east of the Waterway is called Barbary Beach. There are signs but basically cross the bridge and drive south until you get to a four lane road, then pull off on the south side and give it a try.
About 30 minutes east of Freeport there is a community called High Rock. Follow the signs to Bishop's Place, have lunch (Cracked conch is good.), then fish his beach. He is pretty defensive about people pulling into his parking lot and trotting down to the beach without spending a dime. His beer is cold and it is worth a trip in any case.
I hope this helps, but a you will get a lot more shots off a boat with a guide if you get frustrated.

Hope this helps.

[flyinsalt]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions, Loopy. Bishop's sounds like the place for me. That is the place I was looking at on the map. As I said, I'm not going to make this a fishing trip exclusively, but want to spend some time with my wife and explore the Island. I have been to GBI several times and fished with Sam once, but never ventured outside Freeport / Lucaya. GBI is a great place for a short trip, easily accessible and fairly inexpensive. I'm looking forward to getting back there.