The Bahamas

[Evotec]

Hey.
I'm a norwegian flyfisherman who's hooked on tropical fly fishing. (Like a polarbear hooked on butterflies..............)
Anyway.
I've had a few trips (11) the past years. And have been 2 times to Abaco this summer.
Abaco have been great, but I'm considering having an early summer vacation this year and travel to one(or more) of the other bahamian islands.
Any recommendations?
Tanx.
Johan

[BobG]

You say you've been on 11 other trips, so you must have gone to other locations besides just the Abacos?
For consistant shots at double digit size bones Andros is your best bet.:brow In the grand scheme of things, the island must have been made for bonefish.
But there are so mnay other it's hard to begin. Long, Cat, Mayaguana, Inagua, and even the Exumas.
Eleuthera has pretty good DIY opportunities, though the fish tend to run small.

[llewellyn]

Check out TWOBOYSINNANDROS on Google, this is probably the best deal in the Bahamas. Charlie Neymour is across the road,he is a bit more expensive but is probably one of the best guides anywhere. They fish the north and middle bight all the way to the west side. Big fish and lots of other species.

[kelso]

I second the recommendation of Central Andros. The best, and I've been pretty much everywhere in the Caribbean from Mexico and Belize through the Cayman and the Virgin Islands and all over the Bahamas, big bone fishing on this side of the world (except the Keys but there much fewer fish and very hard to catch). And all second and third generation guides who are simply the best. Charlie Neymour and his brothers, Andy Smith, Dwayne Knowles, etc. You have the option for numbers or size or both over an extended stay. In a fishery so large you may see no one at all once you're in the bight.

Pete

[Evotec]

Thank you for your answers.
I'm a DIY fisherman, so guided trips are not an option.
Do anyone know any place in the bahamas u can catch tarpon? I will bring a cayak, so I'm mobile. Have fished large parts of southern Abaco, (treasure cay to sandy point). Haven't found any tarpon there, though I know of a couple of spots thats supposed to hold residential tarpon.

[fishbklyn]

Head to Fidel's, down on Acklins: www.acklins.com. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, and a fantastic, unspoiled fishery.

[Jusbones]

Thank you for your answers.
I'm a DIY fisherman, so guided trips are not an option.
Do anyone know any place in the bahamas u can catch tarpon? I will bring a cayak, so I'm mobile. Have fished large parts of southern Abaco, (treasure cay to sandy point). Haven't found any tarpon there, though I know of a couple of spots thats supposed to hold residential tarpon.

Just returned from Cherokee. 50 or s Tarpon holding close to the public dock.
Tough fishing with the boat anchors/narrow channel..but ranged in the 30 pound range....jumped 2 at night last week.....oh, and a lot of turtles on the Sound.

[Tarpon41]

Thank you for your answers.
I'm a DIY fisherman, so guided trips are not an option.
Do anyone know any place in the bahamas u can catch tarpon? I will bring a cayak, so I'm mobile. Have fished large parts of southern Abaco, (treasure cay to sandy point). Haven't found any tarpon there, though I know of a couple of spots thats supposed to hold residential tarpon.

Tarpon like Permit are a "bycatch" in the Bahamas westside of Andros(Bights to Red Bays) but no DIY. How are you getting a 'yak to the out islands inflatable? I'd stick to your Abaco venue as in your other post 4 bonefish over ten on a fly DIY in Abaco...you will not likely top that anywhere else in the Bahamas DIY with a fly

[sweet+salt]

I would think there is precious little space in a DIY kayak for #8 through 12 weight outfits and perhaps no room for a Boga Grip either... Tarpon can be targeted during their spring migration in several Central American Caribbean nations but no other environment compares to the Bahamas for bonefish opportunities.

[Evotec]

Hey.
Thanks for all your answers!
I've decided to stick with Abaco. Will spend 4-5weeks there in march/april.
Gonna bring an inflatable cayak and explore as much as I possibly can on my own.
Hopefully I'll try one of the other islands on another trip. I see some of you recommend Andros, but If i've understood correctly Andros is mainly a guided destination, with limited diy opportunities.
Do anyone know of diy possibilities in Grand Bahama or Long Island?

Tight Lines!
Johan

[MarkZ]

Tarpon like Permit are a "bycatch" in the Bahamas westside of Andros(Bights to Red Bays) but no DIY. How are you getting a 'yak to the out islands inflatable? I'd stick to your Abaco venue as in your other post 4 bonefish over ten on a fly DIY in Abaco...you will not likely top that anywhere else in the Bahamas DIY with a fly

I second that...4 bones over 10# DIY is quite outstanding. Why would anyone look elsewhere? Evo, any pics of them bones?

[Evotec]

I second that...4 bones over 10# DIY is quite outstanding. Why would anyone look elsewhere? Evo, any pics of them bones?

Sorry, no pics. Thats the (only) drawback of not having a guide, You don't have anyone to carry all your heavy camera gear.
Reg. the size. I haven't weighed the fish. Just measured. And the four largest fish have been between 68 and 73,5centimeters, very well fed to say the least..
Next time I'm staying for 6weeks;-)

[AzMandella]

So somebody tell me what Abaco is like(as in fishing) and how is the shore fishing vs boat. And if boat is the way to go what is the availibility of guides and prices. My wifes sister has a beach house on Abaco and keeps telling me I can use it any time. Her and her husband only use it in the winter months to escape the Maine freezes. So I have anytime in th summer. So what are the best species there and the best time to go?

[deanflyfish]

Hi. I´m new to this forum, planning to do my first Bahama trip late feb early march. Any suggestions ? Is irt possible to fish Andros on a DIY basis? Is Abaco an option tthis time of year?
I had some decent but relatively few fish on Los R up to +70 cm 2 years ago.
I expect to be in better fishing on the Bahamas. Even not a lot bigger, but who knows ?
Any suggestions welcome.:)

[deanflyfish]

Hi. I am from Denmark and I´m thinking of going to the Bahamas late feb start march. It will be my first Bahamas trip, I have some experience from Cuba and Los R. Any advice is welcome. Where to stay, rates, flies and so on. I read there are local guides who would rather see your heel (#$113)

Thanka Meandean

[greg12368]

Hi. I´m new to this forum, planning to do my first Bahama trip late feb early march. Any suggestions ? Is irt possible to fish Andros on a DIY basis? Is Abaco an option tthis time of year?
I had some decent but relatively few fish on Los R up to +70 cm 2 years ago.
I expect to be in better fishing on the Bahamas. Even not a lot bigger, but who knows ?
Any suggestions welcome.:)

google Hank's Place. it is right on Fresh Creek, rooms, food and he rents boats. You can fish all of Fresh Creek and to the south some of the ocean flats. Have done DIY there the last 3 years. Print out google maps of Fresh Creek and you will have no problems.