Cat Island

[echo]

I'm headed out to Cat Island the first weekend in May and staying at Fernandez Bay. Last time I was there (in '07) I did the usual stuff-Smith Bay, the creek just south of FBV, and took a bike out to north shore (although I don't know if it was bad timing on my part with tides/moon phase, whatever, but I found the north shore totally unfishable). Has anyone found any other spots worthy of mentioning, within bike ride distance? I did take FBV's Boston Whaler out once but wasn't able to find any structure to fish over. I would rather not go through the aggravation of renting a car but I don't have any problem riding a bike for 5 miles or so-it's all flat and at sea level-how much easier could it get :p

[widdoes]

from another site:
March 15, 2011

Fishing Reports: Good fishing in general around the island the past week. The creek flats behind Hawks Nest Marina continue to fish well, but take your insect repellent. When the wind is down, fish the ocean side flats south of Greenwood Beach Resort or the larger flats in front of Pigeon Cay and Bennett's Harbour. Offshore Anglers have been having good tuna and dorado action from Hawk's Nest.

[Swalt]

I have not fished that area but did fish the creek behind Pigeon Cay a couple of times and Orange Creek. Limited success at Pigeon Cay. Orange Creek may be worth driving up to if you decide to rent. I am sure Fernandez could arrange that for you with little aggravation other than the cost.
I fished it one time and got up there at low tide. Parked and walked down the creek finding lots of tails. Also fished another part of the creek once the tide came back in found fish there.

[echo]

Thanks for the advice Swalt; I guess it wouldn't be that bad to get a car for a day and head north to check out a new spot. We're on 6 week countdown and getting pretty anxious.

[raggpt12]

any trip report ???

[echo]

Cat was great, as I knew it would be. I did not venture very far from FBV, it was just sooo relaxing being there. I picked off a couple 3-4# bones just to the north but did not really fish the area that hard (the resident guide fishes that area and he was good enough to turn me on to it so I did not want to pound it if he ended up having a paying client). I spent one morning poking around the creek system just south of FBV; a guy could spend lots of time back in that area. I had a couple shots at bones back in there (size unknown) but couldn't coax a bite. I was up in there just after daylight at the bottom of low tide; an hour or so later would have been better. I want to plan at least a day or so of spending a lot more time up in that creek system next time at FBV. Seeing and hearing the bird life awakening at daylight was pretty neat.
I thought we would be going back to Lubbers Quarters in the Abacos next year but FBV is just such a great place to hang out for a week we might just go back there.
I did not ever get over to North Shore as I had planned, and flying over that area when we left I really regretted not biking over there for a day, so I guess I just HAVE to go back to do the things I didn't do this trip. The guide does a 2 hour reef fishing trip for a reasonable price that I wanted to try but his boat was broken down (he said he got bad gas and the carbs had to be sent to the states for rebuilding) so that's another thing to do next trip.
For hard core fishing Cat is probably not the best choice but for relaxing with a little bit of fishing thrown in it's great!!