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VISIT Eleuthera - Spanish Wells - Harbour Islands Mayaguana - Great Inagua - Ragged Islands San Salvador - Rum Cay - Conception Islands
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The Abacos
Island News: The venerable Walker's Cay Hotel and Marina is closed, and they have no plans to re-open at this time. Another sad closing is Nettie's Different of Abaco. Due to hurricane damage from successive hurricanes Nettie has been unable to keep up repairs and had to close. She hopes to reopen in 2008, but this is not definite. Treasure Houses, between the entrance to Treasure Cay Resort and the marina is closed, also due to hurricane damage. Rudy's Place Restaurant on Elbow Cay is closed. On Green Turtle Cay, the New Plymouth Club and Inn has reopened as of January 2008. The Inn is an economical and convenient place to stay on Green Turtle. The Abaco Club on Winding Bay -- This is an exclusive private resort on 520 acres south of Marsh Harbour. The resort includes an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse with pro shop, health club and spa, two miles of beach, lavish private homes, and other amenities. The Clubhouse, golf course, and spa are open to members and their guests. Luxury rental cabanas and cottages are available to the public. This is one of the swankiest places to hang out in the Bahamas, and if you want some high end real estate on the beach, they have it. The Ritz Carlton Hotel and Real Estate group has taken over this property, and for 2008 than plan to operate as a Ritz Hotel, so that plan means it will be more open to the general public than in the past. Baker's Bay, Great Guana Cay -- Another ultra-exclusive golf and marina resort is progressing on schedule. Prices for lots are in the stratosphere, but people are buying, and you can still enjoy most of Great Guana's awesome beaches for free, and don't forget the Sunday pig roasts at Nipper's, an island tradition. One of the casualties of the development was Guana Seaside Village resort, which was purchased bay Discovery Land Company (Baker's Bay developer), and they close it. It is now being used for some of their employee housing. A new cool spot to stay,Flip Flops on the Beach (sister resort to Dolphin Beach Resort), has opened. The delightful cottages are a great place for families, couples, and anglers who want to fish on their own. Island Life: The Abaco's offer some of the best sailing anywhere in the Caribbean. The offshore cays, from Green Turtle Cay, to Great Guana Cay, Man-O-War Cay, and Elbow Cay, have protected harbors, laid-back resorts, a selection of restaurants, miles of beach you can have to yourself, and remote bonefishing, reef fishing, and offshore fishing. Green Turtle is one of our favorites -- for bonefishing and resorts, and so is Great Guana...the beaches on Great Guana are some of the most pristine isolated beaches in the world. Awesome! And if you have the chance, don't miss the Sunday pig roast at Nippers Bar on Great Guana--it's quite a scene, with delicious barbecue and fresh fish, island music by Stone McEwan, and some of the best snorkeling anywhere right out front. Abaco is "Our Choice" as the best overall destination in the Bahamas -- Think about it-- immaculate powdery sand beaches, full-service marinas, Out Island charm combined with ease of travel convenience and top-quality accommodations--you have a lot going. Then add in world-class golf courses at Treasure Cay and Winding Bay, tennis, diving, snorkeling, and just hanging out. And oh, did we mention some of the best bonefishing on the planet. If you're looking for high numbers of fish, and lots of shots, you can't beat the Marls, and there are a number of northern access points that are used by only a handful of guides. Want shots at big fish? Not a problem out of Crossing Rock, Cherokee Sound, Coopers Town, or Crown Haven, and again, these areas receive very little fishing pressure. Abaco is a place you can bring the entire family, and fish as much or as little as you want. So if you could only stay one place to get the most out of your vacation, where would that be? Wow, why do we ask ourselves such tough questions......Treasure Cay, Green Turtle, Great Guana, Marsh Harbour are all good choices......but we have to go with Elbow Cay, staying at Hope Town Harbour Lodge. Rent a boat, go cay hopping, fish, eat, relax on the beach, and you might never come back.
Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour -- The ideal base of operations in Marsh Harbour for anglers, boaters and vacationers. The resort is 50 acres of lush tropical gardens and palm-tree-lined beaches, with 72 oceanfront rooms, 6 spacious 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom villas with fully equipped kitchens and 4 one-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens. The Angler's Restaurant sits at the water's edge overlooking the 200 slip Boat Harbour marina. International cuisine, and Bahamian specialities are served in the airy peaked-cieling dining room, while burgers and conch salads are served at the poolside bar. This place rocks during fishing tournaments, and is often full so make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Offhsore, reef, and bonefishing guides can be arranged. Boat rentals are available at the marina. A short walk takes you into Marsh Harbour for shopping, or to hit the restaurants and bars strewn along the water. Wally's is our favorite restaurant on Abaco, and one of the best in the islands Flats Fishing Patterns: Fairly normal winter weather patterns are in effect. With prevailing winds from the northeast, look for areas in the lee. You should always carry a good breathable rain jacket and pants in the boat for possible rain, and use the jacket as a windbreaker on early morning runs. Our favorite flies include Gotcha Clouser Minnows #2-4, Tan Clouser #2-6, Borski's Bonefish Critter and Sliders #2-4, Tan Dorsey's Kwan #4-6, Pink Bone Wiggler #4-6, Greg's Flats Fly #4-6, Gotchas and Bunny Gotchas #2-6, Beck's Sililegs #6, #4 Spawning Shrimp, and Veverka's Mantis Shrimp #4-6. Charlie patterns in white, gold, and pink in #2-6 are also consistent producers. January 27, 2008 Fishing Reports We often stay
at Treasure Cay
Hotel Resort and Marina, which is one of our favorite places to stay on Abaco.
The hotel and resort management has done a good job of upgrading facilities
the past few years including the remodeling or rooms and suites, putting
in a new reception office, remodeling and expanding Spinnaker's restaurant,
and improving beach facilities, including the Coco Beach lunch spot and
bar.
The thing we've
always liked most about Treasure Cay is the relaxed feel of the place
combined with everything you'd ever want to do on an island vacation.
There is no other place in the Bahamas where you can stay in resort accommodations,
play golf (the Treasure Cay course is considered #1 in the Bahamas by
Golf Digest Magazine) and tennis, go snorkeling and diving, rent a boat
to go cay-hopping or picnicking on a deserted beach, park your boat in
a full-service 150-slip marina, eat in a variety of good restaurants,
hang out on one of the most spectacular beaches anywhere, and combine all
this with world-class bonefishing and offshore fishing. And consider this--Treasure
Cay International Airport is just 10 minutes from the hotel and resort.
Marsh Harbour International Airport is 30 minutes away. Both are serviced
by daily nonstop flights from various Florida airports. In these times
of travel concerns, reaching Treasure Cay is easy, convenient and safe.
Treasure Cay Hotel
and Resort offers full bonefishing, diving, golf and activity packages,
including meals, or you can just book a room or suite and choose your
activities and restaurants after you arrive. Most rooms have mini-kitchens
and deluxe suites have full kitchens so if you like to eat in you have
that option. All accommodations are nicely-furnished and feature satellite
TV, direct dial telephones, and central air-conditioning. There is a well-stocked
grocery store in the Treasure Cay resort complex along with a liquor store,
convenience store, laundry, bike and golf cart rentals, and one of our
favorite bakeries in the world--Florence's Cafe. Everything Florence bakes
is from scratch, and we'd have to vote her cinnamon rolls the best on
the planet. You can contact Treasure Cay Hotel and Resort at 800-327-1584 or 954-525-7711 for reservations and information. They'll be happy to send you color brochures and a new CD--Discover the treasures of Treasure Cay. Boaters can contact the marina directly at 242-365-8250 and ask for Mike Sawyer. Fishing continued
-- The Coopers Town area features
hard flats that offer easy wading, while the northern Marls flats can
be a little soft and mushy, but well worth the effort. Anglers staying
at Treasure Cay will have a 15 minute drive to reach the boats that fish
the northern Marls, and a 20 minute drive to reach the boats that fish
out of Coopers Town. Running times from both locations to reach the best
flats range from 5 to 20 minutes. Justin Sands is also a first-class guide,
and fishing out of his Hell's Bay boat is a pleasure as the hull will
run in almost no water. Treasure Cay is an ideal location for
anglers traveling with non-anglers, so pack up whoever wants to go and
book your trip. O'Donald and Justin still have some prime dates open for this fall and winter, and Treasure Cay resort can book you with a number
of other guides as well.
You can call O'Donald
directly at 242-365-0126, and you can contact Justin through his web site,
Justin
Sands Bonefishing or email us for contact and other information. Justin also fishes
the outside flats around Snake Cay and the Bight of Robinson when the
tide is right. Several other good independents provide the same service.
If you're staying on Green Turtle Cay, Rick Sawyer (242-365-4261) or Ronny
Sawyer (242-365-4070) are the bonefishing guides we recommend. You can
visit Capt. Rick Sawyer's web site at:
Abaco Flyfish. If you want to try reef fishing for grouper
and snapper call Joe Sawyer and 242-365-4173.
Ricky Sawyer, in photo, (242-365-4261) reef and bone fishing; Ronny Sawyer (242-365-4070) bone fishing; Joe Sawyer (242-365-4173) reef fishing; Lincoln Jones (242-365-4223) fishing & snorkel beach cook-out; Eddie Bodie (242-365-4069) fishing and beach picnics.After 45 years of guiding, Joe Sawyer, aboard the Alex II, in photo, (242-365-4173) keeps customers coming back year after year with his colorful fishing tales and knowledge of all the great fishing spots.
Sandy Point - The community of Sandy Point has long been a hangout for anglers pursuing bonefish in a laid-back atmosphere. Pete & Gay's Guest House and Rickmon Bonefish Lodge are the lodging options in the area, and they offer guide services and packages. Rickmon's is our recommendation here--Ricardo Burrows is one of the top guides on the island, and his lodge is set right on the waters edge looking out across a white sand flat and turquoise-green water at Castaway Cay, home to the Disney cruise ship. Guides from Rickmon fish around Castaway Cay and they also go up to Crossing Rock, into the southern Marls, and over to Moore's Island. You can contact Ricardo and Monique Burrows to book your trip to Rickmon's by calling them at 242-366-4477, fax 242-366-4478. If you have trouble reaching them, Call Angling Destinatons, 800-211-8530, to book Rickmon. Angling Destinations is in regular contact with them and can help you. Reef/Offshore: The people at the Treasure Cay Marina and at the Abaco Beach Resort Marina tell us that reef fishing with conventional tackle (bait and lures) is good for yellowtail, and a variety of jacks and grouper. Offshore, the fishing for wahoo is good and there are some bit tuna around as well. Anglers can contact the Treasure Cay Marina directly at 242.365.8250, or the Abaco Beach Resort Marina directly at 242.367.2158, for more detailed information or to book a charter. |
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©
2005 Stephen and Kim Vletas
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THE
SAND BAR -- Built at the end of two-hundred-yard-long pier that stretches
over glass clear water with white sand bottom, this stunning open-air bar
and restaurant services cold Kaliks, grilled burgers, grouper, conch salad,
and sizzling fries along with other Bahamian specialties. This place is
easy to miss if you're not paying attention. There is a small sign out on
the main highway at the turnoff to the settlement of Cherokee Sound. Take
this road to Cherokee Sound, a winding curvy strip of cement that skirts
the edges of mangrove-lined creeks and bays cut into the coral from the
mouth of the Sound. About a mile before the settlement you'll see another
sign on your left. The road is very narrow and it ends at a locked gate.
Park in one of the areas before the gate and walk in to the Sand Bar. You
can't miss the magnificent pier that spans out of the water. This place
is a must for lunch or afternoon drinks, and you can watch bonefish cruising
all over the flats while drinking and eating. It would be a good idea to
have a fly rod handy with the incoming tide. You can access the flats from
the beach, or walk down the stairs at the end of the pier right into a school
of bones.
Coopers
Town/