VISIT
THE ISLANDS

The Bahamas -
An Overview

Andros Island

The Abacos

Grand Bahama - Freeport

The Exumas

Long Island

Bimini and Berry Islands

New Providence -
Nassau

Eleuthera - Spanish Wells - Harbour Islands

Cat Island

Crooked and Acklins Islands

Mayaguana - Great Inagua - Ragged Islands

San Salvador - Rum Cay - Conception Islands

NEW Turks & Caicos Islands

 

 

THE BAHAMAS - AN OVERVIEW

2009 WEATHER PATTERNS: Daily average temperatures in the northern islands are in the mid- 70s to high 80s. Evening temperatures are in the low 70s. In the southern islands temperatures will be generally five degrees or so warmer.

NEW MOON - JUNE 23
FULL MOON - JULY 7

OFFSHORE & REEF FISHING - Summer fishing is here, which means it's dorado time, with tuna and blue marlin as good options. Reef fishing is good throughout the islands, but especially in the southern islands. The reef and offshore fishing off Andros, Cat Island, Long Island and Crooked Island are the places to be. Stella Maris Resort and Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort on northern Long Island, and Flying Fish Marina in Clarence Town in the south, are showing excellent results for thei offshore anglers. San Salvador is another hot spot for great offshore fishing out of Riding Rock Marina.

The Islands of The Bahamas offer an idyllic source of vacation opportunities. Fishing has long been an integral part of the Bahamian lifestyle and culture, in no small part due to its physical make-up and geography. The Spaniards called the region "Baja Mar," the Shallow Sea, and it is one of the most magnificent saltwater fisheries in the world.

Practically speaking, the fishing opportunities are divided into two distinct types. The most popular is the shallow water flats fishery. The blue water, or offshore, fishery has been recognized as sensational by conventional anglers for years, and is now becoming more popular with fly anglers.

Flats species consist of the big three: bonefish, tarpon and permit; plus barracuda, lemon and blacktip sharks, jack crevalle, mutton snapper and mangrove snapper. Fishing over inshore reefs; cubera snappers, grouper, a variety of jacks, barracuda, numerous species of sharks, sierra and king mackerel, and amberjack become the most abundant gamefish.

Many of the best flats regions have been well known for years, while others have become famous recently. Bimini maintains a tradition of great flats fishing for big bonefish. Look in the International Game Fish Association record books and you'll see that Bimini is well-represented. On the East End of Grand Bahama, Deepwater Cay has established itself as one of the premier bonefishing lodges in the world. The North and Middle Bights of Andros have been visited by the rich and famous since the 1930s. The Bang Bang Club, on Pot Cay in the North Bight, was one of the first bonefishing clubs. On Abaco, top independent guides like O'Donald Macintosh and Justin Sands have been fishing the vast Marls region for years from a number of access points. Peace & Plenty, a tradition on Great Exuma, has expanded in recent years to fish the remote southern areas of the island, and the guides out of Pittstown Point Landing have developed their permit fishery to go along with great bonefishing.

For DIY anglers, Eleuthera has long been a popular option, but Long Island has been receiving a lot of attention the past couple of years, and so has Cat Island. Good options for hanging out and fishing on your own on Long Island include Chez Pierre Bahamas, located just north of Salt Pond in Miller's Bay, and Winter Haven Inn, Clarence Town. This is our top choice for staying in the Clarence Town area, which is the perfect location to relax, and to enjoy the areas wonderful fishing. The Inn has 8 spacious rooms, all with ocean views, and some overlooking the pool. The on-site Rowdy Boy's Bar and Grill serves the breakfast, lunch and dinner, authentic Bahamian fare at reasonable prices, though the lobster and steak dishes are expensive. The owners are friendly and helpful, and they can book anything you need.....fishing guides, car rentals, island tours, all you have to do is ask. On Andros, Frankie and Barry Neymour offer their comfortable Two Boys Inn on Cargill Creek and you can email Kim for details -- fishing Andros on your own should only be done by experienced saltwater anglers, but Kim can set you up to fish on your own, staying in comfortable inexpensive accommodations, with the option to fish with a top guide. To really get away from it all, try Hawk's Nest Resort on Cat Island. There are many good flats to fish on the southern end of the island, including oceanside flats that rarely, if ever, get fished. You just have to be able to cast well into the wind.

Bahamian blue water species include blue and white marlin, sailfish, a variety of tuna, wahoo and dolphin. Some of the most fished areas are Walker's Cay on north Abaco (note that Walker's Cay Resort and Marina is closed), Bimini, Chub Cay, Marsh Harbour, Nassau, and Fresh Creek on Andros, where the Tongue of the Ocean sweeps in against the flats and plummets to depths of six thousand feet. U.S. Naval buoys off the eastern shore of Andros are phenomenal dolphin and Allison tuna magnets.

Renowned billfish tournaments are a tradition. They include the Hemingway Championships out of Bimini, The Bahamas Billfish Championship Series, plus others out of Walker's Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Treasure Cay, Marsh Harbor, and George Town. The Bahamas Wahoo Championship Series is held throughout the islands, generating a spirit of lively competition during the winter months. If you like serious partying with your fishing, don't miss any tournament held at the Great Abaco Resort and Marina in Marsh Harbour.

JOIN OUR NEW MAILING LIST -- Be kept up-to-date on the newest developments in The Bahamas--everything from new lodges, to new information on the best guides, new fishing secrets, new government regulations, new options for non-anglers, more travel tips, and special trips that will be hosted by Stephen and Kim Vletas, the BFFG authors. Also, BFFG will be reserving prime dates at selected lodges just for members of the BFFG mailing list. We look forward to keeping you on top of things in The Bahamas. JOIN THE LIST.

 

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© 2003 Stephen and Kim Vletas