We arrived in a persistent cold front with winds of 10-20 mph that clocked slowly from NNW to S on the very last day. I tried Savannah Sound almost exclusively and saw many small schools of large bonefish. It took me a little while to determine what flies they liked at the time. Basically just a small white Gotcha however all I managed was a few follows and no takes. It was blowing 10-20 and always from the wrong direction with regard to the sun since I can only cast right-handed. I’m sure my problems also were presentation and probably should have tried a size 6 with no eyes to decrease the “plop” sound. Some other guys I met tried small white Gotchas with some green and hooked up but broke off. Their only hook up after 5 days. Also I should have been really gentle with my strips. I was advised those fish have seen it all and I managed to scare every school I came across. My guess is that black neoprene dive booties also should be replaced with tan/sand colored wading boots. Live and learn.
Savannah Sound: On the incoming tide positioning near the grass line at the edge of the flats seems to be the play. As the bones move in they disperse widely with good numbers heading deep into the right side near the muddy mangroves and piles of conch shells. Typical sighting of tailers are groups of 5-7 large fish going after small whitish crabs ranging from the size of a dime to 2.5 inches across. Even at high tide tailers are highly visiable as the the water ranges from 12-16 inches deep and the bones are doing headstands pummeling the crabs.
As the tide ebbs the fish position in distinct features. They can been found in across the more northern section in very skinny 6-8 inch water. Also fish that may have finished feeding can be seen running along the flats/grass line border in 18-24 inches of water. Lastly there are good groups at the northernmost point in ultra skinny water with highly tuned radar switched on.
Cruising 3 foots sharks abound as the tide starts to run. They're found along the grass lines bordering the white sand flat.
The wind was down on the ocean side in front of my rental house on the last day. I caught a small bone on my second cast with a small chartreuse clouser. Then another good one. Then other species like a palometa, gray snapper and a small angry barracuda.
The Friday Night Fish Fry was awesome and tasty. Danced for quite awhile, met some guys sailing a boat from Marblehead to Cuba to pick up a new Russian bride and hit Ronnies for more drinking and dancing til 2:30am. Tippy's was also a nice hangout.
Overall Eleuthera is a very nice balance between a stripped down out island experience and has the convenience of fresh food markets and some night life. I'll return sometime soon. Just not in January!
Marty
Savannah Sound: On the incoming tide positioning near the grass line at the edge of the flats seems to be the play. As the bones move in they disperse widely with good numbers heading deep into the right side near the muddy mangroves and piles of conch shells. Typical sighting of tailers are groups of 5-7 large fish going after small whitish crabs ranging from the size of a dime to 2.5 inches across. Even at high tide tailers are highly visiable as the the water ranges from 12-16 inches deep and the bones are doing headstands pummeling the crabs.
As the tide ebbs the fish position in distinct features. They can been found in across the more northern section in very skinny 6-8 inch water. Also fish that may have finished feeding can be seen running along the flats/grass line border in 18-24 inches of water. Lastly there are good groups at the northernmost point in ultra skinny water with highly tuned radar switched on.
Cruising 3 foots sharks abound as the tide starts to run. They're found along the grass lines bordering the white sand flat.
The wind was down on the ocean side in front of my rental house on the last day. I caught a small bone on my second cast with a small chartreuse clouser. Then another good one. Then other species like a palometa, gray snapper and a small angry barracuda.
The Friday Night Fish Fry was awesome and tasty. Danced for quite awhile, met some guys sailing a boat from Marblehead to Cuba to pick up a new Russian bride and hit Ronnies for more drinking and dancing til 2:30am. Tippy's was also a nice hangout.
Overall Eleuthera is a very nice balance between a stripped down out island experience and has the convenience of fresh food markets and some night life. I'll return sometime soon. Just not in January!
Marty