Partly as a result of informative posts on this site, and advice from several helpful people, a friend and I made a trip to Acklins Island, southeast Bahamas. The trip went smoothly. We left the states on Tuesday, 17 April, to Nassau and spent the afternoon and night there, staying at Orange Hill Beach Inn, which had the advantage of being close to the airport. Dinner at the place was good. Flights on Bahamas Air to Acklins only happen on Wednesday and Saturday, so we got to the airport in plenty of time - despite the previous day's call for a 6:00 am cab to the airport which did not show up. Eventually got one at 6:30, which still allowed enough time for the 8:30 flight. We fished from 18-24 April 2007. Mid April was supposed to be a good time.
We were met at the Greater Acklins International Airport by our host and guide Fedel, and had an hour ride on Acklins only road to the northern section, near Lovely Bay. Accommodations for the week were very satisfactory at Fedel's place, which is in the process of being refurbished. Not real fancy, but quite adequate. Breakfast at the house, lunch on the water, and dinner (usually late) at the house, but prepared at a nearby restaurant. The two of us were the only guests during our stay.
On Wednesday right after arrival, Fedel had some obligations so he directed us to a nearby stretch of water, and we fished on our own from about 2-7:30. Had some tailing bones, and I managed to break off two and land one. Partner landed two.
We got in full days of fishing for the next six days, generally Fedel had us on the water by 8 am, staying out until five. We had a short drive to the town dock where Fedel picked us up in his boat. Had some long boat rides a couple days. First day was partly on open ocean, and we had some porpoises by the boat briefly. Some of our boat rides were very bumpy. We fished mostly by wading around, but did some from the boat - one at a time.
I'm sort of new to bonefishing, having only done it a couple times previously, and I was a bit disappointed that we did not have more action. But maybe my expectations were out of line. I managed to catch at least one fish every day, but only totaled 18 landed for the week. I think it was 1-1-3-2-2-2-7. Lost some others, and had decent shots at a number. But there was a lot of time with nothing happening except looking. My buddy outdid me and landed 19 for the week, but he had more experience. We had wind all the time, though nothing hard enough to curtail fishing. Just made it difficult at times.
Fedel was an excellent guide for us, I believe (based on not a lot of experience on my part). He sure could spot the fish well before I could see them, if I spotted them at all. Many times I was casting to where I think he wanted me to. But other times I could see the schools cruising if they were close enough. Actually, the biggest fish I got, about 5 lb, I spotted myself, cast OK, and hooked up immediately.
The flats were EXTENSIVE - miles and miles. Wading was good, often on fairly hard bottom - not necessarily even, and sometimes on softer bottoms. I acquired a new pair of Orvis Flats Hikers for the trip, and was certainly glad I had the more substantial footware rather than the neoprene booties I had been planning on using.
I took along 7, 8 and 9 weight rods, and used the 8 almost exclusively. All were four piece rods which made travel easier. Strung up the 7 wt a couple times, for short evening or morning session, but never wet the line. Used the 9 wt for some trolling briefly one day, and caught a couple blue runners, but no barracuda. We saw barracuda, many small sharks, sting rays, manta rays, flying fish.
Used a variety of flies, and usually if you got a decent placement, the bones did not seem picky. There were some refusals, however. Mostly we used gotchas with rubber legs, but other things worked also. We had a couple minor equipment problems which were remedied with cyanoacrylate superglue.
My biggest problem with the trip was the sand fly bites. I kept covered up pretty much, but in the evening had bare feet for a short time. Could not feel the little buggers biting, but the itching on feet and ankles afterwards was VERY uncomfortable. Two weeks later I still have the little welts, but the itching has stopped, thankfully. I did manage to avoid sunburn, with a sunshade around the hat, and mitts on the hands.
Had to pack up Tuesday for the Wednesday flight out. Getting through the Nassau airport was a hassle, and crowded, but we made it, and got home late Wed night. No desire to spend much time in Nassau.
Sorry for rambling on at length. It was a good trip, and I would consider repeating it. Nothing was fancy about it - the emphasis was fishing, and that's what we did - not much else. Fedel was a good guide and host.
Again, thanks to several people on this site who gave us great information ahead of the excursion.
GMflyfish
We were met at the Greater Acklins International Airport by our host and guide Fedel, and had an hour ride on Acklins only road to the northern section, near Lovely Bay. Accommodations for the week were very satisfactory at Fedel's place, which is in the process of being refurbished. Not real fancy, but quite adequate. Breakfast at the house, lunch on the water, and dinner (usually late) at the house, but prepared at a nearby restaurant. The two of us were the only guests during our stay.
On Wednesday right after arrival, Fedel had some obligations so he directed us to a nearby stretch of water, and we fished on our own from about 2-7:30. Had some tailing bones, and I managed to break off two and land one. Partner landed two.
We got in full days of fishing for the next six days, generally Fedel had us on the water by 8 am, staying out until five. We had a short drive to the town dock where Fedel picked us up in his boat. Had some long boat rides a couple days. First day was partly on open ocean, and we had some porpoises by the boat briefly. Some of our boat rides were very bumpy. We fished mostly by wading around, but did some from the boat - one at a time.
I'm sort of new to bonefishing, having only done it a couple times previously, and I was a bit disappointed that we did not have more action. But maybe my expectations were out of line. I managed to catch at least one fish every day, but only totaled 18 landed for the week. I think it was 1-1-3-2-2-2-7. Lost some others, and had decent shots at a number. But there was a lot of time with nothing happening except looking. My buddy outdid me and landed 19 for the week, but he had more experience. We had wind all the time, though nothing hard enough to curtail fishing. Just made it difficult at times.
Fedel was an excellent guide for us, I believe (based on not a lot of experience on my part). He sure could spot the fish well before I could see them, if I spotted them at all. Many times I was casting to where I think he wanted me to. But other times I could see the schools cruising if they were close enough. Actually, the biggest fish I got, about 5 lb, I spotted myself, cast OK, and hooked up immediately.
The flats were EXTENSIVE - miles and miles. Wading was good, often on fairly hard bottom - not necessarily even, and sometimes on softer bottoms. I acquired a new pair of Orvis Flats Hikers for the trip, and was certainly glad I had the more substantial footware rather than the neoprene booties I had been planning on using.
I took along 7, 8 and 9 weight rods, and used the 8 almost exclusively. All were four piece rods which made travel easier. Strung up the 7 wt a couple times, for short evening or morning session, but never wet the line. Used the 9 wt for some trolling briefly one day, and caught a couple blue runners, but no barracuda. We saw barracuda, many small sharks, sting rays, manta rays, flying fish.
Used a variety of flies, and usually if you got a decent placement, the bones did not seem picky. There were some refusals, however. Mostly we used gotchas with rubber legs, but other things worked also. We had a couple minor equipment problems which were remedied with cyanoacrylate superglue.
My biggest problem with the trip was the sand fly bites. I kept covered up pretty much, but in the evening had bare feet for a short time. Could not feel the little buggers biting, but the itching on feet and ankles afterwards was VERY uncomfortable. Two weeks later I still have the little welts, but the itching has stopped, thankfully. I did manage to avoid sunburn, with a sunshade around the hat, and mitts on the hands.
Had to pack up Tuesday for the Wednesday flight out. Getting through the Nassau airport was a hassle, and crowded, but we made it, and got home late Wed night. No desire to spend much time in Nassau.
Sorry for rambling on at length. It was a good trip, and I would consider repeating it. Nothing was fancy about it - the emphasis was fishing, and that's what we did - not much else. Fedel was a good guide and host.
Again, thanks to several people on this site who gave us great information ahead of the excursion.
GMflyfish