I like incoming tide mid-day best with decent tides but not too huge. The fish get way up in the mangroves on big tides and take the fly greedily but it's not my favorite kind of fishing.
But it depends on the spot - some spots you want to head right up to where they have pushed and are feeding without any waiting. Others are good for receding tide because the fish back out. Time of day is important as they are more active early and late.
The island has a broad range of habitats and the DIY aspect makes for a very educational experience.
Juro,
I would certainly like to visit Felton again. It was a very interesting trip last year, thanks in large part to your knowledge and experience.
GMflyfish
Last year was a good one for intel, although we never fished a huge section of the island that was hot the year before we fished others that were mind-boggling beautiful and found everything from spooky (don't breathe or they scatter) to stupid easy (like turn and charge the fly from 15 feet away) along the way.
This year I am going to play with those giant barracuda more wow that was such a rush. I saw one at the mouth of an inlet that was over 5 feet long chasing bonefish onto the shore.
Not on the flats per se but they are around the docks and drop offs. The guys got some good sized ones a couple years back but they let them go - caught at the start of the day not at the end otherwise would have made a delicious dinner.
For muttons, don't neglect the deeper turtle grass flats/beds along beaches. We've caught some nice fish there blind casting clousers, and every now and then they will move in shallow to feed where you can spot them.
Nice fish Vince! We particularely target them on some flats in Abaco in Jan & Feb. They come on some flats on a good flooding tide and even tail and they pull like a freight train. They seem to prefer a mixed bottom with some vegitation and coral. Don't see them too often on bright sand flats however. They are in very good numbers in Jan. & Feb. down there. Best fly i found is a good mantis shrimp imitation.
I'll be on Acklins with a gang of six anglers March 19-26. Staying at Ivels just north of the Airport. We'll mostly be fishing around airport and north of there.
If you guys are there then we should plan a rendevous at the infamous club Rolex!
We're also planning on bringing a smaller group down the following week (March 26-Apri 2) and fishing the same areas.
I can honestly say that I love that fish stew for breakfast. And no one makes grits like yours Felton! I never liked grits before last winter now I actually have ordered them at restaurants (very disappointing here!)
Last year was a good one for intel, although we never fished a huge section of the island that was hot the year before we fished others that were mind-boggling beautiful and found everything from spooky (don't breathe or they scatter) to stupid easy (like turn and charge the fly from 15 feet away) along the way.
This year I am going to play with those giant barracuda more wow that was such a rush. I saw one at the mouth of an inlet that was over 5 feet long chasing bonefish onto the shore.
Two of us went there last Nov., there were already two guys there after they left we were joined by two others towards the end of the trip. So I'd say you don't need 10. I'm sure Felton will chime in.
With all of the talk of groups fishing all over the place in March, I am moving my trip to later in the season. I know there is a lot of space but generally people hit the same flats up north and if you have some flexibility you'll probably find Acklins to be pretty quiet in May and June. The permit fishing is better as well. I'm getting the sense that for at least part of the year certain areas of Acklins are getting to be like Eleuthera.
With all of the talk of groups fishing all over the place in March, I am moving my trip to later in the season. I know there is a lot of space but generally people hit the same flats up north and if you have some flexibility you'll probably find Acklins to be pretty quiet in May and June. The permit fishing is better as well. I'm getting the sense that for at least part of the year certain areas of Acklins are getting to be like Eleuthera.
That's a shame ! I discovered Eluthera over twenty years ago and the first few years we fished there I can HONESTLY say that we never , ever saw another fisherman on the same flats we fished.
'It will be a long time before Acklins is crowded in the least'!
Almost certain, it will not happen during my life time.
But lets give it a try.....40 persons a week on Acklins!!! What a crowd! Please, PM/email me with your dates. (Some may have to sleep on the beach!......rooming space!.... Air space!???)
Fishing Acklins Island will take more than our lifetime!! Please introduce your children and grand kids to Acklins & Salina Point Bonefishing Lodge!
Will start a programme shortly for the wives/kids-native tours/basket weaving/Bahamain cooking/beach pinics etc.
Hi Felton,
I was being a bit tongue and cheek when I said Acklins was becomeing Eleuthera but it's true there are A LOT more people fishing the island in March than probably any other time of year. Vince alone is running 3 groups between Acklins and Crooked. That doesn't take into account anything from Greys Point, Fedel, Chesters, top of the hill, or anyone else on Crooked fishing lovely bay. Now, it's also true that none of those places are likely to send people anywhere near Salinas point! You have your own piece of heaven there and people should come and take advantage of the opportunity with you.
My point was, and is, that since I usually fish Lovely bay I can choose a month where I know probably 50+ people will be hitting the same flats over the course of 30 days or I can wait 2 months and have probably 5. Acklins is a great place for more than just the month of March! Also, the increased activity does make a difference-both on the island and on the flats. I've been coming down for 8 years-it's changed.
As to bringing kids and family down there, I've done both. My wife won't step foot on the island again. My 8 year old son can't wait to get back and has an absolute blast. I've had him spend a day at the lovely bay school with his friend, Timieco. On one occasion Will organzied a hunting party comprised of 10 kids under the age of 10 and cornered a neighbor's rooster with the intent to shoot it with a home made bow that shot palm frawns (think of a balsa wood arrow!). They did a nice job cornering the rooster because Will got scratched up pretty good. Roosters are tough birds! :wink: It's special place.
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