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Bahamas Bones<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s nothing like experiencing bonefishing in the Bahamas firsthand.<\/h4>\n

Bahamas bonefishing. It\u2019s a simple alliteration that conjures marvelous visions of silver flashes slicing though beautifully pristine, calf-deep waters, a brightly colored fly-line tightly stretched in the foreground.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise,\u201d says Greg Vincent, co-owner of H_{2<\/sub>O Bonefishing lodge on the isle of Grand Bahama (h2obonefishing.com<\/em><\/a>). \u201cAfter all, the name Bahamas comes from the Spanish word bajamar<\/em> (pronounced ba-ha-mar), meaning \u2018shallow sea.\u2019 That\u2019s the defining attribute of our country. We have two thousand, four hundred cays (coral reefs) and seven hundred islands, of which only thirty are inhabited. Almost all of them are edged by significant flats where bonefish and bonefish habitat flourish. It truly is a magical place to wet a line for the \u2018ghost\u2019 of the flats.\u201d<\/p>\n}

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Tremendous Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n

Indeed, it\u2019s a phenomenal wealth of marine resources that draw both the shy bonefish and anglers looking to stalk them to this Caribbean-based archipelago that stretches some 760 miles from near the Florida coast in the northwest almost to Haiti in the southeast. The flats, of course, are simply massive, extending for miles in some areas. Vincent says that were you to compare the total acreage of all the other bonefish flats in the world to those in the Bahamas alone, they couldn\u2019t match the total here.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right,\u201d confirms Prescott Smith, veteran bonefish guide and proprietor of Stafford Creek Lodge on Andros Island (staffordcreeklodge.com<\/em><\/a>), and president of the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association. \u201cIt\u2019s the totality of our marine resources that make these waters so wonderfully rich. Many areas support huge swaths of red mangrove which provides cover for juvenile fish to hide and larger predatory species to ambush their prey.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bahamas not only sport the largest set of shallow flats in the world, continues Smith, who is also president of the Bahamas Sportfishing and Conservation Association, and a founding member of the Bahamas Natural Resources Foundation, \u201cWe host the largest population of bonefish on planet Earth, the third-largest barrier reef, the premier mangrove nursery in the Western Hemisphere, plus the most coral reefs in the Caribbean. It\u2019s all one huge, interconnected system; a classic example of a sum far exceeding the value of its individual components.\u201d<\/p>\n

No arguments there. Still, for anglers, it\u2019s the nitty-gritty of pursuing \u201cbones\u201d that is the draw. To be successful at this game, you need plenty of bonefish to target, a decent shot at trophy-sized fish for an extra adrenaline rush, and ample area with minimal fishing pressure. You\u2019ll find all three prerequisites in the Bahamas, but if this is one of your first trips to the region, you\u2019ll need a guide to unlock the secrets as bonefish are notoriously shy and easily spooked. Don\u2019t worry though, that\u2019s part of their charm.<\/p>\n

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Come Prepared<\/strong><\/p>\n

New York fly-fishing enthusiast Howie Solomon has been making trips to the Bahamas in pursuit of bonefish for more than 30 years. For him, as for many other bonefishing fans, the Bahamas have far surpassed their reputation for super action in spectacular surroundings.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis really is a bucket list destination for anglers,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you love shallow-water sight fishing, a visit will be worth every penny. My wife and I like to go to Grand Bahama Island and stay in Freeport because there are ample hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues to choose from, plus plenty of guides available. If you want to be more off the beaten track, try Abaco, Andros, Bimini, Long Island, or Crooked Island. Each has plenty of bones in the two- to four-pound class, and some offer shots at fish that push into the double-digits. No matter which island you choose, a guide is vital in the beginning to locate safe and productive water, learn where to look and how to spot the fish, and to coach you on the gentle presentations necessary to entice bonefish without scaring them off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Solomon also advises bringing everything you need for fishing as there are few places in the Bahamas to purchase gear. To be sure, most outfitters can supply basic fly-casting and spinning outfits, but you\u2019ll be more comfortable casting your own rod and selecting offerings from your personal fly box. Standard tackle for bonefishing here is an 8- or 9-weight fly rod with a 9-foot, fluorocarbon leader, tropical floating fly line, and a 12- to 16-pound tippet. That should be sufficient to battle any bonefish you hook while still offering a fair shot at landing surprise encounters like barracuda, permit, or small tarpon.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t forget to bring sunblock, a buff, wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeve fishing shirts, long fishing pants, waders or hip boots, and polarized glasses. Keep in mind that the sun on the flats is merciless. If you aren\u2019t fully prepared, you\u2019ll get burned in places you never knew you had,\u201d adds Solomon, only half-jokingly<\/p>\n

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On the Hunt<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing newbies to the bonefish game need to understand out of the gate,\u201d says Capt. Vinny Catalano, a fishing guide who runs charters out of Biscayne Bay, Florida, in the colder months and Greenport, New York, during the summer and fall (longislandflyfishing.com<\/em>), \u201cis that bonefishing is more like hunting than actual fishing. You\u2019ll be scouting a lot of water and trying to spot fish without being spotted yourself. Working with your guide, your goal is to quietly sneak close enough to drop a cast in front of your quarry, leading it by three or four feet. That approach builds a lot of anticipation and the fish win out more often than not, which makes every hookup something to savor.<\/p>\n

More important than which fly you choose is keeping a low profile as you cast, advises Catalano, although he does admit to strongly favoring size 2, tan, Peterson\u2019s Spawning Shrimp or Mantis Shrimp patterns, and lightweight flies with rubber legs because they land softly on the water. \u201cBe as delicate and stealthy as possible with your presentations,\u201d he cautions. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to think of yourself as a ninja. You\u2019re in your quarry\u2019s house, they have big eyes, and they are exceptionally aware of their surroundings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vincent agrees with Catalano\u2019s assessment. \u201cWhen it comes to sight fishing, it\u2019s all about presentation. It\u2019s about getting the fly where it needs to be and having it land as quietly as possible. You don\u2019t have to cast huge distances\u2014forty- to sixty-foot casts will get you plenty of action. My favorite patterns also include Peterson\u2019s Spawning Shrimp, plus the McKnight Crimp, and Puglisi Spawning Shrimp.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Can It Last?<\/strong><\/p>\n

As for Smith, he\u2019ll throw the world-famous Crazy Charlie bonefish pattern as much as possible. \u201cMy father, Charles Smith, invented that pattern right here on Andros Island in the late 1970s,\u201d he revealed, \u201cand it still works great today.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was Smith\u2019s late father who opened the first bonefishing lodge, Charlie\u2019s Haven, on Andros Island in 1970, and he offered his son some great fishing advice. \u201cHe told me once that you get only one life,\u201d recalls Smith, \u201cbut it takes two lifetimes to learn all the intricacies of bonefishing, so keep an open mind. I\u2019ve followed that credo all of my life, and it\u2019s paid off with some amazing fishing opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can read about bonefishing in the Bahamas all you want, concludes Smith, but you must come to the Bahamas to experience the best of it. \u201cI\u2019d get here as soon as possible,\u201d he says, with a hint of concern in his voice. \u201cThis place is amazing, but it is under a lot of pressure from developers and big business these days. I hope we stay on the right path and continue to protect our resources because, once destroyed, they will be gone forever. The more anglers we can introduce to this unique ecosystem, the more the world will realize how valuable it is. That, in the long run, may be our best hope for keeping it so productive and pristine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related<\/em><\/h3>\n