Eugene Bonefishers make the most of Bahamas cold snap

The first 4 days of February in Sandy Point Bahamas on the Island of Abaco resembled spring weather in the Columbia Gorge. Gusting winds up to 40mph, air temps dropping below 60 degrees and 9 foot swells on bonefish flats, we really should have brought the wind surfing gear and wet suits.

group shot

Despite the tough weather our group of 11 had a great time. Our guides, who were dressed in everything they owned,  looked like they were ready for the ski slopes hung tough and fished us everyday. Bahamian guides simply are not used to the cold we had this past week. One day Ricardo Burrows owner of Rickmon Bonefishing Lodge told his clients he simply could not get in the water and wade around with them, the water was just to cold. Instead he poled his guys around all day and they fished exclusively from the boat.

We did have good tides and fished a nice variety of flats around Sandy Point. Day one we headed off to Moores Island about a 40 minute boat ride. Moores can be great, and is know for it’s big solitary bonefish. These fish have attitudes like Barracuda and don’t seem to be bothered by much. The generally stay just out of casting reach and if you do stick one they can be in your backing 2 or three times during the battle.

10 pounder

the release

We had shark attack that day. Having  a 5 foot black tip  eating your bonefish 6 feet from where you are standing it’s a bit invigorating.

dwight's first

Day two was out to Gorda Key or Castaway Key 9 miles out of Sandy Point, Disney owns the Island and uses it for a daytime stop over for it’s cruise line. Gorda has both inside and outside flats and with the right tides is home to both Permit and Bonefish. The wind made it tough for us on the outside that morning so we headed to the internal lagoon/flats and found a few fish cruising around but were unable to land any of them . When we got back out of the lagoon and onto the outside flats there were about 400 bonefish in several schools milling about on the flats. We had some success that afternoon.

off he goes

gory fumble

Day three and four found us on the flats a stones throw from the lodge. Boating was simply dangerous in flats boats with ocean whipped up as it was. “The Town Flats” of Sandy Point are excellent and nearly always have numbers of fish, and fish with size roaming in and out with the tides. Unfortunately the wind was howling,  to cast all you had to do was hold your rod up at about 45 degrees downwind. The guys and guides hung tough and some fish were landed.

blowing down wind

hunt the bones

clutch the bones

 

The gear that performed well on this trip included: Sage TCX 9ft 8wt rod with a Nautilus NV 8/9 and a Scientific Angler Bonefish line. Echo 2 Saltwater rods 7 and 8wts. Sage 4580 CF reel was a surprise as it is amazingly light and had ample drag, Saltwater Sharkskin lines were the hit. Perhaps the most well likes piece of equipment on the trip was the Original Buff Headwearthat we all wore religiously. The Buff Headwear was protection against wind, sun and unfortunately for this trip the cold as well.

For more information on this trip, booking this trip or Bonefishing in the Bahamas give us call or an email anytime.–CD

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1 Response to Eugene Bonefishers make the most of Bahamas cold snap

  1. Rob R says:

    I got cold just looking at the pictures! Way to make the most of some tough conditions.

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