Our group from International Angler again returned to the Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge for our annual battle with the “ghost of the flats”.
Once again Captain Bill aka Captain B@#$@&d and crew provided an excellent week of fishing and socialization.
We were fortunate to have very mild weather for the first five days of fishing with light winds and decent sunshine. The boat rides were comfortable, and the casting was easy. On the downside, the calm waters made the bonefish even more spooky than normal. Switching to smaller flies with subtle coloration helped in getting bites. Winds moved in on the final day making casting difficult, but the bonefish were more receptive to our presentations. The boat ride returning to the lodge was a real “butt kicking”.
Good numbers of bonefish were caught by all anglers along with several good size specimens. Stuart’s trophy (estimated at 9-10 lbs.) was the fish of the trip. There was also the story of the bonefish we called “Houdini”. This fish (while hooked) executed a magical escape from 3 circling sharks, instantly appearing 50 feet away and totally confusing the sharks.
As a bonus, there were a number of barracuda taken on spinning gear, much to the delight of the guides. Guides Pap, Dinghy, Bruce and LJ, all did their usual excellent job of finding fish and guiding the boat to casting distance.
Meals were a blend of Bahamian and American cuisine. Dinners featured Bahamian lobster, conch fritters, steak, grouper and hog snapper.
Gear consisted of 8 WT rods with heavy weight forward lines for most days, and 9 WT rods with 10 WT line for the windy days. Leaders were either 16 lb. or 20 lb. fluorocarbon. Lighter weight leaders will prolong the fight and leave the bonefish tired and less able to avoid the sharks.
Flies were a combination of Gotcha’s, mantis shrimp, clousers, and other similar patterns. Bonefish are not selective. It is useful to have different weights in the patterns, flies with lead eyes, bead chain eyes, and plastic eyes are all used at different times and conditions.
The cost of the trip was about $6000 for 7 nights and 6 days of guided fishing. Travel and tips are extra. Drinks are on the house.
If you are looking to catch some fine bonefish, you would be hard pressed to find a better experience than Mars Bay.
Tight loops and tight lines,
Al