I am going to the bahamas next month. I am taking my gear.
Which rod should I take 5wt, 7wt, 8wt, or all.
How do I get a permit? How much does it cost and how long does it last?
I will get a guide one day but the place I am staying is on the beach and near flats so I want to fish all week. So here is the eternal question. Which flies should I take?
I plan on crazy charlies, merkin crab, clouser in blue and white.
thanks
Jon
Jon,
Just to start, … [url=http://www.wadespage.com/B800DS02RF00.shtml:3ed47]http://www.wadespage.com/B800DS02RF00.shtml[/url:3ed47]
(a few notes on regs etc)
Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:3ed47]http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/[/url:3ed47]
You should note that the Bahamas are in the process of passing regulations which will prohibit bonefishing without a guide in many areas. The rules are in place as of April on some islands, but are being ‘enforced’ by vigilantes in many locations.
Your safest bet is to go to an established lodge and not fish without guides. I was harrassed on Andros for the first time in over 12 years earlier this month. For more details see [url=http://www.flyfishingforum.com:eec7a]www.flyfishingforum.com[/url:eec7a] (bonefishing bbs)
try [url=http://www.flyfishingforum.com/flytalk4/showthread.php?t=19980:e63a7]http://www.flyfishingforum.com/flytalk4/showthread.php?t=19980[/url:e63a7]
or [url=http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42195:e63a7]http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42195[/url:e63a7]
"You should note that the Bahamas are in the process of passing regulations which will prohibit bonefishing without a guide in many areas. The rules are in place as of April on some islands, but are being ‘enforced’ by vigilantes in many locations. "
That sucks.
As so many things in the Bahamas, things are not 100% ‘cut and dry’. Essentially a deal was struck between the Bahamas Dept. of Fisheriues and the Bonefishing Guides Federation: The guides will have to be registered and pass the equivalent of the USCG Captain’s exam. As a quid pro quo, guides will be allowed exclusive bonefishing access to the Bahamas Marine Protected Areas, where bonefishing without a guide will not be allowed. The stated target is to set aside 20% of all bonefish habitat, Bahamas-wide, into MPA’s.
A few areas were closed (to unguided fishing) last month on Long Island, and additional MPA declarations are expected.
I have this information directly from the Bahamas Dept. of Fisheries.
While it sounds like a drag that people are being forced to get a guide to fish, I can support efforts to limit the destruction of habitat. I have seen too many east coast US fishing areas totally trashed by inconsiderate people.
I also support the idea of building a local economy by helping to keep guides working. What I do not like is the fact that it will tend to become a sport for the rich. I hope that they could develop some additional rules such as a limit on the number of non-local fishing licenses sold in a given area for a given period of time and not requiring guides for these licenses. It is a great resource and I am glad that the Bahamians are starting to conserve it prior to it being destroyed.
jed
Man and I was considering a trip like this next spring. In fact the deal I was looking at involved staying at a lodge and gave access to canoes and kayaks.
The BMT is interested in not disrupting the flow of tourists, and was a driver in keeping this deal quiet. The key thing to watch for is whether the BDF starts requiring guides’ licences and captain’s exams. IF that phase goes forward, the rest is a given.
Unfortunately, the pending deal has given rise to a lots of flats vigilatnes, who are making the life of DIY anglers,such asmyself, miserable. I had a guide drive his skiff, at planing speeds, withi 3’ of me reperatedly just a few weeks ago, claiming I was on ‘his’ flat. I’;ve fished Andros since '92, and this type of stuff has never happened before. The attitude is very different there since this ‘deal’ took shape, and folks are trying to mold it to their advantage.
IF the BDF baks off from requiring guides to be licenced (and pay them an annual licencing fee), it’s likely the other part of the deal won’t go through either, but the Bahamas National Trust and several prominent environmental organizations are pushing for it, as well as lodge owners and the guides’ federation.
At present, several flats on Long Island are closed to unguided anglers, so the first phase of the effort has already happened.
The current status quo (I was on Andros from 4/29 through 5/14) is that life has become rather awkward for unguided anglers. I will most likely not fish there until the situation is cleared up, one way or another, and would advise other unguided anglers to be wary, and, at a minimum carry a local cellphone or VHF to contact the authorities should unpleasentries arise on the flats.
I’d be very interested in what the Dept. of Tourism had to say.
[This message has been edited by josko (edited 24 May 2005).]
While at Eleuthera I talked to many people and was told if it passes it will not be enfoced by many of the out islands.
If I was on a flat (DIY) and a boat appeared with a guide/client I would move to another spot.
I believe the proposal is to protect the flats from over fishing and to smartin up the polluters that abuse the islands.
Philip
I just want to add to this a bit. Some of the islands have designated some areas which they now recognize really are nurseries for bonefish. They are lucky to have resident bonz and want to protect those areas. I think it is a very smart, ecological move.
Those areas will be ‘off-limits’ or closed.
Any intelligent angler can see the value of doing so. They will need to be well marked and I don’t believe any responsible angler would disagree or violate them.
They never has been a ‘license’ to fish bonz in the Bahamas, however a commercial license is required for commercial operations (that does not include guided bonefish trips.) At this writing, 05/24/05 no license/permit is required.
I would like to see a license required, if for nothing else to keep some track of how many people really are fishing for bonz, and to raise funds which could be designated for
improvement of the resource on each island. If you’ve spent the bucks to be there, a reasonable fee would not be out of line. Expecting a ‘free lunch’ is not realisitic, and it’s been going on for years. And it’s been abused.
Current fishing license fees here, just for WA cost us $45 each…and frankly, our saltwater fishing sucks. Would I (we) pay that for a license in the Bahamas? You bet.
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
Jim, I didn’t mean to sound argumentative - sorry if i did. It’s just that this mess has already adversly impacted one of my favorite pastimes, and I’m a bit sore about it.
I would gladly pay even a,say, $50/day rod fee to be able to continue to fish my favorite Andros areas. However, it seems such a licence is not being contemplated.
I’ve also heard the ‘nursery’ argument, but have a hard time buying it since bonefish spawn in deep water, and alowing guided anglers to fihs these areas will have a higher impact than allowing unguided waders inthere.
Bonefish are so transitory anyway, and so much of bonefishing is dependant upon tides, that it would be difficult to realize the benefit of limiting access to a particular flat, unless that territory was in fact nursery water. I know baby tarpon seek out mangrove areas until they’re more mature. Not sure about young bonefish.
Josko, where did you fish on Andros? I thought Andros was impossible for DIY angling.
Maybe all this alludes to a very real need for more affordable bonefishing vacations. Instead of $3,000 for a week of DIY angling, maybe we need a few more lodges offering the same for half that price…make the accommodations clean, but simple…same for the food. No need for five-star service and fine dining on a fishing vacation.
The vigilante attitude will eventually backfire on those who feel compelled to drive DIY anglers off the fishing grounds. Eventually, these anglers are going to go elsewhere for their vacations. These hostile types must understand that they’re not the only ones concerned here…storekeepers, hotels, restaurants, liquor stores…they all benefit from our dollars.
I like the idea of lodges offering packages for two or three days of guided fishing, with a few days of DIY angling. No way the DIY angling is going to affect the fish the way guided fishing does simply because DIY anglers have limited access to the fish. But for someone who only gets to the salt once a year, those two or three days of fishing on their own can be so rewarding and enlightening.
Just an opinion.
Fred