The weather is turning warm, which means a fishing trip is in order. A Bahamas fishing vacation is a blast for you and your family.
The islands of the Bahamas have been associated with travel and vacations in the American mindset for many years. It is an independent, English-speaking country consisting of more than 2,000 small islands and cays located in the Atlantic Ocean east of the United States and north of Cuba. Mention of the name Bahamas often conjures up images of sun-kissed beaches where bikini-clad women stroll on pure white sands while sparkling blue or crystal clear water washes the shore in gentle waves.
However, to the fisherman, the word has a different image. It conjures up the image of a fishing vacation in the Bahamas that typically consists of searching for one of the most elusive and exciting fish in the world, the bonefish. Although deep-sea fishing is also popular here, fly-fishing for bonefish is almost the national sport. Two bonefish can even be found swimming on the surface of the Bahamian ten hundred coin.
It’s hard to pin down why bonefishing is almost a vision quest for so many anglers. The fish, which is a close relative of the shad, does not grow to monster size. The largest recorded specimen of the species weighed just over 16 pounds. The average size ranges from three to five pounds. However, it is a fighter and that is certainly part of the attraction, but most anglers will argue that, pound for pound, it offers no better fight than many other game fish.
It is very possible that it is the environment that makes the difference. Bony fish like shallow water. They come from deeper waters to the shallows around the islands to feed. The normal way to catch them in the Bahamas is to go out in a small skiff between the cays and fly catch them. The clear, shallow water and coloration of the fish give a visual thrill as the fish can be clearly seen as they cut through the water and gobble up the fly.
Blue skies, clear blue water, and warm tropical weather are all part of a Bahamas fishing vacation. It is an experience that is never forgotten. Almost all beach resorts will be able to arrange for guides to take you to bonefish feeding grounds. This is one of the few places where you can leave the wife behind to go fishing and not expect to hear a single complaint.
