Abaco Bahamas report

[bhorsley]

Sarah and I just returned from a quick trip to Black Fly Lodge on Abaco Bahamas.   The reason for the trip was to help them further explore the deeper waters off the island.  They had a client who was fired up to give it a go as well.  

 

Well if you have ever been in the Bahamas in the winter there is one thing you can count on—wind.  We had one and 1/2 days we could get in the ocean before the 20+ knots of wind showed up.  

 

First half day was a shake down cruise.  We ended up having some nice mahi crash the teasers and had one shot on fly before they lost interest.  We moved in to the edge of the reef in 100 to 60 feet of water and sunk some flies.  Had a few bites on small groupers.  

 

The next day was a full day.  We spent the morning searching for Mahi.  We found a few fish and had four or five good bites on fly.  Sadly the fish bit the poppers heads and failed to find the hooks.  Small tube fly poppers were not the best choice.  We moved onto the reef in 100 to 60 feet.  The best fly bites were form 70 feet to 60 feet.  We landed groupers, mutton snapper, jacks.   The new RIO OBS WF12S7 was the best line for the job.  I was using a 850 grain head and intermediate running line and the new RIO line got deeper quicker.  We had another rig with 120 feet of T14.  The best flies were 1/2 and 1/2s with XXL EyeBalz tied in pink and white.

 

After that day the wind kept us from the ocean, but we did experiment with sinking lines over patch reefs just outside the bonefish flats. We caught small groupers, jacks out of the flats skiffs while doing this. Both skiffs had big fish on that ended poorly—big snappers I guess.  We were fishing 8 and 9 wts on rod with a RIO Leviathan 350 sink tip on a 9 wt. The other with the OBS8S7 on an 8 wt.  We tried small, medium Clouser’s.  The most productive were 1/2 and 1/2s tied in a weird color combo - orange and pink hackles, pink buck-tail for the belly and tan for the back.  

 

Next couple of days were looked for permit and chased uncooperative bones.  Bonefish do not like unsettled weather, but we did fool a few.    

 

 

Black Fly Lodge is always beyond first class. Wonderful staff and world class guides.

[Fergal]

Awesome as always 

[BWalsh]

Great report and pics.  Keep them coming BH

[theshadow]

Bravo!! Beautiful shots and colors.

[t_man7]

Great shots, amazing fishery they have there!

[Hook I]

Just beautiful photos as always thanks for sharing 

Black Fly Lodge sells a Bone fish jig = Conch Salad 

took a nice bone with it 

[Hook I]

On 3/25/2022 at 3:54 PM, bhorsley said:

Sarah and I just returned from a quick trip to Black Fly Lodge on Abaco Bahamas.   The reason for the trip was to help them further explore the deeper waters off the island.  They had a client who was fired up to give it a go as well.  

 

Well if you have ever been in the Bahamas in the winter there is one thing you can count on—wind.  We had one and 1/2 days we could get in the ocean before the 20+ knots of wind showed up.  

 

First half day was a shake down cruise.  We ended up having some nice mahi crash the teasers and had one shot on fly before they lost interest.  We moved in to the edge of the reef in 100 to 60 feet of water and sunk some flies.  Had a few bites on small groupers.  

 

The next day was a full day.  We spent the morning searching for Mahi.  We found a few fish and had four or five good bites on fly.  Sadly the fish bit the poppers heads and failed to find the hooks.  Small tube fly poppers were not the best choice.  We moved onto the reef in 100 to 60 feet.  The best fly bites were form 70 feet to 60 feet.  We landed groupers, mutton snapper, jacks.   The new RIO OBS WF12S7 was the best line for the job.  I was using a 850 grain head and intermediate running line and the new RIO line got deeper quicker.  We had another rig with 120 feet of T14.  The best flies were 1/2 and 1/2s with XXL EyeBalz tied in pink and white.

 

After that day the wind kept us from the ocean, but we did experiment with sinking lines over patch reefs just outside the bonefish flats. We caught small groupers, jacks out of the flats skiffs while doing this. Both skiffs had big fish on that ended poorly—big snappers I guess.  We were fishing 8 and 9 wts on rod with a RIO Leviathan 350 sink tip on a 9 wt. The other with the OBS8S7 on an 8 wt.  We tried small, medium Clouser’s.  The most productive were 1/2 and 1/2s tied in a weird color combo - orange and pink hackles, pink buck-tail for the belly and tan for the back.  

 

Next couple of days were looked for permit and chased uncooperative bones.  Bonefish do not like unsettled weather, but we did fool a few.    

 

 

Black Fly Lodge is always beyond first class. Wonderful staff and world class guides.

Abaco Thinking of a father and son trip .He’s a novice caster so 

can you recommend a month that best fits that idea . Both flexible on dates ., thanks 

[stormy monday]

How well has Abaco recovered from the hurricane damage? I know places like Treasure Cay seemed to get totally levelled but wasn't sure if there were rebuilding efforts or not going on? Great place to fish!

[bhorsley]

4 hours ago, stormy monday said:

How well has Abaco recovered from the hurricane damage? I know places like Treasure Cay seemed to get totally levelled but wasn't sure if there were rebuilding efforts or not going on? Great place to fish!

They are recovering nicely. Not as fast as they want but getting there 

[bhorsley]

4 hours ago, Hook I said:

Abaco Thinking of a father and son trip .He’s a novice caster so 

can you recommend a month that best fits that idea . Both flexible on dates ., thanks 

April May and into June  and then Oct and November.  

Black Fly is almost 90% booked every year.  But there are other lodges Abaco Bonefish Lodge and Delphi.  There is a lodge in Sandy Point but can’t remember the name.   So you have options 

also I love Crooked Island Lodge on Crooked Island 

[Hook I]

9 hours ago, bhorsley said:

April May and into June  and then Oct and November.  

Black Fly is almost 90% booked every year.  But there are other lodges Abaco Bonefish Lodge and Delphi.  There is a lodge in Sandy Point but can’t remember the name.   So you have options 

also I love Crooked Island Lodge on Crooked Island 

Thanks that helps , yes BF had a long wait , that’s ok we have options now with a better idea . Thanks again 

[snapper1]

Good size mutton for ceviche...

 

Cheers

[k.b.]

Looks nice and warm! Great pics!

[bhorsley]

1 hour ago, k.b. said:

Looks nice and warm! Great pics!

Yes it was sadly it was last year 

[MikeFlyGuy]

Brian,

 

May I ask what rod you were throwing the 850 grain head with? Also, is the RIO OBS WF12S7 a full sinking line, and maybe that's why it was getting deeper than the 850 with intermediate running line?

 

Thanks!

Mike