Bonefishing Lodge – Andros
Location, location, location! This Bahamas bonefishing lodge located on the middle bight of Andros Island is in the heart of bonefishing mecca. Andros Island is the bonefish capital of the world. It offers great guides, perfect location, professional hands on management, comfortable very nice accommodations and excellent food. Other lodges may offer two or three of these items but rarely do you find all five of these in a Bahamas bonefishing lodge!
This saltwater fly fishing lodge is located smack in the middle of the Andros fishery, the largest area of bonefish habitat in the world. They have guides capable of coaching beginning saltwater anglers or hunting trophy bonefish with experienced fly fishers. Their desire is that beginning saltwater anglers be as much at home there as more experienced anglers.
Enjoy the comfort of one of the most comfortable, hospitable lodges in the world. Your guides will be capable of coaching beginning saltwater anglers or hunting trophy bonefish with experienced fly fishers. They are full-time professional guides who will make sure your days on the water are fun, safe, and educational. Combine our guides, our fishing, our meals, and our accommodations, and there is no better place to fish in the Bahamas.
A few activities are available for those that do not wish to fish such as a lovely pool waterside, night shark fishing, biking and island exploring.
A fun new addition is custom paddle board fishing!
An interesting tidbit:
Many individuals take their small boats out for a day of diving and fishing, either for their own consumption or for a catch to be sold. They frequently stop at our dock on their way back into shore and we select our fresh fish, conch and lobster for dinner. We also buy local produce whenever possible.
In addition to the ocean, the island of Mangrove Cay is home to a vast network of caves, exceptional fresh water, and very picturesque churches. The lodge has bicycles on-site, and it is a wonderful island to explore by bicycle at the end of your fishing day.
Living on an island tends to shape people’s character and in addition to being polite and friendly, they are resourceful, independent and resilient, all of which are desirable attributes for guides. All of our guides are local men that have been fishing, diving and sponging most of their lives on the same waters that they now guide for bonefish. We never had to teach a guide how to see a bonefish or how to find his way through the Bights.
Accommodations & Meals
When the lodge was planned in 2000, they gave careful thought and attention to all the minute details of their facility and operation. It was designed to raise the bar on the level of comfort offered by a bonefishing lodge. They have the best access to an amazing fishery and offer a beautiful setting, comfortable accommodations and excellent food. The four spacious duplex cottages were designed for privacy and minimal intrusion from neighbors. The main lodge was designed for conviviality. All of the buildings are divided by a thick growth of trees and shrubs for privacy, connected by pathways and surrounded by meticulously landscaped lawns and flowerbeds.
Each of the four cottages is divided into two suites, separated by thick soundproof walls! The eight suites all have high cypress ceilings and a bedroom, a sitting room, a bathroom and a private porch overlooking the Middle Bight (a body of water connecting the two sides of the island). The lodge offers a small shop, office, bar, sitting area and dining room. In the office you will find wireless access, fax, computer, and telephone to call home free of charge. The chef has been with the lodge since the beginning. He is famous for his key lime pie and freshly caught fish and lobster. You can check the evening’s menu each morning and let him know if you would prefer substitute menu items. You won’t be disappointed with the food at this lodge.
Fishing
The lodge is located on the middle bight of the Andros Island. The location was chosen to give them water access to mile after mile of prime bonefish water without ever having to trailer a boat to a launch point or take a rough boat ride in the open ocean. They have access to all of the waters of the Bights, the eastern flats and the remote, legendary West side.
It is widely known that bonefish follow the tides, using them to feed in shallow water. Tides on Andros behave in an odd way that works to this lodge’s advantage. When the tide is low and rising on the east side, it is high and falling on the west side and vice versa. This gives the guides the advantage of being able to move through the Bights all day, never leaving you sitting on a shoreline waiting for the tide to be “right”.
There is no tide or moon phase that cannot be successfully fished at this lodge! Andros bonefish are plentiful and average 3 to 5 pounds with regular appearances of fish 6 to 10 pounds. Several 11, 12 and 13 pound fish are landed every season.
Boats and equipment: Boats: 16′ Dolphin skiffs with Yamaha 85 hp engines to address the need for speed, comfort and safety while traveling from flat to flat. They have 10 skiffs: 8 on the water and another 2 are backups.
All of the boats are configured with elevated poling platforms and have fittings on the casting deck for a removable leaning bar. Two boats also have a fitting for a removable cushioned chair on the casting deck.
For safety, boats are steered from a console to give the guide more control than can be had from a tiller. Every boat has a kill switch on the console and all guides wear a lanyard connected to the kill switch when running. If for any reason, he loses his position at the wheel, the engine stops.
In front of the console, there are two cushioned captains’ chairs. Decks are clear and free of obstacles that could snag a fly line and there is lots of dry storage space. Rods are held securely in rod holders alongside carpeted gunwales and there is space for 4 rods.
They have a full time certified Yamaha mechanic on staff to perform regular maintenance and for any needed repairs to our engines and a fiberglass man to keep our boat hulls in pristine condition.
Paddle board fishing:
Enjoy fishing from your own custom paddle board platform. See photos in the photo section!
Boat Equipment: VHF Radio 3 lifejackets Dray bag with flare gun and flares, flashlight, first-aid kit, tools and matches
Other Gear: Sage and Tomas & Tomas loaner fly rods Spinning rods & reels both bonefish, barracuda and sharks Able loaner reels both left and right handed…easy to use
The Guides: Because these guides have all grown up fishing this area of Andros, they are extremely familiar with the waters fished. They know the water and marine life, are skilled and safe boat handlers, can read the weather and have a great eye for spotting bonefish under all conditions. They were chosen because they are able to instruct as well as put you on fish, they know how to plan their fishing day based on the tides, wind and weather, they are licensed boat captains, trained in safety measures, and, finally, they are fly fishermen themselves. The guides work on a rotation so that you will fish with several members of the team during your stay.
One huge flat on the West Side of Andros has been labeled “The land of the giants,” and justifiably so. Good numbers of very large fish can be found there on a consistent basis. The Bights and West Side of Andros have soft bottoms and are best fished from the bow of the skiff. Wading is done on hard, sandy flats which are all located on the eastern shores and southwest side of Andros Island.
Activities
- You could hire a taxi and tour the island
- Borrow the lodge beach cruiser bikes to explore the island, local town which has a nice seaside bar as well as some very colorful characters like the sponge fisherman who are happy to show your their catch. Visit the picturesque small churches in town.
- Ride in the boat and enjoy a day on the water.
- Bask by the pool next to the water’s edge
- Biking
- Night shark fishing off the dock
- Snorkeling or diving
- Enjoy local dancers and singing on request
Andros Island is home to the world’s third largest coral reef, a few short miles off the eastern coast. This reef structure, along with Mangrove’s abundant blue holes, provide wonderful diving opportunities. We work with a local divemaster and are happy to arrange a diving trip for you. There is an extra charge for this, and you can pay the divemaster directly.
If you would like to snorkel, the lodge has some snorkel equipment that you can take with you on your fishing trip. You may want to bring your own fins and borrow a mask and snorkel from us. Just let your guide and Liz know that you want to snorkel. It makes for a great, refreshing break from fishing. There are coral heads between the shore and the reef that offer a fabulously diverse snorkeling experience in about 15 feet of water.
Length of Stay / Itinerary
Arrival Day:
Depart your home city for Nassau. Clear Bahamas Customs and Immigration, proceed to domestic terminal, and check in for the 20 minute flight to Mangrove Cay. You will be met at the airport in Mangrove Cay by a lodge representative for 5 minute transfer to the lodge. Liz Bain, partner and manager, will escort you to your cottage where you can unpack and start getting prepared for your fishing adventure. Appetizers, drinks and dinner to follow.
Select your number of fishing days…
Departure Day:
Coffee and breakfast before your departure to the airport for transfer on to
Nassau and your final destination.
Travel Details & Location
How to get There: Mangrove Cay, Bahamas
You have several options:
1. You would take commercial transportation to/from Nassau and the lodge will make arrangements for you to fly into the Mangrove airport. Your flight will be around 4 p.m., which means you would need to plan your airline travel to be in Nassau by 1:00 p.m. to give you time to clear customs. The lodge will pick you up at the airport. You are dealing with a culture that is in no hurry, therefore customs could be quick or slow, you never know. If you miss your flight to the island, you will need to overnight in Nassau at your own expense which may also cause you to miss fishing time.
2. Commercial transportation to/from Nassau and spend the night in Nassau in order to catch an early flight to the island, which would be arranged by the lodge. This would allow you to fish that day, but you would be charged for a full fishing day no matter how much of the day you have got to fish. The lodge would pick you up at the airport.
3. If you have a large enough group, chartering a flight from Fort Lauderdale is an option. It would be more expensive than your commercial puddle jumper from Nassau, but it allows you to bypass Nassau all together! The Nassau airport has nothing to offer, though they are updating it at this time. If you choose this option, please let us know so that we can help you with the details of getting from one terminal in Ft. Lauderdale to the charter service airport. For a group of 7-8(capacity for their Cessna 402’s) the roundtrip would be approximately $6000 for the group including all taxes. Subject to change.
4. Private plane into the island from your home, and the lodge will pick you up at the Mangrove airport. There is no customs on Mangrove, so your plane would need to land in Nassau or another airport for clearance and then continue on to the island.
Mangrove Runway Access for Private Planes:
Airport code MAY Runway is 5,000 ft x 75 ft, newly surfaced. You must pass through an airport with customs officers in the Bahamas before you land at this airport as they do not have a customs office. You also need to plan to arrive before dark as it is almost impossible to get the airport to turn on its runway lights!
Internet & Communications
In the lodge office you will find wireless access, fax, computer, and telephone to call home free of charge.
Changing Generations
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR FAMILY OR COUPLE ON THIS TRIP: IT’S SIMPLE Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could add more meaning and improve your relationships on every vacation with your family or spouse? Below are two easy steps to becoming intentional as you travel:
TWO EASY STEPS:
1. Watch this video: Make a difference video
2. Click on the link below for step by step ideas of how to add more meaning to your family/couple travel: HOW TO: “MAKE A DIFFERENCE”
Rates
October 2024 to June 2025
Rate per person:
3 night/2 day double occupancy shared guide $3,900
4 night/3 day double occupancy shared guide $5,200
5 night/4 day double occupancy shared guide $6,200
6 night/5 day double occupancy shared guide $6,900
7 night/6 day double occupancy shared guide $7,700
Call for more details
Trip Insurance & Cancellation Info
Trip insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment on this trip. We will assist you with trip insurance upon booking. See links at the bottom of this page for the two providers we suggest for our clients.
Family Expeditions, LLC confirmation and refund policy:
If your trip is more than 90 days out from date of departure, a 50% non-refundable deposit confirms your reservation and must be received within 10 days of booking to confirm your dates. All trips must be paid in full at least 90 days prior to the departure date. If your trip date is within 90 days, FULL payment for the trip is required. All payments to Family Expeditions are non-refundable. Should you need to reschedule or cancel your trip, we will do everything in our power to assist you in finding a suitable substitute or transferring your dates per the lodge/providers/government requirements. Trip insurance protects your investment!
