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Subscriber Tom Merker is very happy with his trip to Water Cay Lodge on Grand Bahama Island this past October, arranged for him by Angling Destinations in Sheridan, Wyoming (www.anglingdestinations.com). He was particularly impressed at the size of the bonefish he caught and the number of permit he was able to cast to. “There were lots of large bonefish around,” he writes. “A few of them weighed as little as two to three pounds, but most of them were four- to six-pounders. There was a nine-pounder and a ten-pounder in the mix, too.
As for permit, I cast to 12 of them in all in five different groups. I had many follows. One that I estimated to weigh about 20 pounds tightened my line but then shook the hook. The permit here are honest 10- to 40-pounders. They use bonefish flies for them at Water Cay Lodge. They say crab flies don’t work as well.”
Merker does not comment in detail on the lodge itself and the services provided, but he rates all aspects of the operation as excellent. He assigns that same rating to his personal guide, Sidney Thomas. He also makes favorable mention of the Beavertail boats in use at Water Cay Lodge, noting they can go in very shallow water.
The only warnings Merker feels moved to pass along relate to the activities available for non-fishing spouses (there aren’t any) and to the airport procedures on Grand Bahama. He notes that U.S. citizens must clear U.S. Customs before leaving the island and that contributes to a very early closing of flights.
“Be sure to check in 60 minutes before your flight out of Freeport,” he warns.