Suggestions for fishing Exuma (Staniel) and Andros (Fresh Creek)?

[fishensticker]

Headed over on May 9th--never fished Staniel or Staniel. Does any one have any recommendations for fishing either Staniel or Fresh Creek? Is the tuna and marlin fishing any good ?

[Captain Juan]

Love Andros and the Tongue. Where do I begin? There are so many things to do. Last time I was there in 2005, I stayed at the Lighthouse Resort in Fresh Creek. Nice marina, plenty of ice, but no gas at the time.

Regarding fishing, you can fish the AUTEC Naval buoys for dolphin, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna (reel em up quickly, lot's of men in gray suits, lots of em.) by trolling, chumming, chunking or live baiting the buoys. The dockmaster in Fresh Creek has all the numbers for all the buoys and other structures. Plus they are on many charts. You can deep drop the sheer wall right out in front for silks and queens. You can also deep drop the buoy anchor lines to mix things up as the lines hold fish. You can deep jig the edge for muttons and grouper (reel em up quickly) with regular and metal jigs. You can anchor inside the edge in 70 to 90 feet for yellowtail. You can also get with the Bahamas' top bonefish guide, Bonefish Simon, who has a nice fly shop in Fresh Creek. Bones and permit everywhere. You can even cross the Tongue to the east and fish and dive Green Cay, spectacular. Keep an open mind and fish hard. Live bait is easy to find. Make sure you go to Hank's restaurant.

Good luck!!

Juani

[FinalPoint]

Nice info, Capt. Juan.

[Captain Juan]

Thanks Final Point. When it comes to fishing, I have been known to be a little overly-enthusiastic and long-winded like Risk Taker. (Love RT's posts, BTW.) I also believe in sharing info. That's what the forum is all about.

[fishensticker]

Thanks for all the info Capt. Juan . I know you used to be able to catch pilchards right off the marina dock in Fresh Creek--hopefully that's still the case. I'm assuming they're the best baits for YFT.

Also, do you know if there is a particular lunar phase or tide that's best for the YFT?

[Captain Juan]

Tide's not an issue. I would avoid a full moon day even though that area can still produce.

Good luck.

j

[snooknreds2]

Originally Posted by Captain Juan

Love Andros and the Tongue. Where do I begin? There are so many things to do. Last time I was there in 2005, I stayed at the Lighthouse Resort in Fresh Creek. Nice marina, plenty of ice, but no gas at the time.

Regarding fishing, you can fish the AUTEC Naval buoys for dolphin, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna (reel em up quickly, lot's of men in gray suits, lots of em.) by trolling, chumming, chunking or live baiting the buoys. The dockmaster in Fresh Creek has all the numbers for all the buoys and other structures. Plus they are on many charts. You can deep drop the sheer wall right out in front for silks and queens. You can also deep drop the buoy anchor lines to mix things up as the lines hold fish. You can deep jig the edge for muttons and grouper (reel em up quickly) with regular and metal jigs. You can anchor inside the edge in 70 to 90 feet for yellowtail. You can also get with the Bahamas' top bonefish guide, Bonefish Simon, who has a nice fly shop in Fresh Creek. Bones and permit everywhere. You can even cross the Tongue to the east and fish and dive Green Cay, spectacular. Keep an open mind and fish hard. Live bait is easy to find. Make sure you go to Hank's restaurant.

Good luck!!

Juani

OH OH OH pick me pick me pick me I wanna go

You make it sound like the perfect place in the world...I need to plan a trip there and go see first hand what you are describing

[Another Grand]

If you are staying at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club...

You dont need to worry about Pilchards this time of year, every night the gogs will be so thick under the Yacht Club dock its rediculous...bring some quills....i fished the gogs right off the end of the dock and solid action with Grouper and Muttons all day all night

Looking straight across from the Yacht club there is a flat that is loaded with an enourmous school of resident bonefish.....they pile far up into the mangroves during high tide but filter out with the tide onto that flat. We caught them on conch, skimmer jigs, and fly. Banking that Flat to the south is a rocky 25-45' ledge which holds a fair amount of fish to spear.

Refer to above for solid Tuna action also chitloads of big dolphin

Whatever that cut is to the North (left pulling out of Yacth Club) is filled with grouper but alot of sharks

Dont forget check out Thunderball Grotto that chit is 007

I have some great pictures but they are not on computer

[RiskTaker]

Hey, I saw that post Capt Juan: about RT's long winded posts. Hey, I resemble that remark; hmmm, but how to get out of such a reputation? Ahh, Harry Klauber is here: another savvy poster not afraid to paint a picture in words and spill the vocabulary with lavish details and tales of places beyond the horizon. Allure.

Anyways... if you like the posts then enjoy. Salud, there are years of them available on SFC with some pretty wild stories that we have all shared. Been too busy working hard lately to post very much these days. But the winds will kick up again, as surely as the seasons change and our experiences grow.

It may be from all the years of hanging (from the jib) on the blowboats, that musters up some of these long winded tales, afterall time ticks just a wee bit slower on displacement hulls; either that, or the bar is very well stocked. Like ye old Porgee Rock, for example. She be an original Shoal draft Bahamian sailing sloop out of, you'll never guess where? Staniel Cay, that's right! Lemon drops anyone?

I just need to get her back to home port and hang out for a while: like a month or two. But chillin in the Northern Bahamas will just have to suffice this year. And there is nothing wrong with that. Big John's (high tempo island music), BMC, and Elbow Cay are all mighty fine places to be. Maybe a pig roast at Nippers can be fun too. Hmmm, maybe some BBQ fish and beef on Tahiti Beach is not such a bad idea either. Or Tuna Poke and conch salad; but good God almighty can't forget the rum.

It's all fun: to keep tellin' tales of Bahamas' Island times. Ya Mon.

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by snooknreds2

OH OH OH pick me pick me pick me I wanna go

You make it sound like the perfect place in the world...I need to plan a trip there and go see first hand what you are describing

Beware- The bugs are EVIL!!!

[PUMPKIN]

that goes for alaska as well. actually the skeeters are the biggest i have seen up there but usually are not that numerous. a quick coating of "off" and you are usually bug free for the day.....

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by PUMPKIN

that goes for alaska as well. actually the skeeters are the biggest i have seen up there but usually are not that numerous. a quick coating of "off" and you are usually bug free for the day.....

NOW you tell me!!!

[BirdDog0219]

I'm headed to Staniel Monday morning will get there tuesday after stoping over night in Nassua will post report when i get back.

[fishensticker]

Thanks, I look forward to seeing your report!