For the well-read fly fisher, almost nothing gets your attention like the mere mention of Andros Island bonefish. Elusive, strong, and finicky, the bonefish is on almost every bucket list for a long rodder.
While there are many places to spend a day of fishing, there’s something really special about Andros Island in the Bahamas. Located northwest of Staniel Cay, at the edge of Cargill Creek is the Andros Island Bonefishing Club- a premier destination for the pursuit. But that’s not the only place to stay if you’re up for the adventure.
Let’s have a look at these coveted fish, and how to get to them.
Flying to Andros Island from Fort Lauderdale
At Staniel Air, we provide a few ways to get you and your group to the Bahamas.
We offer single seat service as well as full charter flights from Fort Lauderdale Executive airport aboard our Cessna Grand Caravan EX. For single seats, you’ll touch down in Staniel Cay where you can enjoy the sights or just kick back and have lunch and a cocktail at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.
Our charter flight service can put you right on top of the fish. There are four airports near South Andros Island, including San Andros International Airport (SAQ), Andros Town Airport (ASD), Clarence A. Bain Airport, Mangrove Cay (MAY) and Congo Town Airport (TZN).
If you want to learn more about flying into the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale, there’s lots of information here on the website, or you can contact our concierge with any questions you may have.
Now that you know how to get there, let’s have a look at where to stay.
Top 5 Andros Island Fishing Lodges
Here’s the Top 5 per TripAdvisor Traveller Rankings:
- Nathan’s Lodge
- Bair’s Lodge
- Deep Creek Lodge
- Mangrove Cay Club
- Andros Island Bonefishing Club
Based on the reviews, you probably won’t go wrong as far as the bonefishing goes with any of these. Other than that, it becomes a matter of personal preference, the amenities you want nearby, and your price range.
You’re really going for the fly fishing though, right?
Andros Island Bonefish
Let’s talk flats fishing. Let’s talk about what makes Andros Island one of the ultimate destinations for hooking a bonefish on a fly rod.
There’s a lot of reasons, but a handful are what really make this place special.
First, there’s just square mile after square mile of flats. This is key bonefish habitat, and more importantly, it’s where they spend a lot of their year eating. They love the sunny days in shallow warm water, chasing after shrimp and crabs in the flats grasses. Andros is a big island, and it serves as a beacon for big bones.
Second, the crystal clear waters here make sight fishing a breeze, especially with the right guide. For fly fishing, targeting bonefish is as much of a hunt as it is a fishing trip. Long, accurate casts are often necessary to entice a strike. So crystal clear waters, some quality polarized sunglasses, and a top notch guide are the recipe for success. It should be noted that guides can take you out in skiffs, or simply help you out with wade fishing around the island. Whichever your preference, Andros has you covered.
Third, the Bahamas does a nice job of managing the fishery. That means there’s lots of bonefish here despite the popularity of the sport. And they grow big. The benefit of these policies to you?
You’re going to catch fish. And you have a great chance at landing a trophy bonefish.
Contact Staniel Air to Arrange your Bahamas Fly Fishing Travel
You’re ready to go, right?
Get after those big bonefish this year. It all starts by contacting Staniel Air to get your travel plans squared away.
Side note: We know know Staniel Cay very, very well. If you don’t want to spend your whole week in Andros, we can get you out with a licensed guide in the Exumas for a day or two. So be sure to ask about that as well!
Bonefish Image By Internet Archive Book Images
