First Time Boner! Another unforgettable year in the Bahamas, chasing after the swift and elusive creatures of the flatlands, has come to an end. This time, our journey took us north to Andros Town and the untouched beauty of the north bight. Our adventure began with a lively meet up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where we wined and dined while eagerly discussing our upcoming expedition. The following morning, we loaded up all our necessary gear and set off for Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. However, Mother Nature had other plans as ominous storms continuously rolled through the area, centered right around the airport. It was quite the thrilling experience just trying to make it to our flight. But alas, the skies cleared and we boarded our trusty Cessna 208 Caravan, ready to soar towards our destination. The flight itself was nothing short of exhilarating as we gracefully navigated through storm clouds and swirling winds. Our skilled pilot managed to safely land us at our destination - Andros Town, Bahamas - filling us with excitement for what was to come on this incredible adventure. The journey began as we set out towards the north bight, a place that was vastly different from the familiar southern flats I was accustomed to. The north flats were a series of scattered islands, each one adorned with pristine white sand and clear blue waters. It promised to be an exciting challenge, with its notorious population of large bonefish known for their cunning tactics and fierce fights. As we navigated through the maze of islands, our guide Dwain skillfully piloted the boat through the shallow waters, his keen eyes scanning for any signs of movement. The weight of the sun beat down on us, intensifying our eagerness and anticipation for what lay ahead. With every glide of the flats boat over the rippling waters, I couldn't help but feel a sense of calmness wash over me. Dwain's steady adjustments to the boat and his expert handling put me at ease and made me realize just how much I had missed this place since my return. It was a tradition of mine to hand over the rod to my fishing partner, allowing them to take the first shot at catching a bonefish. This time, it was even more special as my companion had never been to the Bahamas before, let alone caught a bonefish. As we settled into our positions on the bow of the boat, I sat back and observed in contentment as my friend's excitement grew with each passing moment. Despite the less than perfect weather conditions, there was enough sunlight filtering through the clouds for Dwain to spot schools of bonefish in the distance. With precise timing and positioning, we readied ourselves for success as we prepared to reel in these elusive creatures. Our guide, Dwain, had an eagle eye as he scoured the shallow waters for any signs of movement. Suddenly, his trained gaze caught something and he excitedly instructed my friend to ready their rod. "Bone fish, about 100 yards ahead!" I marveled at the expertise of Bahamian guides in spotting these elusive creatures. We crept closer, the crystal-clear water revealing the sleek outline of a bonefish darting just beneath the surface. As my companion made their first cast with a grin on their face, the line whistled through the air and landed a bit too close to the fish, spooking it away. Our adventure had officially begun, fueled by the promise of catching one of these shimmering silver prizes just out of our grasp. Dwain had a unique style of spotting bones for his clients - subtly adjusting the boat's direction to position them for optimal casting before calling out any direction or distance. As the day wore on and our focus intensified, we quickly learned to anticipate these slight changes in direction. But alas, my friend was still struggling to understand the concept of using a clock to indicate direction on a moving boat. Our next bonefish slipped away as we failed to communicate that 9:00 was off the side of the boat and not their own body. But we remained undeterred, determined to catch our prized target. Finally, all on the same page, our next encounter with a bonefish was a success. The thrill of reeling in such a prized catch filled us with pride and satisfaction, making up for any missed opportunities earlier in the day. Fishing truly is an art form that requires patience and precision - lessons we were learning firsthand from Dwain's expert guidance. As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the crystal clear water, our excitement grew as we spotted another school of bonefish shimmering in the distance. With Dwain's expert guidance, he carefully maneuvered the boat to position us for the perfect cast. My angling companion, now more familiar with the nuances of bonefishing, took a deep breath and made a flawless cast, sending the fly gracefully gliding towards the school. We held our breath as a larger bonefish darted towards the fly, its iridescent scales glistening under the sunlight. With a quick strip set and a tense moment, the line went taut and our reel sang with the sound of the bonefish's first run. A rush of adrenaline surged through us as my friend's face lit up with joy and nervousness, but Dwain remained calm and coached him through each step of playing the fish. The bonefish put up a strong fight, making several powerful runs and testing both angler and tackle, but my companion kept steady pressure on the line. After an intense battle, we finally brought the bonefish to the boat - a beautiful 5 pound specimen that was sure to make for a memorable catch. It was an impressive feat for my friend's first Bahamas bonefish! The rest of our day was filled with similar successes as we hooked into aggressive bones that were not only decent in size but also eager to take whatever fly we presented. In fact, one bonefish even got spooked by a hard landing fly before turning around and grabbing it anyway - their hunger seemed insatiable. This thrilling behavior continued for three days straight until our environment suddenly changed. Strong southwest winds at 25 to 30 miles per hour and overcast conditions brought extremely high tides, making for more challenging fishing conditions. It became difficult to spot schools of fish from a distance, but we still managed to hook and land some impressive bonefish. Despite the change in environment, our trips to the Bahamas were filled with unforgettable moments and incredible catches. Each day, the fishing was just a small part of the magic that unfolded at Tranquility Hill. Evenings were filled with rich tales and belly-aching laughter shared among newfound friends, the bonds between us growing stronger with each passing day. There was a palpable sense of peace and serenity that enveloped us all in this secluded paradise. As our time here drew to a close, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness at the thought of leaving this slice of heaven behind. It felt like leaving a piece of my heart behind. But as I stood on the front porch one last time, basking in the golden light of the setting sun and watching it paint the sky in a breathtaking display of colors, I knew that Andros had left an indelible mark on my soul. And I vowed to not let so many years go by before returning to this enchanting place once again. Be sure to check out our next Andros Bonefish Adventure back to the southern flats of Andros Island November 13 to 19, 2024
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