Tag Archives: bahamas

Diggin up dem big ‘ole bones

SLOB Bonefish Pirate Abaco Flats as Threatening Storms Approach!

HOG-sized Bonefish raided the flats of SLOB Cay Creek last week in the Abacos. Actual names were changed to protect the innocent. Marauding packs of huge bonefish were seen feeding on the helpless crabs and mantis shrimp as they scurried for cover. The odds were stacked high, worse than sitting at a poker table with Chuck Norris… You know you are going to lose, despite all gross attempts.

Threatening Storms approach

3... 2...1... POUR!!!

Time is critical because the tide is near dead-low, and so much water has dumped off the flats that within a short wade from the boat anchorage you can reach dry sand… where to go from here?

The wind is howling 20 knots steady, and over the course of an hour the wind has shifted from the South, to the West, and now from the North… There is no-way any bonefish in its right mind would still be in the back of the flat! And the meaning of“Bone dry” begins to fill my imagination.

Sandy Doodie

Mantis Mud

Nonetheless, the hunt continues and a very long stalk begins, taking me miles back into the mangrove creeks that have drained to not more than a trickle in most places. Begging for shelter from the punishing winds I push to the back. Curiosity of what creatures await fill my day dreams as I walk over dry sand bars, past mangrove clusters and through mud up to my kneecaps. Only Garmin knows…

HAM BONE's front door

Middle Slob Cay Creek

Various places require a swim across several narrow channels where the creeks are deep enough to float your hat. On every turn there is another finger creek to explore. Both eyes are peeled for monsters of any kind. Crabs, shrimps, snakes, sea turtles, big ‘ole piggy bonefish, or even a giant ‘Cuda ready to chomp on a snapper. Luckily, in this area, no sharks were waiting to eat my leg.

Every 15 minutes or so, I turn and look up to see if the sun will ever shine again. But 90% of the time it is obscured by thick clouds, limiting my sight in most places to about a 15 feet radius. Not good I think to myself…

Snapperville

Black-eye Bandito!

After playing catch with a few baby snappers and a baby barracuda out of nowhere a five-finger creek confluence appears with giant mounds of sand peaking just above the low water level. It is here that I discovered these thug-like SLOB BONEFISH. Heaven and Hell had merged simultaneously. This was SIN CITY for a bonefish!

There were two major holding zones in this 5-way intersection. One, a deep sandy bowl where the water floods into the bowl on one side, makes two thirds of a swirl then dumps out slowly.  And the second zone was carpeted with lush green turtle grass and shaped like a bowling lane at the bowling alley, positioned on the far right, back side of the fish bowl separated by a narrow sandbar.

In the fish bowl were eight big ‘ole bones swimming circles along the edges of the bowl like Dale Earnhardt Jr. during a trial run. In the Sleuce was at least three or more bonefish, all lined up like bowling pins. Not to forget, these bonefish had tails bigger than the palm of a man’s hand spread wide. I mean, jaw-dropping, knee-shaking SLOB bonefish!

Gear check: 12 foot leader, check! knots good, check! Untested, never been wet, prototype fly tied on, check! GoPro stuck in the sand 3 inches above the water, CHECK!

I make my first presentation and was slightly off target… Get it together manYou’re on camera! Don’t jack this up!

Next cast and BAM! … BAM! … BAM! … I feel the line go tight and slack again before I could blink… SHI@#! RAT BAST&^#! The grotesque bonefish separated my 11lbs tippet like Moses parted the sea.

Now that the fish bowl is all stirred up, it is obvious that they got the green flag when I tried to stick it to that Hog. So I move to the right, reposition the camera, and setup to present my fly in the Sleuce. Last chance before both holes get blown wide open and time is running out with a 45 minute wade back to the boat, and a 60 minute boat-ride back to the villa, all in choppy seas from the winds.

Bonefish Heaven / Angler's Hell

Slob Cay Creek

First cast came up short, good thing it didn’t spook the hole. Second cast and the line goes tight and I suddenly realize too much line is stripped off the reel. Fat chance I had landing this fish as the line wraps around everything in sight. A clown dance begins trying to free the line with another HAM “BONE” ripping around the back-side of a tall dry sandbar, circle a mangrove cluster and then off into the backing in an unknown direction all faster than greased lightning! With line still double wrapped around the butt section of the rod just between the reel and the first stripping guide I then feel the inevitable… slack… a pleading “NOOOOO” fills the silent void but it is too late and I collapse to my knees in desperation but at the same time I know that that was the last cast of the day and the fish put on a SPECTACULAR show!

The long trek back to the boat provided plenty of time for reflection. While trying to avoid a full-on emotional breakdown I learned 3 things from this experience:

1. sometimes leaders/tippets can be too long; 2. sometimes it is worse to be too far away than too close; and 3. I now have a deep & dark obsession with SLOB BONEFISH…

Watch a clip of this adventure:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcm_tAf4leQ

-Music by Cake and 311

***apologies for the lack of video clarity due to technical difficulties at time of filming***

Fly Fishing Abacos Bahamas

Bonefish Heaven… it exists… in the Abacos.

A Live Conch

Hermits invade Conchville: Live at the Abacos

Some might describe bonefish heaven as a place where bonefish can be seen for miles, where the grey ghost eats any fly presented, and is not spooked easily from a mis-aligned cast of the fly.

In my mind, bonefish heaven is more than that… it is where all the normal challenges are still present, but it is more than all that simply because it is a place where trophy bonefish prefer to spend their winter months… and occasionally in this place a few smaller fish less than 10lbs come out to play.

In the Abacos, many colours abound and on any bright sunny day, the blues and greens and pinks leap out from the surrounding environments and awaken the eyes to life anew.

Abacos Bahamas Snapper

Snapper on the menu?

When the weather or tides are not favorable in bonefish paradise for chasing the grey ghost, there are many other fish species available for entertainment. Snappers provide for a tasty home-cooked meal and the bluerunners, yellowtail and other jacks are also present and a blast to catch with poppers in deep water with strong current.

There are occasions where a storm front will blow through, and sometimes you are on the flat when it happens but the best thing about fishing is that the fish are already wet!

Caught in the rain on the bonefish flats

Wading Wet

 

Winter rains from the north bring strong winds and blow quickly over a favorite bonefish flat. In the distance you can see the boat anchored on the edge of the flat. Always make sure that you anchor in sandy bottom as a more firm hold can be made than in mud or silty bottoms.

 

Have no fear because after the rains, the sun breaks free from the clouds and the bright luminescent colours of the Bahamas spring forth with virbrance like no other!

The secret bonefish flats of the Abacos

Secret Cay Abacos Bahamas

It is decided that this flat shall be called Secret Cay. It is called as such mostly to protect the trophy bonefish that favor this part of the Abacos. My favorite part of this area is that there are miles of wadeable flats and creeks which holds fish during all stages of the tides. When the outer part of this flat is bone dry it is possible to wade-hike a mile or so back into the creeks and there will be pools, sleuces and runs where the bonefish will hole up until the flat floods again with new water.

On average during this time of year, a do-it-yourself fly fisher with decent eyes will have 10-15 shots at bonefish during the best weather days where calm winds and clear skies provide for the best sight-fishing and wade fishing conditions.

Having covered much of the do-it-yourself areas, and in doing so fished several trophy bonefish territories from a rental bay boat used for skipping around the Sea of Abaco, it was time to  step up the game another notch.

Protect your identity, release your fish ALIVE!
The identity of this bonefish has been blurred to protect the innocent

On short notice, I met up with Captain Marty Sawyer in a mint condition Hells Bay Waterman 18-foot flats boat from the Abaco Lodge, a truly premier fly fishing destination. Many thanks are due here to Oliver White, whom facilitated, organized and coordinated my last minute fly fishing trip with the best of the best in the Abacos, Captain Marty.

Over the course of 5 days bonefishing, it was the trophy bonefish that gave us the most excitement. At least 6 targeted fish were over the 10 pound mark and each fish that ate brought their best game to the table! Undeniably, the trophy fish managed to avoid being photographed. It was only fair that the largest of bonefish that I encountered during this trip all escaped without giving me that still moment… They had earned their respect and of all reasons to love bonefishing, this is the one that sticks with me the most… The next bonefish you stumble upon could be the most memorable fly fishing adventure of your life, even if you never land the fish for a photo. Never a dull moment in the Abacos, on and off the camera… Until next time… may the bonefish forever dance in your mind as a reminder to the many virtues of life, in all its magnificent forms!

Keeping the hooks sharp (and tying more of Kenjo Flies newest bonefish fly pattern),
Captain Ken Jones
Kenjo Fly Fishing
361-500-2552
ken@kenjofly.com