Fishing· East Bimini· Bahamas — North

Bonefishing the East Bimini flats (guided)

25° 44.1′ N · 79° 15.6′ W · approximate

The mangrove creeks and hard-sand flats east of North Bimini, toward East Bimini, are some of the most famous bonefish water in the Bahamas: schools of 3 to 4 lb fish tail in inches of water, with double-digit fish and permit on the bigger banks. A local guide in a poling skiff is the way to do it.

Abacos Nassau & the Berry Islands

Practical

Position is approximate, a point in the lagoon flats east of Bailey Town, not a fishing mark: go with a guide, who runs the shallow creeks to the flats. Game & Fish names the fishing grounds as the Northern Sound off the curve of North Bimini, Bonefish Creek and the Swash in the mangroves, Bonefish Hole along the mangroves, the Outer Bank between South and East Bimini, and the bank behind South Bimini near the airport. Fish feed best on the high outgoing and low incoming tide; at low tide tailing fish sit in 4 to 12 inches on the hard sand. Fish are present all year; late fall and early winter give the numbers, and March and April the big spawning fish (Game & Fish). Guides: 'Bonefish Ebbie' David, Kings Highway, Bailey Town, 242-347-2053 (also runs mangrove and Healing Hole trips; Bahamas Tourism); 'Bonefish Tommy' Sewell, 242-473-1089 (Game & Fish); Bimini Bone Fishing, Bailey Town, 242-347-2696 (Bahamas Cruisers Guide, 2012). Rates are not published; ask when booking. Rules: non-Bahamians need a personal flats fishing licence, issued by the Department of Marine Resources or the island administrator; a Bahamian certified guide is required when two or more anglers fish the flats from a vessel; there is no bag limit on bonefish but catch-and-release is strongly encouraged (Bahamas Tourism fishing FAQ). Licence fees: verify locally. The flats sit inside the North Bimini Marine Reserve mangrove nursery: no anchoring on the flats, take nothing but photos. Tackle: light spinning with 8 lb fluorocarbon, shrimp patterns or small jigs; bring polarised glasses.

Bonefishing the East Bimini flats (guided)

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