Anchorage· Great Water Cay· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
Fisherman's Bay Anchorage (Great Water Cay)
23° 1.7′ N · 75° 43.0′ W · approximate
The northern lee anchorage of Water Cay, first decent stop for boats coming south from Long Island or Hog Cay Cut, where the local fishing smacks anchor overnight. Turtles drift through and the ocean side a short walk away fishes well.
Practical
Coordinate approx: this is the ActiveCaptain 'Water Cay' anchorage marker at the north end, which MV Privateer calls the 'Fishing Boat Anchorage'; we take it to be noforeignland's 'Fisherman's Bay' (same description: north end, fishing boats, best holding), but noforeignland does not publish a position. Approach from the north-west following Explorer Chart waypoints. Sand; good holding and protection in E winds, best on the island for a north swell if you tuck in fully, but no shelter from W or a front. noforeignland reviewers (rated 4.1) say holding is better in lighter winds, mosquitoes bite on calm evenings, and turtles and bull sharks are seen; some litter ashore. Fishermen clean their catch here, so expect sharks: no night swimming and do not clean fish at the boat. Land the dinghy on the beach. No services, no cell signal reported at Water Cay (outchasingstars, 2022).
Best for
First and last night in the Jumentos in east winds
Season
Dec–May; best Mar–May between fronts; leave or move to a front refuge before W–N winds