Bahamas / Orvis Pro-Am Bonefish Classic

Grand Bahama Island - October 2009

Bonefish and Tarpon Trust was on Grand Bahama Island for the second Bahama/Orvis Bahamas Pro-Am Classic, an event sponsored by Orvis, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, and H2O Bonefishing, designed to benefit BTT. This year, the event generated $3,000 with proceeds donated to BTT.  Despite tough weather conditions we were able to tag approximately 30 bonefish and another dozen or so were fin clipped for DNA research.

A diverse group of professionals was assembled by Orvis Travel to fish with amateur angling partners over the course of the event.  In addition to being knowledgable anglers the professionals were a fun group to be around and they willingly shared stories of their fly fishing experiences, tricks and techniques learned along the way. Expert anglers and amateurs fished together and all participated in bonefish research, either through tagging or taking fin clips for DNA research.

On Grand Bahama Island, anglers stay at Pelican Bay Resort, in Freeport. Guides pick up anglers each morning at the hotel entrance, and drop off there at the and of the day. Anglers are on their own for meals, and there are plenty of good restaurants within sight (and an easy stroll) of the hotel.

The guides launch flats boats at any number of ramps within a short drive from the hotel, depending on tides and weather. They prefer to fish the north side of Grand Bahama, which offers seemingly endless flats - algae-covered limestone, sand, or mud - mixed among mangrove-lined shorelines and islands. These flats are generally dark bottom, but the fish are also dark so are not especially difficult to spot. Most fishing is from the boat, but there are wading opportunities during appropriate tides. The flats on the south side tend to be lighter - either sand or limestone.

Bonefish on Grand Bahama typically range from three pounds and up, but tend to be on the large side, especially on the north side of the island. Although three to four pound fish are certainly abundant, the great thing about Grand Bahama is that there are a lot of larger fish. It's common to catch bonefish six pounds and larger.

Bonefish and Tarpon Trust would like to thank The Orvis Company, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and H2O Fishing for their contributions and support.

Learn more about the Orvis Pro-Am and their trips to Grand Bahama

Also check out the details on the next Orvis-sponsored trip to benefit BTT - to Belize,