You may remember a few weeks back I posted a Blog regarding the fishing regulations in the Turks & Caicos (TCI).  All fishermen  are required to purchase a fishing license ( a good thing) and on the back of the license is printed ” The Holder should familiarize Him/Herself with the Fisheries Protection Regulations” which makes perfect sense.  The problem is finding  the regulations that are relevant to a sports fishermen.

Marta Morton photo

I searched the internet for hours, received dozens of emails from readers, (all with varying opinions), asked authorities and vendors and in the end left TCI without a clue as to where I could or could not walk and wade for bonefish.  Since I felt an obligation to subscribers and to those reading my upcoming book Do It Yourself Bonefishing, I pursued the matter with the appropriate authorities.

Marta Morton photo

Yesterday I received an official response from Kathleen Wood, Director of the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs, Turks & Caicos Islands.  She was very gracious in her response and provided the clarity I was looking for.

Quoting Ms. Wood “please be advised that under the National Parks Ordinance, no fishing of any kind is permitted in a Protected Area.  This includes National Parks, Nature Reserves, Sanctuaries and Areas of Historic Interest. I am attaching a copy of the national Parks Ordinance and the Fisheries Protection Ordinance for your information.  Therefore, under the Ordinance, you cannot bonefish in Silly Creek or the Chalk Sound National Park. Furthermore, fishing in the North, Middle and East Caicos Ramsar Nature Reserve is also prohibited. Most of Bottle Creek is actually outside of the East Bay Cays National Park, so it would be okay to fish there.”

The map that she included showing the National Park and Nature Reserve boundaries is very large so I can’t reproduce it here, but it can be found by clicking Nature Reserves.

In a nutshell, many of the locations we have all seen in pictures , blogs and magazines are in Nature Reserves and as such are illegal to fish. Bonefish Point, a popular spot is located within the boundaries of the Pigeon Pond and Frenchmen’s Creek Nature Reserve, no fishing.   The southern shores of North and Middle Caicos are in the North, Middle and East Caicos Nature Reserve, no fishing.  You may well ask “where can I fish?”  The answer: it is very limited.

Flamingo Lake, Marta Morton photo

Now you know the law.

Ms Wood also stated in her email that “TCI is currently reviewing legislation relating to catch and release sport fishing and we are likely to open up some areas that are currently closed to fishing for catch and release recreational fishing.”  That was an extremely encouraging comment and I look forward to hearing more.

Special thanks to Barry and Marta Morton of Harbour Club Villas who spearheaded the “on ground” efforts to get the regulations clarified.  As a matter of fact one of the best bonefishng spots on TCI that is legal, is right out there front door!

Earlier I had posted a report talking about the fishing on northern Cat Island, including Orange Creek, Bennet Creek and others, but the areas in central and southern Cat Island are every bit as good.

We stayed in Fernandez Bay which is centrally located and is one of the most classically beautiful beaches in the Bahamas.  It is perfect for families and couples and doesn’t hurt that there are separate creek systems teeming with bonefish on both the north and south end of the bay.

While staying on Fernandez Bay we got to know Cathleen Perdok, the owner of Island HoppInn and thoroughly fell in love with her property and personality.  Not often can I rave about a place to stay when in fact I’ve not even been a customer.

Island HoppInn

The rooms are perfect for couples and families, a comfortable outside lounge area and all the “beach toys” you could want. The gorgeous white sand is ten steps from your door and the gentle sloping beach leads to the picture perfect aqua blue water. As in all accommodations, the reality is they are just buildings,  it’s the owner/operator that gives it a soul, and you can’t help but be exited for the day ahead when enveloped by Cathleen’s enthusiasm.  As a fishermen, it never hurts knowing that your family is going to be happy while you slip out the back door and WALK to Smith Bay to catch a few bonefish.

Hermitage

From Smith Bay south there are a number of creek systems and ocean beaches with excellent bonefishing.  Armbrister Creek, Hawksnest Creek, “the round about” and enough other locations to keep any angler happy for a week or two. The night before we left Cat, I finally found how to get into a creek I had heard about but couldn’t find.  Well that’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull, a rumoured creek system that nobody gets to, that is full of fish.   After wading through the muck I first saw it with barely an hours worth of light left and there were tails as far as the eye could see.  Caught a couple of fish then had to find my way out.  Our plane didn’t leave for Nassau until 2:00p.m. the next day, so I convinced my wife “the muck wasn’t really that bad” (knee deep) and we should fish the outgoing tide in the morning.  We got up early and ended up having one of those magical mornings with bones and “life” everywhere.

Fernandez Bay

I like sharks, I’ve learned through the years that where there are sharks there are bonefish.  At one point I just had to stop to count the number of sharks around us, the total was 14.  Not sure how many fish we caught that morning, more than “lots’ and I’m not telling you the name of the place, but rest assured with a little research and bush whacking on your own, you to can find this little piece of paradise.

Loved Cat Island, a quiet, but beautiful destination for a couple or family with plenty of bonefish still learning what a Crazy Charlie is.

Been to Long Island, Bahama many times and it still continues to be one of my favourite spots for fishing and vacationing.  For those that have not been here there are great beaches, tons of things for non-fishing spouses to do and lots of history and cultural events to take in.  Every Wednesday the mail boat arrives with supplies and turns the little settlement of Salt Pond into a bustling community.

Mail Boat arrives

This trip I explored and fished from the Columbus Monument in the north to the creek mouth in Gordons, where the road stops in the south.  Spent more time on the southern end of the island than I have in the past, fishing from Winter Haven to Gordons.  A very unique fishery are the old salt ponds of the Diamond Salt Works Company.  The history of salt making on Long island is interesting in its own right but the miles and miles of diked ponds left behind make for one of the most unusual bone fishing environments I have ever fished.

Deadman’s Cay Airport

To get a vague idea of their size, look at the salt ponds south of Clarence Town on Google Earth.  They go on for miles and their design and layout are astonishing.  But it starts to get very interesting once you begin driving the maze of dykes which intersect and connect each of the ponds. Driving the dykes reminds me of the feeling I get in some of the mangrove systems in the Everglades or Mexico, they all start to look the same and your not quite sure where you are and how to get out.

Got One!

The fishing can be very good and the bonefish certainly use both the ponds and the man made canals.  Bonus, the canals also have tarpon in them.  The best fishing is in the ponds with good water flow and direct access to the ocean via canals.  Many of the ponds are virtually land locked and get very little tidal flow and don’t have fish.  Choose those areas closer to the beach, with a canal directly attached to the pond with large openings allowing for significant volumes to flow in and out.  Those ponds then act just like any creek system with the fish following the tide in on a rising tide and exiting the pond as the tide recedes.

There are dozens of places for the DIY angler on Long Island, but the Diamond Works Salt ponds are one of the most unique.

Is this the next “best” DIY place for bonefish?  Not sure yet, but looks like it might be in the running.  Been here for a couple of days and I’m in awe of the flats and creek systems around Bottle Creek.  The walkable, hard bottomed flats, extend for miles and would take months to explore it all.

Lane on Bottle Creek

As often happens on these trips most of my time is spent exploring instead of fishing.  When I find a place I like then I come back later to really fish it.  I’m coming back to North Caicos!!!

Today I wanted to do a couple of things, first to test drive Native Watercraft’s new Versa Board and second explore as much of Bottle Creek as possible in one day.  Unfortunately, for our two new friends Lane and Jo-Anne they decided to join my wife and I on the adventure.  My wife knows what she is getting into when I say we are going “exploring”, Lane and Jo-Anne were simply innocent bystanders swept up in the romance of a leisurely kayak through the Bottle Creek system.  Twelve kilometres later we all made it safely back to dry land where we were promptly picked up by our host.  A few sore muscles but none the worst  for wear.

Ready To Launch

Let me get the equipment review out of the way…………….the Versa Board is one sweet ride and performed beautifully.  My wife and I each were on a board and we paddled twelve kilometres, I think that says a lot.  Native Watercraft calls it a “hybrid paddle board” and that is a good description.  Super stable and glides threw the water as smoothly as any kayak or paddle board I’ve been on.  So two thumbs up for the Versa Board.

Versa Board and bone

We spent eight hours on the water today, fished very little and still didn’t reach the area I wanted to fish, that’s how large the flats are.  As in all bonefishing the tides are extremely important here and I’m looking forward to coming back for a full week to do nothing but fish Bottle Creek on North Caicos.

I’ve been on Provo for three days now and it just wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t gloat about it a little bit.  The place is beautiful, the weather has been fantastic and there is far more self guided angling here then most people believe.

Flats Of Bonefish Point

Super day fishing the flats of Bonefish Point and after fishing for four hours during the last of the outgoing through the incoming tide I’m anxious to get back to see how it fishes during the full incoming tide.  There is a great creek system west of Bonefish Point that I want to try while I’m here.

Flamingo on Flamingo Lake

I’ve now fished and explored seven different flats and creeks and to date have only seen one other fisherman, might be to good to be true.   Places like Flamingo and Turtle Lake’s are as I expected.  The fish are there (no problem finding fish) but they are a little spooky, so some stealth and a few tricks are required.

Kim and I are staying at the Harbour Club Villas which I can highly recommend.  Marta and Barry are taking great care of us and if you can believe it, the bonefishing is at the end of their driveway.  I can see bonefish tailing from my front window.

Pink Panther

Currently I’m in mourning as I got a perfect shot at a 10-12 pound tailer this afternoon that just wasn’t interested in the fly.  Time for a beer, a good nights sleep and then I’m going back to catch him tomorrow.

After a week on Cat Island it’s easy to see why people come back year after year. The beaches are beautiful, there are literally dozens of them and they are so deserted you’re hard pressed to find footprints. The accommodations vary from rental homes, affordable apartments and a variety of resorts. In other words something for everyone.

Halvorson House

A great place to stay for a fisherman with his family, is Halvorson House, located in Bennet’s Harbour. Landing at the Arthur’s Town Airport a short drive delivers you to this hidden gem, located on its own perfect beach. Ten steps from your private rooms front porch is snorkeling, kayaking, swimming and sunbathing. Owned by Matt and Sooner Halvorson, you are sure to fall in love with this idyllic property the same way they have.

For the fishermen, Halvorson House is centrally located to fish three of the islands spectacular creek systems. North of Bennet’s Harbour is Orange Creek, where you can hire the famous Dean of the creek, Willard Cleare or simply park the car at the side of the road and fish it on your own.

Willard Cleare

It is every bit as good as its reputation and the fish are eager to eat. It’s large enough for four to fish and often has fish larger than seven pounds cruising the white flats.

Just south of Halvorson House is both Alligator Creek and Bennet’s Creek. Alligator Creek can be easily reached by the Pigeon Cay Club Road or directly off the main road. The upper end of the creek opens up into a nice large bay that fishes well at high tide. Because access is simple the fish get fished, so you may get a refusal or two before hitting on the right pattern.

Bennet’s Creek is not as easy to fish, it’s tucked back into the mangroves and tough to access by foot. The best way to fish it is to stay at Halvorson House and have Matt drop you off at the Bennet’s Harbour dock and paddle a kayak up the creek with the incoming tide and then paddle and fish back on the falling tide.

First Bonefish

The fish in Bennet’s Creek don’t see many flies and is large enough so that four guys could easily spread out. Matt knows this area so you would be wise to seek out his guidance.

Cat island is starting to shape up as a great spot to fish and northern Cat is perfect for both the die hard fisherman or someone who just wants to get out for a day or two.

Recently, I’ve had a number of enquiries about staying and fishing on Green Turtle Cay (GTC), one of the outlaying cays just off the eastern shore of Great Abaco.  Reached by ferry, north of Treasure Cay, this quaint mixture of permanent homes, rental accommodation, marinas and small resorts is an ideal location to kick back and leave the stress of home behind.  Particularly well suited for couples, GTC has beautiful beaches  and an easy pace where a traffic jam consists of slowing down your golf cart to look out over the clear torquise waters.

Bluff House

In November we stayed at the newly renovated Bluff House, which I can highly recommend.  Christopher Pollock (G.M.) and his staff took great care of us and the brand new rooms overlooking the Sound are some of the nicest units we have stayed in on the Bahamas.

Bluff House Rooms

As you have no doubt heard there is opportunity for the self-guided angler on GTC.  In the north there is Coca Bay which is always a consistent producer.  On the southern end are the Town Flats which can be reached either from the graveyard (it really is) or from Gillum Bay.  For the experienced angler, the Town Flats are a must.  It’s humbling to say the least.  You will see fish, but they are smart, and will challenge even the most accomplished fishermen.

To expand the territory, rent a boat from Donnie’s and try some of the flats to the north like Manjack Cay.  There are two experienced guides on the island and I can recommend Ricky Sawyer, he has fished these waters all his life.

If you are looking for somewhere to go as a couple, spend much of the time relaxing, beach combing or reading a book with a few days thrown in for fishing, GTC is the place for you.