New Podcast: Bahamas Bonefish Flats-side Essay!

[Zach Matthews]

Already up in the Podcasts section, check it out!

Zach

[Zach Matthews]

Hey guys –

I want to take a moment here to stress an important point, which despite my best efforts I may not have carried off completely on the show.

[Rusty Garoutte]

Pictures…We need pictures!

[Zach Matthews]

Unfortunately, so does the magazine.

[Carter Simcoe]

What do you base your assertion that the American companies were there first on?  It’s my understanding that native guide Charlie Smith (after whom Bob Nauheim named the Crazy Charlie fly) pioneered that fishery into what it is today.  I don’t doubt that there are probablly more American owned operations down there now but by all accounts I’ve ever heard Charlie is the OG and is still running a tight ship with the help of his offspring to this date.

[Zach Matthews]

You’re probably right as far as the people who figured out the fishery, Carter.

[Carter Simcoe]

Well Charlie and crew have owned and operated their lodge since the 1950’s

[Zach Matthews]

Interesting.

[Rusty Garoutte]

I laugh as I am writing this, but is there really any way to get a professional point across to people that thinks that

[Jeff Morasco]

Zach, I’m glad you had such a good time with Deep Water Cay and sorry that you had such a poor experience with Pelican Bay. I don’t think there is any “American” guide service as such and I don’t think you can fish out of Deep Water unless you own or are staying there. In other words you can’t register at any other hotel and expect

[Zach Matthews]

Hey Jeff –

It wasn’t Pelican Bay’s fault; they had nothing to do with picking our guides.

[Jeff Morasco]

I stand corrected. Obviously they were not adequately prepared. The usual scenario is that you are picked up at around 7, so that you start at the dock at 8:00. Granted that island time is relaxed but three and a half hours is inexcusable.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there was no training whatsoever, depending on who was supervising the approval and what the alleged qualifications of the applicant were, or the relationship with the supervisor (nepotism is a way of life there.). I’m not familiar with that program being active on Grand Bahama. Do they have a contact person in Freeport? I took a quick look at the Orvis website and didn’t see anything about it.

Jeff

[Zach Matthews]

I gathered that it is brand new, Jeff – they certainly had Orvis Endorsed Bahamas Guide shirts on.

Zach

[grant schofield]

I was cruising around the Orvis site tonight and came across the info for the Orvis certified guides. There isn’t too much there, but thought it might be helpful.

http://www.orvis.com/intro.asp?dir_id=11716&Group_ID=12570&subject=2341

Grant

[Jeff Morasco]

Thanks for the website. It should be handy for anyone visiting the islands. All the guides were on Abaco excepting one from Exuma. I can’t speak to any of them from first hand experience.
Considering the discussion above, local knowledge would be my first choice, recommendations from fishermen on the web would be second and this would be third. I think most of us prefer DIY, but when making a first time trip to an unknown destination, any information helps.

[Author]

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