GPS Coordinates: 26°30’52.46″N 78°38’25.99″W
Trip Questionnaire: Please click on the link below. This will take you an electronic questionnaire form that we ask you to complete and submit to The Fly Shop®. Please be sure to click the “Submit” button at the end of the form. The information provided will help us — and the outfitter best coordinate your trip.
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Getting to H2O Bonefishing
Freeport is the second largest airport in the Bahamas, and there are numerous daily connecting flights into Freeport through Orlando, Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and more.
Please make your flight accommodations as soon as possible to secure seats and the best fare. We recommend giving Alicia at Holdy Tours a call at (800) 446-1111, to help with your flight information and fares. She books the majority of the travel for The Fly Shop’s travel staff, and many anglers traveling throughout the world.
Contact Numbers
Should any problems occur during your travel, including significant flight delays, please be sure to have the following emergency contact information with you. Please feel free to contact The Fly Shop®, or the outfitter directly.
H2O Bonefishing
Jason Franklin
Office (954) 364-7590 | Mobile: (242) 727-1655
Jason@h2obonefishing.com | Info@h2obonefishing.com
The Fly Shop®
(800) 669-3474 | (530) 222-3555 | travel@theflyshop.com
H2O Bonefishing and Pelican Bay Information
Guests at H2O Bonefishing at Pelican Bay may be reached by phone at (242) 373-9550. The concierge will see that the message is delivered to your room or to the desk in the hotel lobby.
Bahamas Emergency assistance
In case of emergencies involving the death, injury, welfare, or arrest of an American citizen in The Bahamas or the Turks and Caicos Islands, please call (242) 328-3496 or (242) 311-1181 x9 during business hours, and (242) 357-7004 at all other times. (Please note that the Duty Officer who answers this number will not be able to assist with visa or routine passport matters.)
General Travel Information
Visa & Documents:
A valid passport is required for all travelers, and must be valid for six months beyond the arrival date. All travelers must have return or continuing tickets to pass through customs. A visa is not required for Americans, Canadians, or most European countries. Residents of other countries should contact the Bahamian embassy in their country to check on visa requirements.
You will complete an immigration card upon arrival. It will be checked at your first point of entry, and a copy will be given to you. Be careful not to lose this copy, as it must be returned to immigration upon departure. For charter flights only, there is a departure tax payable at the airport upon departure.
Airport Transfers:
Once you have cleared immigration and customs, you will enter the public domain of the terminal. Immediately in front of the terminal there are plenty of taxis available. Guests should take a cab to Pelican Bay Resort – cost is $25 one way for one or two persons.
Anglers Fishing on Arrival & Departure Days
Please note that check in is at 3:00 pm and check out is 11:00 am at Pelican Bay Resort. H2O will do their very best to ensure that rooms are ready, but they cannot guarantee that rooms will be ready prior to the scheduled 3:00 pm check-in time. Just in case a room is not available for early check-in, we suggest being prepared to pack or dress in such a way that a quick transition to the boats is easy on arrival. If necessary, there is a room to change clothes and to store luggage safely at the resort. Guests can then check in officially after their fishing day.
Checking out is similar. All check outs cannot exceed 3:00 pm, as that would be considered another night.
Jason Franklin or another H2O representative will be in the resort parking lot to meet all clients to introduce them to their guide. Your guide and skiff will be in the parking lot and ready to go, 45 minutes after the scheduled arrival time of your plane.
If fishing on your day of departure, anglers will return to Pelican Bay Resort, where a driver will be waiting with your luggage at the front desk. For security reasons, H2O will not keep your luggage in the trucks while fishing.
Anglers Not Fishing on Arrival:
Once you arrive at Pelican Bay Resort, simply check in at the front desk by giving your name or reservation number. All reservations are guaranteed. Your host, Jason Franklin will meet guests for orientation at 6:00 pm at the ‘ Bones Bar ‘ Clubhouse, located on the waterfront at Pelican Bay Resort. If flights are delayed or arrive on island after 6.30pm, it may not be possible to meet on arrival. Guests who want to speak with Greg for any reason, once checked in can use the room phone (dial 9 for outside line) and dial Greg’s cell phone at 1-242 359 4958. Please do not call after 10:00 pm. Make sure you have given your flight information to The Fly Shop, so that we can make sure Jason know what time to expect you.
Important:
Any food allergies or diet requirements must be confirmed at least 1 week prior to arrival, as well as notice of fishing equipment rentals. If your luggage is lost, H2O Bonefishing can easily provide equipment. Phone Jason in the evening before 10 pm or between 6:45 and 7:00 am, and he will have gear ready for your day.
Currency:
The Bahamian dollar is equal to the U. S. dollar.
Other Useful Information:
- Within a 2 minute walk of the hotel is a great selection of restaurants within Port Lucaya including, Pizza, Gourmet Burgers, Bahamian infusion, Greek, Italian and tapas.
- Great selection of non-fishing related activities is available nearby, including, Kayak tours, Diving & Snorkeling, Sharks Dives, Jeep tours or personalized tours with our outfitter staff.
- Great selection of offsite restaurants to choose from within a 20 minute taxi ride, includes:
- East Sushi Restaurant, by the harbor with hourly shark feeding
- Stoned Crab, located on the beach, newest restaurant in Freeport
- Banana Bay located on the beach, for lunch and Friday dinners
- Dolphin Cove on the canal
- Terry’s Conch Stand for freshly made conch salads
General Information
Bahamas License Requirements:
To pre-purchase a Bahamas Fishing License, please use this link. www.gooutdoorsbahamas.com
Electrical:
The electrical outlets are AC 110 volts (same as the U.S.) and most appliances will work fine. Make sure that you have plenty of spare batteries for cameras and other small appliances, as the cost for replacements in the Bahamas is high.
Insects:
Mosquitoes and “doctor flies” in the Bahamas are prominent during the rainy season, from April through September. Year round, tiny biting “No See’ums” can also come out at dawn and dusk and whenever the winds are exceptionally calm. The Bahamian doctor fly is basically a large horsefly on steroids, whose bite will draw blood. (Why do they call them doctor flies? “Because when de bite, mon, it feels like a SHOT!”) They prefer salt-coated skin, and love to harass anglers who are wading shallow waters and mangrove-filled areas.
Wearing long pants and long sleeves while fishing, and insect repellent (with DEET) will deter these bugs. If you can find it, Avon Skin-So-Soft is the best deterrent for No-See-Ums.
Gratuities:
Gratuities come in two forms: daily tips for guides at the end of each day, and a single tip for the resort staff at the end of your stay. The economy is primarily cash-based, so the preferred method for tipping is in cash. US Dollars and Bahamian currency are interchangeable on the island, and works fine.
Guide Gratuities:
Guide tips vary widely, but have averaged roughly $100 per boat per day ($50 per angler if two anglers share a boat). Tipping for guides can be done at the dock each day or at the end of the week. If guides are tipped at the end of the week, you will need to indicate what amount is intended for each guide and on which day. If you intend to tip at the end of the week, be sure to let your guide know that at the end of each day. The best time to give the guide his tip is at the dock just before getting out of the boat. It’s helpful to be prepared, have cash handy and if possible, to discuss tipping with your fishing partner before reaching the dock. When preparing for your trip, it’s helpful to come with enough $5, $10, and $20 bills to cover tipping each day, and to allow for the possibility of an exceptional tip for an exceptional day.
When settling your account with the fishing outfitter, please use personal check or cash. They do not accept credit cards. The hotel and restaurants, however, do accept credit cards and there are ATM machines available.
Laundry:
Laundry service is available at the resort.
Dining:
Many fine restaurants are within a five-minute walk from your hotel. A list of restaurants will be given to you at check-in. Dress is casual in most restaurants and you will find that gratuities are frequently added to your check. If not, 15% is the customary tip. Dinners are not included in your package, so you are free to sample the dining at any of the eating establishments in Freeport.
Currency:
The Bahamian dollar is equal to the U. S. dollar.
Non- Angler Options:
This is the perfect destination to take a non-angler. Freeport offers an endless list of activities including golf, a casino, restaurants, shopping, swimming with dolphins, horseback riding, and scuba trips, and more Next door to the hotel is the world famous under water explorer’s society (UNEXSO) who not only provides great scuba diving but also, host the “Dolphin Experience” where guests can interact with Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin. Also available are all of the water sports, including kayaking, snorkeling, parasailing, sailing etc.
A Day at H20 Bonefishing
Your fresh morning coffee is available in your suite, overlooking the sunrise across the water. A complete buffet breakfast waits in the hotel dining room, with waterfront tables available. Your guide will be waiting with your skiff on the trailer, ready to depart for your chosen destination. Lunch will be in your iced cooler, along with plenty of water and beverages. You’ll quickly drive out of Freeport and into the forested countryside. After launching the skiff at one of the many launch sites available, the run to the flats typically ranges from 15 – 30 minutes. You’ll fish until late afternoon, returning to the hotel for a cool beverage at Bones dockside pub where you’ll meet with the fishing manager and plan out your next fishing day. The swim up pool is the perfect place to cool down and take a leisurely swim. Dinner is at your leisure and several fine restaurants only a short walk away.
Bones, the meeting place:
Bones, located on the first floor and waterfront, will be your meeting place for orientation upon arrival. Please note that Bones provides all our anglers bringing their non-angling wives a quality place to enjoy a few sundowner cocktails overlooking the bay. A swim up bar is also part of the clubhouse.
Weather:
Cooled by the prevailing south-easterly trade winds in the summer and warmed by the surrounding waters and the Gulf Stream in the cooler months, Grand Bahama is rarely uncomfortably hot or cold. Although similar in latitude to Palm Beach, Florida, the winter temperatures average 10° (F) warmer than Florida, and the summer highs are generally somewhat lower than those found on similar Florida latitudes due to the moderating effects of the surrounding waters. The average daily highs and lows rarely differ by more than 12 degrees (F), with monthly rainfall averaging about 2 inches in the winter and 6 inches in the summer, primarily in the ‘20-minutes-and-they’re-gone’ afternoon showers.
General Tackle & Equipment
Rental-fishing equipment is available for $20 per day. Flies, lures, leaders, tippet material and other fishing supplies are available at the Bones Clubhouse.
Multiple rods
We strongly suggest that you have an arsenal of fly rods strung-up, handy and ready to fish. Most of the flats fishing you’ll encounter is what we call “opportunistic fishing.” This means that at any given time, on any given day, on any piece of water, you may see bonefish, permit, tarpon, barracuda or jacks and it may all happen in a matter of minutes or all at the same time. The idea here is to be ready for anything at any time. If you have three or four rods, bring them with you. Have the rods ready to fish, one with a bonefish fly, and another with a permit crab, or maybe a ‘cuda fly, and another with a tarpon streamer or shark fly. If you are wading the flats, have your guide take one of the other rods along. At the least, it will double as a great fish pointer.
Personal Gear
Flats Boots & Socks:
There are often daily opportunities to get out of the boat and wade the flats. Most flats are hard white sand, so either the hard sole boot of softer neoprene boot will work fine. We are often asked about what socks work best, and strongly recommend the Simms lightweight neoprene socks.
Wading Pants:
Lightweight pants are strongly recommended for both sun and insect protection.
Chest, Back, or Fanny Pack:
You may be wading for hours and the boat will be just a spec on the horizon. Be sure to bring a wading pack to carry your flies, leaders, tippet, clippers, a water bottle, camera, etc.
Tools:
Pliers, hemostats, knot tying tool, snips, hook sharpener.
Rain Gear:
Lightweight and breathable is the best for the climate. Bring your rain gear with you on the boat everyday no matter how clear it looks. Squalls pop up quickly and the boat ride can be wet.
Sunglasses:
Polarized glasses with amber or copper lenses are the most popular, and having an extra pair in your boat bag is always the smart thing to do.
Tackle & Equipment
Tackle & Equipment Lists by Species (click on links below):
- Bonefish Tackle & Equipment
- Tarpon Tackle & Equipment
- Permit Tackle & Equipment
- Barracuda & Jacks Tackle & Equipment
Jason Franklin of H2O Bonefishing at Pelican Bay lists the following flies as favorites for their waters:
- Ragin Cravin – #6
- Cathy’s fleeing crab – #6 & 4
- EP Crab – #6 & 4; light brown and tan
- Antron Crab – #4; tan or merkin
- McKnights Crimp – #4; merkin and tan
- Puglisi spawning shrimp – #6
- Peterson Spawning Shrimp – #6 & 4
- Foxee Clouser – #6 & 4
Another three patterns that are favorites here are Bonefish Gaz, the Kwabbit and bone voyage.
Crab Patterns – I would also include some specific crab patterns for bonefish. – things like cathy’s fleeing crab for example. Having smaller crab patterns is also a good idea with size X-small (1/50 oz) or large bead head. You do want a little weight with them but not as much as for permit. The body size being about somewhere around the size of your middle fingernail – generally size 4 hooks.
Clousers – we like the white and tan or tan/brown (tan on the bottom and natural brown as the wing) – The foxee clouser for example is much like that color scheme. We do not use too much of the white/chartreuse or white/pink.
Crazy Charlies – We would suggest a minimum size of 4.
The main focus is on bonefish, but there are some opportunities for other species as well, and you may want to be prepared for encounters with these other great game fish, too.
10 Best Things to Do in Or Near Freeport, Bahamas
By Michele Herrmann
https://www.thetravel.com/
From waterside activities to Bahamian dining, here’s what to find around this city.
In the Bahamas, Freeport is a bustling city on the island of Grand Bahama in the northwest Bahamas. The second-largest city in the Bahamas is known for its upscale resorts, historical and cultural venues, ecological sights, shopping opportunities, and underwater cave exploring. Get ready to plan a trip to Freeport with these 10 best things to do in or near there Victims Unit: Season 24
10/10 Bahamas Maritime Museum:
Based right in the heart of Freeport, the Bahamas Maritime Museum teaches about the islands’ maritime legacy with intriguing stories and interesting artifacts. Exhibition areas tell of the Bahamas’ Lucayan people and the horrors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, along with recovered objects from Maravillas, a Spanish ship that sunk in the Bahamas in 1656. Founded by Allen Exploration, the museum is a newcomer to the Bahamas, too, having opened in August 2022.
9/10 Bahamas Distilling Company:
Bahamas Distilling Company is a small-batch rum distillery that schedules tours and tastings on weekdays. While there, sample their signature spiced and coconut rums and perhaps purchase one of their brands, and order a cocktail from their onsite bar. Currently, the company puts out about six types of rum, from their Floating Pig spiced rum to their Hammered coconut rum, with eye-catching label art.
8/10 Port Lucaya Marketplace:
For visitors seeking souvenirs or a meal away from their resort of stay, the Port Lucaya Marketplace is the place to go. It is the Bahamas’ largest shopping, dining, and open-air entertainment facility. There are many specialty stores and boutique shops, restaurants and bars, and lounges, so you can spend both the day and/or night here. Retail options also extend to Duty-Free stores, craft centers, and push carts. Tip: Be sure to place an order from Daddy Brown’s Conch and Seafood Stand.
7/10 Coral Vita:
This commercial enterprise in the Bahamas is working to restore the Commonwealth’s coral reefs at a global level, and the public is able to tour their facilities to learn more about their efforts. Having partnered with science institutions, Coral Vita farms resilient coral at scale and supplies them to restoration projects for transplanting them in reefs. Visitors to Coral Vita can learn more about coral farming and the ocean’s threatened reefs.
6/10 Fish Fry at Smith’s Point:
This popular foodie tradition is said to happen on Wednesday nights at Smith’s Point, a settlement that is adjacent to Taino Beach. The Fish Fry at Smith’s Point consists of beachfront shacks in which their vendors fry up seafood over oil-drum cookers. Along with trying some Bahamian cuisine, this nightly event becomes a dance party scene. The festivities usually begin at 6 p.m.
5/10 Rand Nature Centre:
Step away from the sand and surf for a bit, and head to the Rand Nature Centre in downtown Freeport. This park has a native pine forest and is a major birding spot where wintering birds flock here, usually from October to May. A number of walking trails lead across the park, and the entrance building holds restrooms and natural history exhibits on island geology and ecology. There is an admission entry fee.
4/10 Underwater Exploration:
The Bahamas is the world’s third-largest barrier reef, and these waters are full of caves and dive sights. In and near Freeport, there are locations where you can don a pair of fins and other aquatic apparatus to snorkel or dive. Confirm with tourism companies that offer these experiences on the specifics of these excursions. Tiger Beach in Freeport is one of the best spots for shark diving, while Ben’s Cave, also in Freeport, provides an underwater trek as one of two inland blue holes within the Lucayan National Park. There are also wreck dive sites near Freeport, such as Theo’s Wreck, which is the site of a 1982 ship sinking.
3/10 Tony Macaroni’s Conch Experience:
Tony Hanna, or might be more recognized by the name Tony Macaroni, has been running his beachside shack, Tony Macaroni’s Conch Experience, since 1992. This eatery overlooking Taino Beach not only can be popular during the famous Fish Fry at Smith’s Point, but Tony attracts crowds during the day, too. His conch burgers and homemade hot sauce bring in diners faithfully. Check out this interview with Tony on The Bahamas’ YouTube channel.
2/10 Peterson Cay National Park:
The one-and-a-half acre Peterson Cay National Park is big on its stance as a protected marine habitat and an important bird area. In partnership with the Freeport Harbour Company, a coral reef nursery has been developed southwest of this cay. Tour excursion companies can run outings to this park.
1/10 Lucayan National Park:
Referred to as “The Welcome Mat of Grand Bahama,” Lucayan National Park is an incredible biodiversity site with underwater caves and nature trails. This 40-acre national park has Ben’s Cave, a chartered underwater cave system, and a quite diverse topography. It has pine forests, mangrove creeks, and coral reefs; it also holds Bahamian vegetative zones. Part of Lucayan National Park, Gold Rock Beach, stands out on its own because it is both beautiful and secluded. It’s also referred to as The Welcome Mat of Grand Bahama Island, as the shoreline spans greatly during low tide.