The Fly Shop800·669·3474

The major airlines that serve Freeport on a daily basis include American Airlines, United, US Airways, Silver and Bahamasair. There are daily non-stop flights from cities such as Ft. Lauderdale (FLL), Miami (MIA), Atlanta (ATL), Charlotte (CLT) and Philadelphia (PHL) (in the winter months). In season (November through May), there are often direct fights from major U.S. cities to Grand Bahama International in Freeport (FPO).

An added benefit of flying in and out of Freeport Grand Bahama is that U.S. Customs and Immigration are located at the airport to pre-clear departing passengers for U.S. destinations. That means you can clear immigrations and customs in the Bahamas and hit the ground running when you hit State side. Grand Bahama International also services private aircraft, and private charters can be arranged.

Round trip transportation between the airport and the lodge is included in the price of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the Freeport Airport and transferred to the lodge, about an hour's ride.

Passport Information & Documents Required:
All visitors to the Bahamas are required to have a valid passport. For US citizens, a passport is the only document that will gain you entry to the country. A driver's license and / or birth certificate WILL NO LONGER be accepted to enter the Bahamas. A passport must also be accompanied by a return or onward journey ticket and proof of funds to support your visit. Stays in the Bahamas are not to exceed eight months. (NOTE: If you are using an electronic ticket, please be prepared to show Bahamian Immigration a copy of your travel itinerary and ticket number.) If you have any questions regarding immigration rules or need additional information, contact the Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas by writing 2220 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. – Washington, DC 20008. (Phone: 202-319-2667 Fax: 202-319-2668).

feature private bathrooms with granite countertops, a shower with great water pressure, plenty of hot water, and a separate, closed off "bathroom." The rooms open to a large deck area that overlooks the crushed coral courtyard, a large fire pit, the docks and marina, and the ocean itself. The main lodge building features air conditioning a small sitting area, a well-stocked bar, and a full dining area. The lodge also has a high definition flat screen TV with DIRECTV, so you can always tune in to the big game after your day of fishing.

Each morning, breakfast is cooked to order and served in the dining room. Order eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, toast, just about anything you like, the chefs can prepare. There are plenty of fresh fruits, cereal, yogurt, juice and coffee for those wanting a light start to the day. Lunch is taken on the fly and your custom ordered packed lunch will be loaded in to the boat each morning along with plenty of cold drinks for your fishing day. Dinners each evening are a mix of Bahamian and American style cuisine. You can expect a great selection of fresh seafood, chicken, ribs, pastas, salads, homemade soups, and a variety of side dishes. Complimentary wine is served with dinner. McLean's Town (the location of the lodge) bills itself as the "Conch Cracking Capitol of the World," and the lodges conch fritters are some of the best in all the Bahamas! If you have any special requests or dietary restrictions, the kitchen staff can take great care of this for you with advanced notification.

The eastern area of Grand Bahama Island has five large "bights" that align northeast to southwest. Not only do these bights provide protection from the wind, but they also enable the guides to fish optimal tides throughout the day as the tides move throughout this complex maze of creeks, channels and flats. This is a rare phenomenon in the flats fishing world and will virtually eliminate fishing over dead or unproductive water on an unfavorable tide or searching for bones deep within the mangroves.

Because Grand Bahama is surrounded by deep, cool water, the average bonefish tend to be larger than other areas of the Bahamas and Caribbean. An honest average bonefish here is two to four pounds, and you can expect to see fish on a daily basis in the five to ten pound class. Some of the largest bonefish in the Bahamas and for that matter in the World come from Grand Bahama Island. Cecil Leadon is the head guide at East End Lodge and has put together a seasoned guide team that includes some of the island's top professionals. All of the guides at East End are very savvy, informative and fun to fish with.

Not only do these guides know where to find quality fishing and good quantities of bonefish, but they are also some of the best permit guides in the Bahamas. The permit on Grand Bahama Island are quite large and average 15 to 20 pounds, and if all goes well with the weather, you should have a few shots at fish in the 25+ pound range. Because of the relatively light fishing pressure in the area, the permit here eat well and are aggressive on well-placed flies! You can also target barracuda, sharks, jacks, snapper and several other species in the waters around Eastern Grand Bahama Island.

In general East End Lodge is the perfect destination for serious flats fishers looking for better than average numbers and size bonefish with good solid possibilities at seeing and getting good shots at very respectable permit. The guides are not afraid to put in the extra time and effort on the water each day - a refreshing change from the union mentality of most bonefish guides in the Bahamas.

Boats & Equipment:
East End Lodge runs 16-foot Dolphin Super Skiffs with 45 HP Yamaha outboards. Each skiff comes complete with a poling platform; prod storage, cushioned seats large forward and aft casting decks and a cooler packed with plenty of ice. Anglers should plan on bringing all of their own gear and equipment, including rods, reels, wading boots, flies, leaders and tippet, and all terminal tackle. There are a limited number of back-up rods and reels available at the lodge.