Bahamas bonefish adventures can be surprisingly affordable. Here are 7 things Canadian anglers should know

#6  YOU CAN TAKE YOUR FAMILY OR SPOUSE—SORT OF

It’s a dangerous thing to wake up one frigid winter morning and say, “Bye honey, I’m off to the Caribbean. I’ll see you in a week, and don’t forget to shovel the driveway.” Not surprisingly, every angler who is curious about bonefishing asks me if they can bring their spouse or kids. You can… if you’re willing to pay the full fishing price for every member of your group, and they’re willing to sit in the skiff with you for seven hours, or spend every day at a simple guest house surrounded by jungle, with no beach, shopping or cafés. In other words, it’s a no-go for most non-fishing folks.

However, you might consider the his-and-hers scenario I pulled off last November. I spent three lovely days in Nassau, laying on the beach with my long-suffering, long-time companion. Then she flew home, and I flew over to North Andros to go fishing. While Nassau is pricey, it’s cheaper outside of the December to February peak, and there are plenty of flights from Canada.

#7  TRY THE CONCH

Even though it’s just a 15-minute flight from the bright lights of Nassau, North Andros is sparsely populated, and it feels surprisingly remote. It’s important to understand that budget bonefish lodges aren’t Sandals resorts—they don’t have poolside drink service, or pools for that matter. But they do have comfortable double-occupancy rooms, air conditioning, hot water, internet access and cell service. And as Andros veteran Chris Clacker says, most of the time, most of it works.

Locally owned lodges also let you appreciate the warm and welcoming island culture, including the cuisine. For example, one Bahamian specialty is conch, a large mollusk and that can be served many ways. One of the high points of my trip was eating home-cooked conch soup (below) for the first time in the crowded little dining room at Two Boys, then immediately begging for seconds.

The fishing lodge business is tough for small operators, especially in remote spots such as the Out Islands, so there aren’t a lot of lodges similar to Two Boys and Big Charlie’s. But they offer world-class sportfishing at an accessible rate, and that feels like a great service to the angling world. In turn, as a travelling angler, I like putting my dollars into the local economy rather than some offshore account.

By the time I unpacked my tackle after returning from the Bahamas, I was already dreaming about another visit. I hope more anglers also get to embrace the experience. And seriously, if you go, try the conch.

Associate editor Scott Gardner regular visits the tropics with his fly rod.