Fishing Reports

Here’s our summary season report from our 2008-2009 season at Andros South.  For detailed reports on each month, click the links on the left.

Photos: Andros South Staff & Guests

The 2008-2009 season at Andros South was the fourth successful season in the Bahamas for Deneki Outdoors.

After four years in command for Deneki and 2 previous years on South Andros, John Toker passed the onsite management to a great team of individuals.  Rick Sisler, onsite manager at Alaska West and Kateri Clay of Kispiox British Columbia took on the roles of management and hosting at Andros South while Chris and Belinda Miller of BC West trained to act as relief management.  John remained involved in the General Management of the lodge while living on the island of Great Exuma with his new wife, Lyn.  He did of course make multiple trips to Andros to check on things and get a bit of bone fishing in.  Who could blame him?

Throughout the season visits were made by groups led by longtime hosts like Bruce Chard, Wayne Walts, Rick Grassett, Frank Carlton and others.

In early November, Wayne Walts of The Troutfitter Fly Shop came for a visit. His crew from Syracuse arrived with a ‘fun will not be denied’ attitude and some serious bonefish mojo. Before you knew it they all had a Kalik and a fly rod in hand and were headed straight for the beautiful beach out in front of the lodge. Of course they all caught a mess of bonefish and Tom Oberg brought a 60lb tarpon to the boat on a bonefish rig… way to set the bar for the season!

As Wayne and his crew were preparing to get on the bus to head home, Captain Bruce Chard and company were stepping off to move in for the week. Their week started a bit slow with Hurricane Paloma looming out in the south Atlantic. Luckily, Paloma steered clear of South Andros. This tends to be the rule rather then the exception with hurricanes and South Andros – they seldom meet.

In December Drew Moy of Tightlines Fly Shop in New Jersey found it rather easy to gather a group of 12 anglers to come down and visit Andros South.  Not long after their arrival they were kicked back in chairs, their feet in the sand, enjoying a cold drink at the Slack Tide Bar.  Sure beats snow and Christmas shopping.

The Fall season proved to be a bit more windy than in years past which made the casting more of a challenge.  But on the upside, a lot of fish were caught and there were not so many bug bites!!

After a brief Christmas break for staff the lodge was back up and going the 3^rd of January with long time Deneki pal Mike White, aka Whitey, and a group of anglers led by  Charlie Craven. They were followed up by another great group led by Bruce Chard.  Wonder how Bruce does it.  Two trips to Andros around the Holiday season and his wife has not yet fed him to the sharks!

The spring season rolled along in great style.  Some weeks the weather was a challenge and others the wind was a whisper and sun-block was needed in gallon sized containers.

Many, many bonefish were caught including some big ones. The antics and great fishing moments are too numerous to regale in an end of season report.  However, there are some bits that require mentioning to give one a sense of what a trip to Andros South may be like.

Throughout the spring a number of anglers took advantage of our offshore fishing program testing out Roggie’s new offshore boat: a 30ft Prowler Cat. It is a NICE boat!  Lance Isham brought in the biggest mahi mahi of the year, weighing 50+ pounds. Many more were caught on  the fly and a lot on spinning gear but none were bigger.

One of the great moments of the spring happened during a blue-water trip in which Sally Hayward put the hurt on a serious tuna by whooping it in 10-15 minutes.  Not an easy task for anyone. She brought aboard a nice 50 pounder which, needless to say, ended up in our bellies as some of the best sashimi on the planet was quickly devoured.

In April, we welcomed back Frank Carlton and his crew. This group set an example of how to enjoy Andros with after-fishing swimming, fresh fish every night and an end of week BBQ night. The guides and staff joined the group for a wonderful night of food, fire and friendship.

Later in the season the bonfire scene was kicked up a notch when Andros South guide Torrie Bevans brought in a couple up and coming drummers to show The Creel Gang a bit of the Bahamian culture by playing some traditional Junkanoo music. These kids blew our socks off. We were all amazed at the speed and rhythm that was kept by the two kids playing the drums. Torrie took his turn also and showed he had some skills off the water as well.

The season wrapped up the end of May with the summer rains that all of the island looks forward to.  Ask guest Cynthia Dunayer about her experience with the land crabs of South Andros and you will know why. The ladies in the kitchen invited Cynthia for a night out chasing down the wily crabs that really only come out in big numbers at night when the rains come.  These crabs are a staple in the economy and diet of Bahamians.  Being the trooper she is Cynthia jumped at the chance. The first night out was quite a success with a few dozen crabs in the bag. Once our guests from Familiar Waters heard about her success they soon found themselves volunteering to grapple with the crabs. Talk about funny stuff. You would never think that three guys trying to round up one little crab would be so entertaining. Plus Cynthia had a little bet on who would catch the most and it quickly became clear that she had the upper hand.

To state that a fishing trip is not about the fishing would be telling a bit of a lie and to say the same about a fishing season would be one also.  However, season number four at Andros South proved that great fishing, friendships, family, new experiences, crazy antics and a “fun will not be denied” attitude are what it takes to make a “great” trip or fishing season.