Best Times To Go

Although the fishing at Grand Bahama Island can be productive nearly year round, it is worth considering the season when planning your trip. Spring is certainly the most popular time for anglers to travel to The Bahamas, and Grand Bahama is no exception. Anglers traveling from late February through June can usually expect to catch more bonefish than at other times, but each season has it's own characteristics that shouldn't be ignored.

The off-shore and tarpon fishing picks up in April and stays good right through the summer making early summer a very good time to visit and perfect for families with school aged children on summer break. Since the waters around Grand Bahama Island warm slower than destinations further south in The Bahamas, the fishing remains productive later into the summer. Warming water doesn't usually present as much of a problem as the cloud cover and thunderstorms that hamper the fishing in late July through September. If you can watch the weather and schedule a last minute trip you may be rewarded with a rare late summer bonefishing trip. This is made easier by the direct flights to Freeport and the reduced demand for rooms and guides in late summer.

Fall brings in another great opportunity for anglers to catch a big bonefish as these trophy fish return to the flats after the warmer water temps of August and September. Mid October through December is a great bet for trophies. Pelican Bay is a great place to spend the holidays. The local residents and businesses really get into the Christmas spirit and guests can experience a unique holiday combined with really good bonefishing.

January through mid-February can be good but anglers should be aware that this is the time of year most susceptible to occasional cold fronts which can adversely affect the fishing.

Getting There

Most guests fly into Freeport through one of the several US cities offering direct service. American Airlines, Bahamas Air, Delta and US Airways all have direct non-stop service from the US. We recommend booking the air portion of your trip with our air desk but you are free to make your own flight arrangements if you prefer. Once you arrive in Freeport you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel.

Itinerary

Arrival Day

Arrive at the Freeport, Grand Bahama Island airport. Since the lodge is close by you can arrive on any flight but we recommend arriving in the afternoon or early evening if possible. An Orvis Travel representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel and assist you with checking in. Shortly after your arrival our outfitter will speak with you about the plans for the next few days. If you arrive early enough in the day we can help you set up an afternoon off-shore fly fishing trip. If you prefer you can just relax by one of the resort’s pools with a refreshing cocktail or enjoy dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.

Fishing Days

The day starts early with a traditional breakfast served buffet style. After breakfast anglers are introduced to their guides at 8:00 AM. Once you have had a chance to discuss your day with the guide and check your gear, you will take a short ride to one of the numerous boat ramps on Grand Bahama Island where your boat will be launched. Productive fishing can be reached within a few minutes or your guide may decide to run a little longer due to the day’s prevailing weather conditions. After a long day on the water, all guests will plan on getting back to the hotel by 5:30 PM at the latest.

Once you get back to the resort you will have an opportunity to relax with a Kalik (The Beer of The Bahamas), glass of wine or a cocktail before dinner. The resort’s pool bar has a good selection of wine, beer and cocktails as well as a complete lunch and dinner menu. If you have a specific drink of choice, you may want to bring a bottle with you.

Since dinner is not included in your package you are free to explore and enjoy dinner at one of the numerous restaurants within a short walk of the hotel. If you don’t want to leave the hotel you can eat dinner at the pool bar and have the charges added to your room tab.

Departure Day

You will be transferred to the Freeport airport in time to catch your flight home. It may also be possible to visit another lodge after your stay at Pelican Bay. Orvis Travel has a wide variety of options available in The Bahamas and we will be happy to make a recommendation and handle the arrangements.

Bonefish are the primary focus for most anglers on Grand Bahama Island. Although large schools (50-100 fish) are not uncommon here, many fly anglers prefer fishing over singles and smaller schools that often hold larger fish, averaging 4-6 pounds. These smaller groups of larger fish, and really big singles, are the main attraction on these flats. Fish in the 8-10 pound range are encountered almost daily. In fact, Grand Bahama is one of the few destinations where your guide won’t be surprised if you land a fish in the double digits. Fish over 14 pounds have been landed by anglers fishing with H2O Bonefishing guides.

The unique geography of the area allows these well trained guides to find fish throughout the day by switching locations as the tide fluctuates. Although much of the fishing is done from a Maverick Mirage flats skiff, if your guide spots a group of tailing fish in skinny water don’t be surprised if he suggests getting out of the boat to stalk the fish on foot. In addition to big bonefish, H2O bonefishing guides are well trained and eager to pursue other species including permit, tarpon, barracuda and sharks. Although the permit aren’t as plentiful as they are in other places in the Caribbean, there are enough to make the hunt worthwhile and the large average size is a plus. Oftentimes, permit are spotted and caught while looking for bonefish. Tarpon fishing is best in late spring and through the summer when the larger migratory fish pass through on their migratory route.

As an added bonus for those anglers that are interested, the staff at H2O Bonefishing has mastered off-shore fishing with a fly rod. Although more weather dependant than flats fishing, late spring through summer brings plenty of opportunities to go into the deep in search of yellowfin tuna, dorado and other species. Although success is not guaranteed, this is probably the best off-shore fly fishing program in the Caribbean. Since the off-shore fishing is generally more productive late in the day, we suggest spending the afternoon of your arrival on an off-shore charter. You can also combine a full day of bonefishing with a late afternoon off-shore trip, providing the lucky angler the unique opportunity to cast to bonefish, permit, tarpon and a tuna all in the same day. Because of high demand, interested anglers are encouraged to schedule off-shore fishing when they book their Bahamas fly fishing trip.

2022/23 Packages & Rates:

Rates are dependent on trip package and season.
Packages range from 3 nights, 2 days fishing to 7 Nights, 6 Days Fishing

More details on pricing can be found at https://www.h2obonefishing.com/copy-of-contact-rates

Standard Packages Include:

• Air-conditioned waterfront room w/king or 2 double beds, satellite TV, direct dial phone, mini-refrigerator, in-room coffee maker, full private balcony.
• Flats boat & SUV with professional guide that allows access to the vast fisheries that Grand Bahama offers on the north, south, east and west of the island.
• Access to our club house ‘Bones’ with swim up pool bar, freshly squeezed cocktails, freshly baked savory pies along with the finest sipping rums from around the world, served on the water, in the water or by the water. www.bones-bar.com
• Daily breakfast, daily picnic lunch including non-alcoholic beverages (fishing days only)
• Free hourly ferry transfers to Taino beach during day light hours. (Covid restrictions currently apply)

What's Not Included:

• Flights and transfers to the hotel (transfers can be arranged upon request)
• Evening meals. Lunches on non-fishing days
• Tips for fishing guide and clubhouse staff
• Equipment rental +and end tackle, flies, leader etc
• Alcoholic beverages

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 are available near by, including , kayak tours, diving & snorkeling, sharks dives, jeep tours or personalized tours with our outfitter staff.

Great selection of off site restaurants to choose from within a 20 minute taxi ride which include:

• East Sushi Restaurant, by the harbor with hourly shark feeding
• The Stoned Crab, located on the beach, newest restaurant in Freeport
• Banana Bay located on the beach, for lunch and Friday evening dinners
• Dolphin Cove on the canal
• Terry’s conch stand for freshly made conch salads

What other activities are there?

Non-Angling Activities

The Port Lucaya area of Grand Bahama Island is ideally situated to take advantage of a large variety of activities. The hotel’s full service concierge desk is available to help you arrange just about any activity that you would expect to find in a popular Caribbean resort. Most of these activities require less then 24 hours notice, so your best bet is to keep your schedule open and enjoy your vacation one day at a time. Whether you are into shopping and restaurants or parasailing and SCUBA diving, Grand Bahama Island has it all.

Some of the activities include:

• Dolphin experience – swim or wade with Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins
• Snorkeling excursions to the nearby coral reefs
• Shark or dolphin dives
• Canoeing or kayaking in the mangroves
• Scenic boat tours
• Sunbathing and swimming on the beach
• Horseback riding
• 2 USGA golf courses within a mile of the resort
• Eco tours

Reservations, Deposits & Payments

The deposit is 50% of the trip price unless stated differently in the trip proposal and materials (trip planner and confirmation email). In some cases, deposits are non-refundable, this depends on the destination and will be clearly noted in the trip proposal and materials as well. Deposits may be made by check or credit card: Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover Card. The balance of the trip cost is due 90 days before departure, except where specified differently on individual itineraries. The balance will be charged automatically to the credit card used for the deposit, unless otherwise specified. Any changes made to the method of payment after the final balance has been collected are subject to processing fees.

A reservation form and release are required prior to departure.

All prices must be paid in U.S. dollars. Deposits are not transferable from one trip to another.

Prices quoted are based on foreign exchange values and tariffs currently in effect and prices are subject to change. Orvis Adventures reserves the right to adjust prices accordingly until the time of departure.

Planning information

When your reservation is confirmed, you will receive planning information to guide you through trip preparations. Details about arrival and departure, clothing and equipment, trip cancellation insurance, pre- and post- trip extensions, visas and documents and activities are included in the planning information.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Although cancellation fees may be higher for some trips (stated in the trip proposal and materials), the following minimum cancellation fees will apply:

For trips that include an Orvis gift card or Orvis merchandise, the retail value of the gift card or merchandise is non-refundable upon delivery. Cancellation fees cannot be waived for any reason, including health, business or personal emergencies, or weather.

We strongly urge you to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

No refunds will be made for unused portions of a trip, including late arrival or early departure. Guide fees and hotel costs are not refundable if unused as outlined in the itinerary. Orvis reserves the right to modify an itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control. In the unlikely event that Orvis must cancel a tour, all payments received to date will be refunded, which constitutes a full settlement.

Orvis is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation of any canceled trip, including airline tickets and visas fees.

Cancellation Insurance

Your planning information includes information for travel insurance covering cancel for any reason, cancellation for medical reasons, trip delay, medical expenses, lost baggage and medical evacuation. We urge you to obtain this coverage.

Share policies

Trip prices are based on double occupancy. Single rooms & cabins are limited. If you request a single room, a single supplement will apply as noted in the itinerary. We will confirm the single room as early as possible, but in some cases it may not be earlier than 30 days prior to the trip. If you request a roommate, we can usually pair you with another guest of the same gender, and no single supplement will apply. If you request a roommate, and one is not available, we will only charge you the single supplement if required by the lodge or facility used in the trip.

Children under 18 must share a room with a parent or other family member. In some cases this may be waived.

Passports and documents

International trips require a passport. Check your passport early and make sure it has six months validity at the time of travel. A visa is needed in some countries and we will send you complete details and instructions.

Arrival and Departure

Group transfers from a central location such as an airport are described in the itinerary, and are included in the land cost.. Transfers are not included in the land cost if you arrive early or leave after the scheduled departure day.

Equipment & Clothing

You will receive a detailed list of appropriate gear with your trip planning information.

Airline reservations

The land cost of your trip does not include airfare.

Limitation of liability

This section defines Orvis Travel’s responsibility with regard to all travel arrangements made by Orvis Travel, including individual travel and pre- and post- trip extensions. Please read it carefully.

Upon sending your deposit to Orvis Travel, you acknowledge that you have read and understand all the terms and conditions outlined here, and agree to be bound by them.

All trips that involve outdoor sporting activities such as shooting or fishing, or travel through remote places by vehicle, boat, small plane or on foot, put you at risk for accidents and serious injuries in the normal course of the activity. That is the nature of travel to such destinations and you acknowledge that you accept these hazards as a condition of participation.

Orvis Travel, its Owners, Employees, Associates and Agents give notice that they act only as the agent for the owners, contractors and suppliers providing means of transportation and/or other services and assume no responsibility howsoever caused for injury, loss or damage to person or property in connection with any service resulting directly from: acts of God, detention, annoyance, delays, expenses arising from quarantine, strikes, thefts, pilferage, force majeure, failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled, civil disturbances, terrorism, government restrictions or regulations, and discrepancies or changes in transit or hotel services over which it has no control. Reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the comfort and well-being of the passengers.

Baggage and personal effects, including items purchased, guns, fishing equipment or sporting goods are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times and no employee/agent of Orvis Travel, its subsidiaries, affiliated or associated companies is authorized to accept these for storage, safekeeping, or transportation.