Top Choice Lodge

Pristine bonefish and permit fishing environment along miles of saltwater flats, coral reefs and a very comfortable beach lodge at competitive rates.

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f you want to catch bonefish and permit, the Bahamas are the place to go. We are not talking about Nassau or Freeport, we are talking about the true Bahamas: The so-called Out Islands.

Acklins is the remotest and most primitive spot in the Bahamas Out Islands. It is located 250 miles southeast of Nassau and you will hardly see any tourist, no hotels, no crowds, no taxis, no phone, no faxes and no jet skis! This is bonefish Country. Like it has been since since Columbus' days.

The bight of Acklins is more than 1000 square miles of shallow water. This is by far the largest area of prime bonefish-flats we have ever seen. Exploring this system of flats, creeks, channels and mangrove marls would take a lifetime. We have discovered Acklins few years ago, and we found there the best bonefishing we ever had throughout the Bahamas island chain.

The Lodge

Acklin Island's Top Choice Bonefishing Lodge is located on the northern beach of Mason Bay, inside the Bight of Acklins. An air conditioned ocean front bar and restaurant is ready to serve you.

Acklin Island's Top Choice can accommodate 8 anglers in double occupancy air conditioning accommodations. The four double rooms are ocean front, each with one single bed and one queen size bed, good storage, and channel TV . Each room have a small refrigerator. There is a flat right in front the rooms which have good bonefish.

The fishing

The fishing at Acklin's Top Choice is guided with 16 ft.. Carolina Skiff powered by 30 hp. Yamaha outboards, or unguided on miles and miles of beautiful flats with access from the beach. This is a unique opportunity for the experienced bonefish anglers. Vast productive flats, teeming with medium to large bonefish are located close from the lodge. The guides will take you to crystal clear sand flats extending to the horizon, covered with ankle-to knee deep water . If you like to fish on your own, you can walk and fish miles of secluded beaches. And if you see footprints in the sand, we bet it's yours or your friend's ...

When fishing with guides and boats you will either head to the flats in the south like Jamaica Caye or go to the north at Lovely Bay and then leave for other places far out in the Bight. You also can head directly for one of the far away places in the bight of Acklins Island, and fish your way back.

Just a few minutes boat ride from Top Choice Lodge are the most beautiful flats you can imagine. Some flats are soft but still wadeable, others are hard packed sand covered with ankle to knee deep water. You can walk these flats for hours without reaching the far end. On calm days during a low incoming tide one can spot a single bonefish on these flats over 200 yards away.

With low fishing pressure in Acklins Island, only few bones have ever seen a fly or even an angler. You will find plenty of bonefish, many in the 4-6 pounds range with some larger fish in between. Usually bones come in schools of five to twenty fish. You will cast at big fish coming as singles or in small pods almost every day. Inexperienced anglers can expect to catch up to 10 fish a day while experts may have 30+ days and after a while start to concentrate on the big ones. Anglers caught quite a few 10 pounders, the best bonefish topping at 13 and 14 pounds.

Besides bonefish you will find nice size barracudas on the flats as well as in the deeper creeks and channels. The biggest cuda on fly was a 62 inches monster, caught in the shallows. Plenty of barracuda from 20 to 30 pounds are landed on a regular basis. As a bonus you have quite a good chances for permit. The largest permit landed was a beautiful 34 pounder.

Non Fishing activities

Non-fishing guests may take the beach shuttle to some of the world's most beautiful natural beaches and spend the day snorkeling, swimming or shelling. You will see pink flamingo, all kinds of sea birds, porpoise, shark, eagle and stingrays. Watch the endangered great iguana on Guana Cay or explore the amazing reefs on Samana Cay.

Rates include:
Airport transfers on Acklins,
room with private bath,
all meals including dinner night of arrival and breakfast day of departure,
cooler lunch and drinks daily while fishing,
guided fishing including boat, motor fuel.