Welcome to Vieques, Puerto Rico, an unspoiled step back in time with no fishing pressure on its miles of stunning flats. As an island with fewer than 10,000 people and no commercialization, Vieques is a remarkable change of pace from the hustle, expense, and crowded waters that have become the landscape [...]]]>

Wildfly Charters, Vieques

Welcome to Vieques, Puerto Rico, an unspoiled step back in time with no fishing pressure on its miles of stunning flats. As an island with fewer than 10,000 people and no commercialization, Vieques is a remarkable change of pace from the hustle, expense, and crowded waters that have become the landscape of todays more well known fishing destinations.

After successfully guiding in Key West for ten years, I relocated to Vieques in the summer of 2005, leaving behind the ever increasing number of boats chasing a limited amount of fish each season. What I found down here was an island where simply seeing another boat on the water is the exception, not the rule, and all of the great flats species are available.

Tarpon, bonefish, and permit are three of the most common targets along our mangrove shorelines and sheltered bays. Snook, jacks, snapper, and numerous other fish that have never seen a fly are also found throughout the year.

On my charters, I provide everything needed for one or two anglers to spend a day on the water using fly or spinning gear. No previous flats fishing experience is necessary and I gladly provide instruction to beginners.

My boat is brand new for this season, a 2006 Beavertail B-2 powered by a 50 horsepower Yamaha outboard. This is the finest flats boat on the market and mine is the only one in all of Puerto Rico. It floats as advertised in less than six inches of water. This combination will get us to the shallowest waters quickly, safely, and comfortably, with maximum time spent fishing. Sightseeing, bird watching, and photography charters are also available for non-anglers. Please call or e-mail for more details.

Wildfly Charters is a full service company and can arrange everything for your trip to Vieques, from accommodations and car rentals to transportation from the airport or ferry dock. My wife Amanda, working through Island Real Estate, manages nearly a dozen rental houses here on Vieques. These properties range from a basic two bedroom fishing camp, to a small estate set on a dozen acres with a pool, tennis court, and private beach. Rentals are made on a weekly basis and the right house can be found to suit any budget. For shorter stays, we’ll be glad to arrange rooms at one of several excellent small hotels on the island.

Visitors to Vieques for the first time will find a taste of what the Florida Keys were almost a century ago, with enough of the modern world thrown in for comfort. Men and women on horseback, riding right alongside the cars, are an everyday sight on our roads, none of which has a single traffic light. A Jeep rental will provide access to any of more than 40 beaches covering the entire Vieques shoreline. This will also allow do-it-yourself anglers a good shot at some of our prized local species. Many great shops, bars, and restaurants are located right on the water without any brand name chains to be found.

An Eco-tourist paradise, Vieques, Puerto Rico is a welcoming, undiscovered escape from the overcrowded and commercialized islands so common in the 21st century Caribbean.

http://www.viequesangler.com

If your looking for a destination to fish bonefish, permit, and tarpon, check out Turneffe Atoll in Belize!

The guides at Turneffe Flats are “rock stars”, equipment top-knotch, and service superior.

At Turneffe Flats, ‘Pampered in Paradise’ is more than just our [...]]]> Rod bending, reel screaming action out on Turneffe Atoll!

If your looking for a destination to fish bonefish, permit, and tarpon, check out Turneffe Atoll in Belize!

The guides at Turneffe Flats are “rock stars”, equipment top-knotch, and service superior.

At Turneffe Flats, ‘Pampered in Paradise’ is more than just our motto. Our island resort is situated on a private point with white sand beaches, coconut palms, and a spectacular view of the reef. Accommodations include our eight beautiful beach cabanas as well as two 3-bedroom villas, ideal for families or groups of friends. All are, of course, air conditioned.

We also cater to scuba divers and marine eco tours so it is a great place for non-anglers as well.

Check out the Turneffe Flats Website and YouTube Videos for details.

Savannah Sound is a gorgeous place for bone fishing. Right in front of Savannah Sound is Windermere Island where Prince Charles and Princess Diana honeymooned!

One of the few large bonefish flats in protected ‘sounds’ Ocean-side. Best fished when the wind is from the South or West and the [...]]]>

Bonefishing at Savannah Sound, Eleuthera

Savannah Sound is a gorgeous place for bone fishing. Right in front of Savannah Sound is Windermere Island where Prince Charles and Princess Diana honeymooned!

One of the few large bonefish flats in protected ‘sounds’ Ocean-side. Best fished when the wind is from the South or West and the ‘Sea-Side’ is too rough.

Aim to start fishing at, or soon after, low tide.

Tides occur about two hours earlier Ocean-side, so you can win extra fishing time by starting on the Ocean-side around low water and switching to the Sea-side two or three hours later.

Waters around Eleuthera are usually crystal clear but you shouldn’t need to use ultra-light tackle as the fish are generally not under much pressure from other anglers (yet!).

You’ll probably be fishing in depths of around two feet or less, so a leader of 10 to 12 feet should be enough to present the fly nicely on the bottom

Tippets of about 8 pound test are OK for sandy bottoms, and 10 or 12 pound test for rocks or mangrove.

Bonefish have exceptionally good eyesight and hearing so there is no need for large or flashy flies, except perhaps in low light conditions. Flashy flies can also attract small barracuda which will bite your fly off.

Once hooked, bonefish do not leap or run for cover but rely instead on their amazing speed and strength to evade capture. They will make several very fast (25 mph) runs, each of up to 50 or even 100 yards! Therefore, you’ll need to recover as much line as possible between each run or you’ll soon be holding an empty reel! But, unless you’re fishing near mangrove or other hazards, the odds are that you’ll win in the end.

Often while casting for bonefish you will get strikes from other species such as needle-fish and small barracuda which have razor-sharp teeth. Sometimes they will slash at the fly line or leader knot. If this happens, check the leader for abrasion, even if the fly wasn’t bitten off.

Playing a bonefish will occasionally attract the attentions of sharks or large barracuda. If you see one approach, immediately lower your rod and tighten your line until the tippet breaks. By doing this, you will give the bonefish a sporting chance of out-running the predator, which it would not otherwise have.

Contact

Rainbow Inn, P.O. Box EL25053, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Phone/Fax: 242-335-0294

We mainly wade the shallow flats, sight-casting flies to bonefish of up to 8lb (and occasionally bigger) in warm crystal clear water, often less than 12 inches deep.

You don’t have to be an expert fly fisher but you should be a reasonably competent caster. If you can deliver a fly quickly [...]]]>

Bonefishing, Eleuthera

We mainly wade the shallow flats, sight-casting flies to bonefish of up to 8lb (and occasionally bigger) in warm crystal clear water, often less than 12 inches deep.

You don’t have to be an expert fly fisher but you should be a reasonably competent caster. If you can deliver a fly quickly and accurately 50 feet into the wind to a cruising fish, while standing up to your knees in water, you will definitely catch more bonefish!

Often referred to as ‘The Grey Ghosts of The Flats’, bonefish are masters of disguise and virtually invisible in water. This is partly because their mirror-like scales reflect the bottom. Look for their shadows on the sand if the sun is out, or their tails breaking the surface as they feed in shallow water (‘tailing’) or clouds of mud thrown up (‘mudding’).

They are almost constantly on the move, and frequently change direction, pausing only to root out some tasty morsel. Always be prepared to cast immediately to a fish without taking your eyes off it for a second. Bonefish will often appear out of nowhere and disappear in the blink of an eye. Small and medium size fish often feed in schools of up to thirty fish or more, but larger specimens usually feed singly or in ‘pods’ of up to four fish and are sometimes confused with barracuda. However, if the bonefish you’re looking at isn’t moving, it probably isn’t a bonefish!

Other species you can throw a fly to include barracuda, pompano and jacks.

All bonefishing is strictly catch & release and we insist that you only use barb-less or de-barbed flies/hooks.

During our last 9 trips all but one of our anglers caught bonefish on fly, even though some had very little fly fishing experience. On average we catch around 100 bonefish per trip, mostly in the size range of 2lb to 4lb best fish 8lb.

Contact

Rainbow Inn, P.O. Box EL25053, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Phone: 242-335-0294

Hatchet Bay is a completely enclosed bay with a 50′ wide entrance which is cut through cliffs that are about 20-30′ high. It’s hard to see until you’re at the cut and going through the cut can be a bit exciting depending upon the sea state.

The is one of the [...]]]>

Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera

Hatchet Bay is a completely enclosed bay with a 50′ wide entrance which is cut through cliffs that are about 20-30′ high. It’s hard to see until you’re at the cut and going through the cut can be a bit exciting depending upon the sea state.

The is one of the safest man made harbors in the Bahamas. DD’s internet cafe is very close and grocery store as well.

Aim to start fishing at, or soon after, low tide.

Waters around Eleuthera are usually crystal clear but you shouldn’t need to use ultra-light tackle as the fish are generally not under much pressure from other anglers (yet!).

You’ll probably be fishing in depths of around two feet or less, so a leader of 10 to 12 feet should be enough to present the fly nicely on the bottom

Tippets of about 8 pound test are OK for sandy bottoms, and 10 or 12 pound test for rocks or mangrove.

Bonefish have exceptionally good eyesight and hearing so there is no need for large or flashy flies, except perhaps in low light conditions. Flashy flies can also attract small barracuda which will bite your fly off.

Once hooked, bonefish do not leap or run for cover but rely instead on their amazing speed and strength to evade capture. They will make several very fast (25 mph) runs, each of up to 50 or even 100 yards! Therefore, you’ll need to recover as much line as possible between each run or you’ll soon be holding an empty reel! But, unless you’re fishing near mangrove or other hazards, the odds are that you’ll win in the end.

Often while casting for bonefish you will get strikes from other species such as needle-fish and small barracuda which have razor-sharp teeth. Sometimes they will slash at the fly line or leader knot. If this happens, check the leader for abrasion, even if the fly wasn’t bitten off.

Contact

Rainbow Inn, P.O. Box EL25053, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Phone/Fax: 242-335-0294

Most of the true bonefish ‘flats’ are situated on the Caribbean or ‘Sea-side.’ Best fished when wind is from the North or East.

Aim to start fishing at, or soon after, low tide.

Waters around Eleuthera are usually crystal clear, but you shouldn’t need to use ultra-light tackle as [...]]]>

Bonefishing at Gregory Town, Eleuthera

Most of the true bonefish ‘flats’ are situated on the Caribbean or ‘Sea-side.’ Best fished when wind is from the North or East.

Aim to start fishing at, or soon after, low tide.

Waters around Eleuthera are usually crystal clear, but you shouldn’t need to use ultra-light tackle as the fish are generally not under much pressure from other anglers (yet!).

You’ll probably be fishing in depths of around two feet or less, so a leader of 10 to 12 feet should be enough to present the fly nicely on the bottom

Tippets of about 8 pound test are OK for sandy bottoms, and 10 or 12 pound test for rocks or mangrove.

Bonefish have exceptionally good eyesight and hearing so there is no need for large or flashy flies, except perhaps in low light conditions. Flashy flies can also attract small barracuda which will bite your fly off.

Once hooked, bonefish do not leap or run for cover but rely instead on their amazing speed and strength to evade capture. They will make several very fast (25 mph) runs, each of up to 50 or even 100 yards! Therefore, you’ll need to recover as much line as possible between each run or you’ll soon be holding an empty reel! But, unless you’re fishing near mangrove or other hazards, the odds are that you’ll win in the end.

Often while casting for bonefish you will get strikes from other species such as needle-fish and small barracuda which have razor-sharp teeth. Sometimes they will slash at the fly line or leader knot. If this happens, check the leader for abrasion, even if the fly wasn’t bitten off.

Contact

Rainbow Inn, P.O. Box EL25053, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Phone: 242-335-0294

If there is little or no wind try one of the large exposed flats such as Pelican Cay or Current Settlement, which would be difficult to fish on a windy day.

Waters around Eleuthera are usually crystal clear but you shouldn’t need to use ultra-light tackle as the fish [...]]]>

Bonefishing at Current Island, Eleuthera

If there is little or no wind try one of the large exposed flats such as Pelican Cay or Current Settlement, which would be difficult to fish on a windy day.

Waters around Eleuthera are usually crystal clear but you shouldn’t need to use ultra-light tackle as the fish are generally not under much pressure from other anglers (yet!).

You’ll probably be fishing in depths of around two feet or less, so a leader of 10 to 12 feet should be enough to present the fly nicely on the bottom

Tippets of about 8 pound test are OK for sandy bottoms, and 10 or 12 pound test for rocks or mangrove.

Bonefish have exceptionally good eyesight and hearing so there is no need for large or flashy flies, except perhaps in low light conditions. Flashy flies can also attract small barracuda which will bite your fly off.

Once hooked, bonefish do not leap or run for cover but rely instead on their amazing speed and strength to evade capture. They will make several very fast (25 mph) runs, each of up to 50 or even 100 yards! Therefore, you’ll need to recover as much line as possible between each run or you’ll soon be holding an empty reel! But, unless you’re fishing near mangrove or other hazards, the odds are that you’ll win in the end.

Often while casting for bonefish you will get strikes from other species such as needle-fish and small barracuda which have razor-sharp teeth. Sometimes they will slash at the fly line or leader knot. If this happens, check the leader for abrasion, even if the fly wasn’t bitten off.

Contact

Rainbow Inn, P.O. Box EL25053, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Phone: 242-335-0294

Located on the pristine shores of Eleuthera, the “Island of Freedom” Bahamas.

We are a small, friendly, informal INN by the sea and specialize in personal service. The INN’s location on the island makes it an ideal base from which to explore the rest of Eleuthera. Within minutes of the INN are some [...]]]>

Located on the pristine shores of Eleuthera, the “Island of Freedom” Bahamas.

We are a small, friendly, informal INN by the sea and specialize in personal service. The INN’s location on the island makes it an ideal base from which to explore the rest of Eleuthera. Within minutes of the INN are some of the island’s top tourist attractions: Surfer’s Beach, the Famous Caves of Hatchet Bay, Glass Window Bridge, the Pineapple Fields of Gregory Town, plus our own Secret Beach. We even have Bonefish Graham’s “Rainbow Guide” to bonefishing on Eleuthera.

Our waterfront area with its seaside tennis court and some of the best snorkeling on the island (one of the sites on the Jean-Michel Cousteau Bahama Out island Snorkeling Adventures) will provide hours of enjoyment for the whole family.

Our rooms have refrigerators, coffee makers, microwave ovens, and toasters.

The Nautical Restaurant and bar is unsurpassed on the island for true “native dishes”, excellent continental specialties, and as quoted from FODOR’s Guide Book, “The Inn’s restaurant, a cozy nautical place with windows facing one of the best sunsets in the Bahamas.”

Accommodation
Perched on manicured greens overlooking the tranquil Caribbean Sea our Tropical Island cottage and four Tropical Island Villas make the most of their natural setting. Due to recent renovations all rooms now have a fresh and modern feel.

Tropical Island Villa
Our Tropical Island Villa is perfect for a large family or group of friends who are looking for a private space they can call their home away from home. The cottage comprises of one queen size bedroom and two twin sized bedrooms, a living space, fully contained kitchen, air-conditioning and enclosed patio.

Tropical Island Rooms
Our Tropical Island Rooms are perfect for a couple, or a small family. The rooms comprise of a queen and single beds, air conditioning, private bathroom and kitchenette.

Contact

Rainbow Inn, P.O. Box EL25053, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Phone: 242-335-0294