Is A Guide Needed?

While Eleuthera is known as a great do-it-yourself bonefishing locale, there are many knowledgeable fly fishing guides on the island. You’re big question regarding your trip to Eleuthera is likely, “Do I need a guide and, if so, how long?” Though boats and guides are optional, we believe they are an indispensable asset for a successful bonefishing adventure in Eleuthera. No one has more intimate knowledge of the local bonefish and bonefish flats than the local guides. They can find fish when even the most experienced bonefisher is striking out. Not only are they invaluable at finding fish, they are invaluable at spotting fish. Bonefish are by far the most difficult game fish to spot in open water, but after a few days with your guide, you should be able to start spotting the same fish with your guide. Anyone who has fished with a guide for bonefish will know that until that time you are usually casting “blind” to the spot your guide tells you.

Can you spot the bonefish in this picture? Your guide can.  See hint below*

 
Most of our packages have two “guided” options: 3-days and 5-days of guide services. Of course, more or less days can be booked. If you have never fished for bonefish before, we recommend at least 3 days of guide service, but would advise 5 days. Provided you are a capable fly fisher to begin with, you will likely have a good handle on what is needed to catch fish, and most importantly, you will start being able to spot the fish. After your guided days (or in between them), you will be free to explore the island with your DIY Book and with the knowledge and skills to catch fish on your own. However, don’t discount booking more days with your guide. That is the one sure way of being constantly into fish and gaining experience fly fishing for bonefish.

Even if you are an experienced bonefisher, we still recommend at least three days with the guide. Most of us don’t have the opportunity to bonefish on a regular basis, so a few days of readjusting to the flats and spotting bonefish is very helpful. We believe this is especially important to obtain a guide for your first trip to Eleuthera. Besides help with the fishing, Eleuthera guides are a blast to hang out with. They can tell you all of the secret places to fish, snorkel, and buy the best conch salad, not to mention point you to the nearest cold beer.

As most of the good fishing spots in Eleuthera can be accessed by car, all of our standard guided packages include the guide, but no boat. The standard practice is for you and the guide to use your rental car to access the flats. We can provide guide service with a boat, but it will be an additional expense for boat rental and fuel. Please contact us for further details.

*This bonefish is only about 10 feet away in about 18 inches of water.  Look at the middle of the picture 1/3 of the distance from the top, facing the right edge of the picture.  Sometimes the black eye is all you can see.