Earlier I had posted a report talking about the fishing on northern Cat Island, including Orange Creek, Bennet Creek and others, but the areas in central and southern Cat Island are every bit as good.
We stayed in Fernandez Bay which is centrally located and is one of the most classically beautiful beaches in the Bahamas. It is perfect for families and couples and doesn’t hurt that there are separate creek systems teeming with bonefish on both the north and south end of the bay.
While staying on Fernandez Bay we got to know Cathleen Perdok, the owner of Island HoppInn and thoroughly fell in love with her property and personality. Not often can I rave about a place to stay when in fact I’ve not even been a customer.
Island HoppInn
The rooms are perfect for couples and families, a comfortable outside lounge area and all the “beach toys” you could want. The gorgeous white sand is ten steps from your door and the gentle sloping beach leads to the picture perfect aqua blue water. As in all accommodations, the reality is they are just buildings, it’s the owner/operator that gives it a soul, and you can’t help but be exited for the day ahead when enveloped by Cathleen’s enthusiasm. As a fishermen, it never hurts knowing that your family is going to be happy while you slip out the back door and WALK to Smith Bay to catch a few bonefish.
Hermitage
From Smith Bay south there are a number of creek systems and ocean beaches with excellent bonefishing. Armbrister Creek, Hawksnest Creek, “the round about” and enough other locations to keep any angler happy for a week or two. The night before we left Cat, I finally found how to get into a creek I had heard about but couldn’t find. Well that’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull, a rumoured creek system that nobody gets to, that is full of fish. After wading through the muck I first saw it with barely an hours worth of light left and there were tails as far as the eye could see. Caught a couple of fish then had to find my way out. Our plane didn’t leave for Nassau until 2:00p.m. the next day, so I convinced my wife “the muck wasn’t really that bad” (knee deep) and we should fish the outgoing tide in the morning. We got up early and ended up having one of those magical mornings with bones and “life” everywhere.
Fernandez Bay
I like sharks, I’ve learned through the years that where there are sharks there are bonefish. At one point I just had to stop to count the number of sharks around us, the total was 14. Not sure how many fish we caught that morning, more than “lots’ and I’m not telling you the name of the place, but rest assured with a little research and bush whacking on your own, you to can find this little piece of paradise.
Loved Cat Island, a quiet, but beautiful destination for a couple or family with plenty of bonefish still learning what a Crazy Charlie is.
