I’ve been to Great Inagua twice. Once the fishing was outstanding, in the category of “as good as it gets.” The second time, there were days we struggled. But even that trip a couple of us had 15 – 20 fish days. The problem is that expectations are so high you begin to think every day should be fantastic. Inagua is a DIYer’s paradise with all of the locations reached by car, foot or kayak. There’s not much guess work required to find the fish, and if staying at the lodge, Henry arms you with a map…..bonefish located here…X. To my mind the fishing can be broken down into the south shore, the old salt ponds, creek systems and Lake Windsor. South Shore: Blessed with beautiful white sand and turtle grass flats, protected by a barrier reef, the south shore of Inagua offers some of the best fishing I have ever had for bonefish, triggers, cudas, snook and yes even permit. Mile after mile of ocean side flats that are all accessible by a road parrelling the shoreline. From the Lighthouse east, for 13 miles, you’ll find enough fishable water to keep you busy for a week. Old Salt Ponds: The salt ponds south of Matthews Town are no longer an integral part of the salt making operation but still have major canals, dikes and locks. The lagoons are easy to walk and you better believe there are bones there. It’s important to understand they are not everywhere and you need to find the “spots”. But here is a great place to focus on when the wind or the tides make the South Shore un-fishable. One morning the south shore tides were not in our favour so we set out for the ponds. In the first fifteen minutes I caught a couple, then started to see a few more and finally just stopped as fish after fish swam by. More than happy to eat a Bonefish Junk Light it turned out to be the start of pretty spectacular day. The first ten fish were fun but they were only the tip of the “bonefish party”. I walked another 100 yards and came across a school of what had to be 1,000’s. Let the games begin. Creek Systems: There are not many creek systems on Inagua, but what is there can be fantastic. Driving for 40 minutes north out of Matthews Town the road ends at a point where it was washed out by a hurricane. Here you will find a creek system that runs both east and west, take your pick. Both hold plenty of fish but the system to the east is a little nicer to walk. But the Mother Of All Creeks is east of Henry Hugh’s lodge (Great Inagua Outback Lodge) and is a must see. It goes on for miles and miles, can be fished on foot, kayak or boat and is one of those places where you can experience a twenty fish day on your own. I have literally hours of video of my buddy and I catching fish after fish on a cloudy, rainy day. Not normally great conditions for bonefishing but what can I say. “You just had to be there.” Lake Windsor: Massive Lake Windsor is within the 183,000 acre Inagua National Park. It’s unique for many reasons and should best be seen and fished with either the Park Warden Henry Nixon or lodge owner Henry Hugh. There are bones and some snook in the lake but you fish Lake Windsor for tarpon. No boat required. It’s the wildness that makes Inagua so inviting. From the wild donkeys to the great flocks of West Indian Flamingo’s you will never feel farther away from the stresses of home then here. No footprints on the beach, no competing fisherman, no passing guide boats, just you. And bonefish that act like bonefish, if it moves they eat it. You mess up your strip strike, they may give you another shot. And they are big. So flies in my box for the South Shore are bigger than my normal DIY box. No problem using #4’s with lots of flash and a large meaty profile. In the creek systems and lagoons you probably should lean toward #6’s and long leaders just are not necessary. Great Inagua, put it on your list.
↧