Fishing has always been an integral part of Bahamian life, and it is the foundation on which the venerable Deep Water Cay was created. Throughout its distinguished fifty plus year history, Deep Water Cay has hosted some of the most adventurous and distinguished fly rodders. Joe Brooks, Curt Gowdy, Ray Bergman, Stu Apte, Flip Pallot, Lefty Kreh, Chico Fernandez and Sandy Moret are a few of the most recognized names. So come on down and add your name to the roster.

The Flats:

In some places, like the Middle Bight of Andros, you practically need a Harbormaster to direct all the boat traffic. At Deep Water Cay you'll find over 250 square miles of flats to fish, and you can wade or boat fish. The flats that you’ll wade fish are hard-packed white sand, and the bones are easy to spot. Boat fishing is done around the softer bottoms that are covered in Turtle Grass and oriented around the mangroves. If you look hard enough you’ll see that the water runs far beyond the mangrove root tangles and into saltwater lakes. These lakes also have some freshwater sources, which make them a virtual baitfish factory. As the tides flood and ebb the baitfish move out of the lakes in on the flats. The real treat is that the 2.2 square mile Deep Water Cay lies on an east/west tack and is situated below an archipelago of moderate-sized cays arranged on a north/south tack. A series of channels connect the southern and northern fisheries, making DWC a close run to any of them. There is enough variety for everyone. {Find Out More}

Extra-Long Fishing Days:

Because of the difference in tides, Deep Water Cay offers more excellent flats fishing than just about anywhere. There is a three-hour tide difference between the east and the west ends of Deep Water Cay so anglers enjoy more prime time fishing. The number of channels that pass through the mangroves means that guides move from the North to South ends of the island without having to make long boat rides. Fishing times run from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. If you want more, there are flats in front of the Infinity Pool that you can walk to.

Bahamas Best Guides:

Some of the most famous Bahamian guides are at Deep Water Cay. Mervin, Meko, Randy, and Mike T work out of Deep Water Cay. These seasoned veterans also run a Guide Training Program where they work with younger, up-and-coming guides. They pass the torch so our guests can have a world-class experience.

The Boats:

Anglers who arrive at Deep Water Cay will fish from an entirely new fleet of Hell’s Bay Flats Skiffs: the Hell’s Bay Marquesa and the Hell’s Bay Professional. General Manager Dana Dribben tested models from the many fabulous boat makers and concluded that Hell’s Bay skiffs were perfectly suited for Deep Water Cay’s distinct fishery. He selected these boats because they float in the skinniest of water, offer a dry, comfortable ride, and provide stability while casting. Hell’s Bay boats are produced from the finest available materials on a made-to-order basis, which allows for custom features to be added as dictated by the customer. Several custom appointments have been added to each boat in the fleet. A stainless steel leaning bar is positioned behind the forward hatch to afford stability and security for all anglers. Internal rod tubes are appointed on both port and starboard sides and provide convenient storage from either side of the skiff. Internal pop up cleats were a must so that running fly lines don’t get tangled, and cockpit chairs are removable to provide additional room, as needed. Poling platforms give our already expert fish spotting guides an additional edge. Though the 17’11” Marquesa floats in only seven inches of water it still features a 76-inch beam and outstanding stability. The shorter and narrower 17’8” Professional floats in a scant 4.5 inches of water! Boats will be matched specifically to the conditions that each group will experience during their day. Outboards are matched to our hulls, and you’ll see either Yamaha 4-stroke 70’s or 90’s. 4-strokes were chosen because they offer a quiet, economical ride for sure, but more specifically because they don’t release oil and gasoline into our pristine environment.

Time of Year:

You’ll catch bones at Deep Water Cay all year long. The only difference has to do with size and weather conditions. January and February is a good time of year, with an occasional Northern wind cooling off the flats. January’s average temperature is 69 degrees, and you’ll find good numbers of bones in the 3-6 pound class. March, April and May are peak Bahamian bonefishing months, and they are terrific for both numbers and size of fish. The summer months, June, July and August, are largely perceived as too hot to fish, but it’s not true. The annual temperature swing is very minimal when compared to areas farther north of the equator. Average temperatures in July and August average 83 degrees, which is the average temperature in Boston, MA. You’ll see big schools of bonefish up to about 8 pounds in the summer. September through November is big fish time, which is when the biggest fish of the year are caught.

Gear:

From January through May you’ll want to have a nine-weight rod, and in the summer you can scale down to a saltwater 6 or 7 weight. Monocore fly lines work best in the late Spring and Summer, and the Scientific Angler Sharkskin line is a good bet. AST lines with braided Dacron cores are fine during the cooler months. Flurocarbon leaders ranging from 8-16 pound test tippets get the nod. If you had to bring just three flies, bring a Mantis shrimp, a McVey Gotcha, and a Meko’s Special. Bring some more to try, and tie them with plastic eyes and bead chain eyes around a size 6. FYI – the Meko Special was developed for these waters by a Deep Water Cay guide (obviously named Meko). Technical outer wear of casting shirts and fast-drying shorts are ideal. Long sleeved shirts and pants are the best idea, particularly if they are made from a quick drying material with a SPF rating. Flats boots for wading are suggested as well, and either amber or copper-colored, wrap-style sunglasses help you spot fish. The Pro Shop is fully stocked with the best quality fly gear on the market. You’ll find Sage rods, Tibor reels, and Scientific Angler fly lines for purchase or for rent. If you forget anything at home, don’t worry, you’ll find it here.

Offshore Fishing:

The overwhelming majority of anglers come to Deep Water Cay for world-class flats fishing. With 250 square miles of remote, seldom fished flats, who can blame them? Still, a fisherman is a fisherman, and not many can resist the call of other species. Deep Water Cay is located in the midst of an incredibly diverse string of currents. The Straits of Florida are located far to the west, with their strong, fertile currents connecting to the western end of Grand Bahama. The Grand Bahama Bank runs north and connects at that same point. From the Fall through the Spring, these currents bring Wahoo, Sailfish, White and Blue Marlin, Mahi Mahi, and tuna to within casting range. What brings them close to Deep Water Cay is the Northwest Providence Channel, and that means anglers have short runs to prime fishing. Here in the channel, depths drop quickly from a foot at Mean Low Water to nearly 750 feet. So climb aboard one of our two 33-foot World Cat center consoles and experience our offshore fishery. It’s closer than you might think. {Find Out More}

Reef Fishing:

Reef fishing is also close by – less than a mile off shore. Grouper, snapper and barracuda are the commonly caught fish, and the action can be fast and furious. Reef fishing is a perfect activity for everyone, and no special skills are required. Schedule a trip and the rest is on us. Reef fishing is done from one of our 33-foot World Cat center consoles, and remains strong year ‘round. And save your appetite. Our Executive Chef will prepare your catch for dinner. {Find Out More}