If you haven’t checked out the Flatswalker blog, you should.  Not only is it a good read with posts that are on the other side of the ordinary, but they are the work of Davin Ebanks, fishing guide out of Grand Caymen.  Here is a Youtube gem of his from a pilgrimage to Andros.

I thought I’d talk a little bit about Andros here before the guys from FIBFest start relating their own  stories about fishing for bonefish at Andros South.

First let me tell you everything I know about South Andros, all my fishing stories from my time in South Andros and share some pictures of fish I’ve caught on South Andros.

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OK, now that we have that out of the way, I can relate to you the experiences of folks that have actually been there, fished and caught some of those Andros bones… folks like John Merwin, writing for Field and Stream back in 2005.

You are standing on the flat front deck of a bonefish skiff, hoping to see a fish, while a guide slowly poles over white sand shallows that stretch into forever. Enough fly line for a long cast lies at your feet. A long winter’s worth of anticipation knots the small of your back. The warm sun and soft lapping of water against the hull are hypnotic, leading your mind to wander across the intense pastels of the Bahamian landscape.

Yes… I  want to be there… so… badly.

Now, you don’t have  to stay at a lodge… there are DIY/self-guided options.  I’ve even had one such trip suggested to me.  However, it doesn’t sound easy and the guy that recommended the Andros DIY had a really bad trip down there a couple months ago.

If you have the scratch, a lodge/guide is a good deal.

Deneki Outdoors owns and operates the Andros South lodge.  Back in January when Florida was seeing dead snook, tarpon and bonefish from icy weather the folks down in Andros were still fishing, although with an extra layer of clothes.

In this blog post on the Deneki Outdoors site, Andrew shares some thoughts on cold weather bonefishing (here’s the secret, it might just mean a shot at a beeeeg bonefish).

Cool water bone, photo by Louis Cahill, angler Bruce Chard

The most recent issue of This is Fly is out and not only is it their longest yet, all full of fishy goodness, but it has two, COUNT ‘EM, TWO, stories on bonefish.

This, of course, meets with my approval.

The first story is about Coach Duff and those big, huge, massive, unreasonably large bones of the Aloha State.  You can find that story here.

The second story was by one of the guys behind This is Fly, Paris Fleezanis.  This story takes the TIF crew to Andros and Kamalame Cay.

Kamalame is a place that has shown up on Bones on the Brain before.

TIF, I salute you.  Keep putting out the good stuff.  They remain the leading edge of the e-zine revolution.  A lot was made of the fact that Catch Magazine came out on the same day, but they really are different fish, even if they are both fly fishing-centric.  TIF is for those who read the stories and Catch is for those that like the pictures more than the text (I like Catch, even saw some places I’ve fished in this recent episode).   TIF adds the crazy art… none of which I’d want in my home, in the homes of my friends, on the walls of my friends’ friends, but, ya know… different strokes.

To keep the paper still circulating, I recently subscribed to two magazines… physical magazines… Fly Fishing in Salt Waters and Fly Rod and Reel.  I’m doing my part… ya know, mostly.

The Big Hole Trout blog has had a series of bonefish stories from Andros.  This post is about a 15 pounder that didn’t quite make it to the boat.

Imagine a bonefish as big as this burger.

The BigholeTrout blog is put out by Great Divide Outfitters.

Deneki Outdoors… see, they are just wired… in with the whole “internet revolution” or whatever.  I saw their latest report from Andros South pop up and wanted to send it on to all you non-Twitterati.

The other item that caught my eye from Twitter today was from Black Fly, a lodge in Abaco.  The sweet tweet reported a THIRTY INCH bonefish caught by some lucky SOB named David.

The Bonefish Adventure website has a length to weight estimation table that puts a 30 inch fish at fifteen pounds.  Nice.

How long is your commute?  I once had to drive 100 miles, but only had to do it twice a month.  Mr. Bonefish, it turns out, can put in some serious miles.

Florida has a tagging program thanks to the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust and  the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association.  One of those tagged fish was caught and tagged near Key Biscane.  From there it crossed the Gulf Stream (something researchers didn’t know they did) and was caught off Andros, about 186 miles away.  This more than doubled the longest known movement by a bonefish.  This has all sorts of implications… it means Florida bonefish may be intermingling, and maybe interbreeding, with Bahamian bonefish.

Here is the news from Science Daily.

That's a long commute, Mr. Bonefish

You too can own a bonefish lodge or something that approximates a lodge at any rate.  Franks Place on Andros is up for sale.  If you want to go in as partners, I have about $500-600 I can spare, all you’d need to come up with is the other $748,500.  Wadyasay?  Deal?

Restaurant, Bar, a few flats-ish boats, 4 guest rooms and 900 whole square feet of living space for us, the owners (I call the top bunk).

Hanks Place

OK, let’s make it happen!