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Locations — 2 Comments
09
Apr 10

Val + Abaco + Orvis

A week in Abaco with famed photographer Val Atkinson doesn’t sound bad at all, really.  Oct. 17-23 Val is hosting a trip for Orvis at Abaco Lodge, now made famous for being the filming location for Pirates of the Flats.

Honestly, it sounds like a good time.  I particularly like this bit…

Anglers on this special trip can even participate in valuable bonefish research by collecting fin clippings and occasionally tagging their catches, prior to release. Each member of the group will receive a Helios saltwater rod, and a one year membership in Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.

Pirates were here... photo Val Atkinson

Conservation — No Comments
03
Apr 10

What’s a Bahamian Bonefish Worth?

Well… just how much are those Bahamian Bonefish worth?  That’s the question asked by the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (along with Bahamian National Trust and the Fisheries Conservation Foundation).

Turns out, it’s a pretty impressive pile of scratch.

To determine the economic impact of the bonefishing industry to The Bahamas, the Bahamian Flats Fishing Alliance (BFFA) commissioned an in-depth study, which has just been released. The results were astounding: the total economic impact of flats fishing in The Bahamas is nearly $141 million annually! Even in a time when global recession has caused fishing-related tourism to drop 11.6% from 2007, the fishery continues to provide considerable economic value to this region. The results of this study provide strong evidence of the need for responsible conservation and management of this vitally important cultural resource.

You probably have guessed bonefish are valuable.  $141M is certainly impressive (out of a total GDP of about $9B).  Of course, something worth so much deserves a fair measure of protection and that was really the point of the study (read it here).  From enforcement of existing laws protecting bonefish to land use decisions and water quality efforts, the Bahamian people can now put a number on exactly just how important is is to protect the Gray Ghosts.

Hey Buddie... you are worth a LOT!

Locations — No Comments
18
Mar 10

Black Fly in Abaco

Black Fly Bonefish Club in Abaco looks like a place I’d like to visit.  One of the handful of places that has really embraced social/on-line media, Blackfly also has a blog, a Facebook page and a Twitter account… not including Youtube efforts like the one below.

Abaco, the Bahamian island just north east of Grand Bahama, was the site of Pirates of the Flats, so if you’ve watched that (and I have), you have an idea of what the water looks like there.  It doesn’t suck.

Fish Tails — No Comments
22
Feb 10

A little Long Island Bonefish

Nice little bonefish vid from Long Island.  People who don’t bonefish or who don’t like warm, tropical places think Long Island means New York… those are people I pity.

I’ll add that this was a great bonefish release… that’s how the folks over at the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust would draw it up.

Fish Tails — No Comments
24
Jan 10

Berry Islands YouTube Bonefish Montage

Do what I do… live mostly vicariously through the fishing of others (although I’m on my way back from the Bahamas riiiiiiiight now). (written a few days ago)

Fish Tails — No Comments
23
Jan 10

Bonefish YouTube-ized

Another vid of bonefishing for Bones in the Bahamas with a houndfish for good measure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo0_IvC3QBg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6

Fish Tails — No Comments
19
Jan 10

Bonefish Junkie

Saltwater Sportsman had a fun article about a reformed trout bum and saltwater convert.  Story by Colin Kearns. Worth a read.

Read the whole story at Saltwater Sportsman

Gear — 2 Comments
08
Jan 10

My Toolbox for GBI

OK… I have all my rods/reels/lines.  I’m ready… now the weather just has to cooperate.

Rods... not "poles." Never "poles."

The 7 weight
Rod: TFO Axiom
Reel: Okuma Helios
Line: SA Bonefish Line

The 8 weight
Rod: TFO Clouser
Reel: TFO Large Arbor
Line: Teeny Bruce Chard Bonefish

The 8/9 weight
Rod: Albright GP
Reel: Ross CLA 5
Line: Teeny Flip Pallot Bonefish

Fish Tails / Locations — No Comments
06
Jan 10

Long Island Bonefish Montage

A nice little video/photo montage to get you thinking about warmer climes.

All the other stuff — 1 Comment
14
Dec 09

I Love Crack(ed Conch)

Bonefish live in lots of places with lots of interesting things to eat and drink.  In the case of the Bahamas, one thing you’ll find in great supply is Conch (pronounced “konk”). Conch is, as you probably know, a really big mollusk with firm, white meat.  There are Conch Fritters and Conch Chowder and Cracked Conch and Conch Conch and, well, you get the idea.

On my upcoming trip I don’t plan on eating out too much (think Ritz Crackers and Peanut Butter).  One thing I am looking forward to is at least one night of Cracked Conch.  Cracked Conch is basically like clam strips, but made with conch.  It is super yummy and will be washed down by a nice cold Kalik beer.

Bahamian Cuisine

Cracked Conch

Ingredients: 1 ½ lb. conch, 1 oz. lemon juice, 2oz. flour, 3 eggs

Method : Cut the conch in half horizontally and tenderize. Marinate the conch in the lemon juice for ½ hour. Beat the eggs and dip the conch in the flour, egg wash and finally dip again into the flour. Deep fry. Serves 4.

Pretty simple… and simply delicious.

Post Cracked

Pre-Cracked... kind of pretty, really.

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