Bahamas | Bonefish on the Brain

Locations — No Comments
28
Oct 15

Florida vs. The Bahamas

In that latest news story out of the Bahamas the comments section provides the usual entertainment in race-card playing and poor economics.

One comment seemed to say studies showing the economic impact of recreational fishing in Florida, valued at $800M, has to mean that the Bahamas industry is worth way more than the estimated $141M because the Bahamas has more flats.

So you do the math……Also really, only worth $141M from 5 years ago! What about Permit, Tarpon and Snook value? They say the Florida Keys flatsfishing is about $800M! Wow! Now take a look at Google and look at their flats to the Bahamas’!

This, of course, is idiotic. Yes… the Bahamas has more flats than Florida does. That is true, surely. However, Florida also has just shy of 20 million people vs. the Bahama’s 400K. That’s roughly 50x. There is also a vibrant fishing culture in Florida that allows anyone to fish in just about any way they want to. You don’t need a guide to go out and fish and the guides don’t own any spots that you, the out-of-state DIY angler, can’t fish if you get there first.

The idea that the Bahamian fishing industry has to be bigger than Florida’s, solely based on square-mileage is dumb. By that measure, the economy of New York City (304 square miles) must be dwarfed by that of Kazakstan (1M square miles). Guess what… that doesn’t work either. New York City has a GDP of about $1.3T vs. $231B for Kazakstan.

The Bahamian economy has a GDP of about $8.4B. Tourism accounts for about 60% of that amount.

Telling one whole group of anglers they, and their families, aren’t welcome in the Bahamas is a very poorly thought out plan and, luckily, it is all coming tumbling down. The odds these regulations are going to pass and become law diminish by the day as more and more people wake up to the economic disaster represented by these proposals.

Locations — No Comments
26
Oct 15

People are paying attention in the Bahamas

The argument has always been economic. Sure, there was some noise about conservation, but the idea catch and release anglers were somehow a major threat to the entire Bahamian fishery was always a bit of misdirection. It’s the economy, stupid.

Folks are paying attention and they are starting to do their own math and that math reveals what so many of us have been saying for so long… banning DIY is a great way to cut a big chunk out of the Bahamian economy.

Ellison Thompson, Deputy Director-General of Tourism, said “The question is do you want to alienate the DIYs when you look at the economic impact. You can say everyone who comes has to have a guide, but I think you would be cutting off a lot of money.”

Exactly.

Read the whole story here.

The thing we have to keep sight of is that this was never a plan embraced by everyone. There have been plenty of Bahamians who thought this whole business was a disaster from the get-go. That’s why I’ve never been a fan of the whole “boycott” idea. Why punish the people who saw this for what it was and fought tooth and nail against it?

Sure, you can catch bonefish in Belize and Mexico and Cuba and Hawaii, Christmas Island, Australia, the British Virgin Islands, Florida, Puerto Rico, the Cook Islands, Los Roques and more. Even if the Bahamas was shut down 100%, you could still go catch a bonefish. So, you could boycott the Bahamas, but that seems misguided to me. Go where you want to go. Fish the waters that call out to you. If you love Belize, go to Belize. If you love the Bahamas, go to the Bahamas. It looks more and more likely you won’t have misguided and unfriendly legislation to contend with.

Fingers crossed and thank you to all the Bahamians who have been pro-angler. We’ll repay your effort with days walking Bahamian flats and evenings of cracked conch and cold Kalik.

mmmmm

Locations — No Comments
13
Oct 15

Press Release from the Bahamas

Here’s a recent press release out of the Bahamas. Basically, they want to remind you that nothing has changed and that the Bahamas is still a fantastic place to visit, even after Hurricane Joaquin screwed a few of the islands up. Hard to argue with any of these points.

This press release should not be taken as a defeat by the BFFIA (Bahamian F-ed-up Fiduciary Insanity Association). This points in that general direction and may be a sign some of the people in positions of power realize the LAST thing needed at this point is a confusing and xenophobic message telling some tourists they are not wanted.

The Cliff Note version of my take on things is this… You want to go to the Bahamas, go ahead. You’ll be able to fish, DIY, semi-DIY, fully-guided, partially-guided, at least for now, and that won’t change abruptly or in the really short-term. Of course, I’d urge you to support those who have supported us, the anglers. And… you may also want to chip in to help those who got leveled by Joaquin to get back on their feet, which you can do here.
—–

BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR BAHAMAS FLATS FISHINGNASSAU,

BAHAMAS, October 8, 2015 — The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (BMOT) wishes to advise that all categories of anglers are welcome to fish The Islands Of The Bahamas this 2015-2016 season and that the vast majority of the islands are ready and open for business as usual after Hurricane Joaquin.

Anglers are further advised that no restriction on fishing, no new taxes, no across the board increase in prices or licensing fees have been introduced. In the event there are any changes, be assured that Ministry officials will notify the global fishing community well in advance.

Throughout The Islands Of The Bahamas you will find a mix of international and locally owned upscale, mid-priced and economy lodges with a range of affordable packages and options. Each bonefish lodge has its own charm and certified guides.

Local guides have been trained to provide a safe and customer friendly angling experience based on globally accepted sustainable principles. The practice of “Catch & Release” fishing is strictly observed.

The Bahamas continues to be the ideal flat fishing destination for avid fishermen with 100,000 square miles of the most renowned fishing flats in the world, and an abundance of fish species including bonefish, permit, tarpon and other tropical sports fishing species. The Out Islands of Abacos, Andros, Bimini, Cat Island, Eleuthera, and The Exumas are premiere flats fishing locales.

With close proximity to the Continental United States, just 50 miles from Florida and a 30minute flight via commercial airlines, and average winter temperatures ranging from 21°C to 27°C (or 70°F to 80°F), anglers can still make it for the perfect fall flats fishing experience. Visit http://www.bahamas.com/fishing for more details and to book your fishing trip to The Bahamas today.

About The Islands Of The BahamasThe Islands Of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone from Nassau and Paradise Island to Grand Bahama to The Abaco Islands, The Exuma Islands, Harbour Island, Long Island and others. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles withsome of the world’s best golf, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with pre-clearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar is on par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It’s Better in The Bahamas.

For more information on travel packages, activities and accommodations, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit www.Bahamas.com.

Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Media Contact:Anita Johnson-Patty Bahamas Ministry of Tourism ajohnson@bahamas.com

All the other stuff — 2 Comments
07
Oct 15

Getting the Bahamas Back on Their Feet

Let’s get on board with this, OK?

PRESS RELEASE

The Abaco Fly Fishing Guides Association (AFFGA) is spearheading a RECONSTRUCTION FUND to benefit fly fishing guides and the accommodating establishments that cater to fly fishing anglers that lost their ability to make a living because of the destruction in the Southern Bahamas from Hurricane Joaquin.

AFFGA is working with world-wide industry members and partners to raise funds and has organized a Bahamian Advisory Board to help get the word out to those affected. The board will help gather relevant data regarding the requirements of those in the affected areas who are in need of assistance to rebuild their fly fishing businesses.

Once an assessment of the specific needs of the individuals affected by the storm are known AFGGA will reach out to our partners who may be able to help fulfill their requirements in order to alleviate some of the pain of the rebuilding process. Your donations may pay for materials and equipment or be awarded as cash to recipients based on need.

Anglers and Industry partners, we need your help to make this happen!

You may make donations via PayPal at www.affga.org Please indicate RECONSTRUCTION FUND or HURRICANE RELIEF as the purpose. Or you can mail checks made payable to Abaco Fly Fishing Guides Association to the following address:

Abaco Fly Fishing Guides Association

c/o GB Express Exports Inc.

610 SW 34^th St. Suite 107

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

Your generous donations will be distributed by the Board of Directors of AFFGA based on the needs expressed by those affected with the intent of helping as many people as possible. A full accounting of donations and expenditures will be made within three months.

AFFGA Board of Directors:

Justin Sands

Cindy Pinder

Buddy Pinder

Patrick Roberts

AFFGA Reconstruction Fund Advisory Board:

Mr. Gregory Bethel, Senior Economist, Department of Marine Resources

Mr. Benjamin Pratt, Senior Manager, Ministry of Tourism

Ms. Cheryl Bastian, Vice President, Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board

Rev. Felton Rolle, Owner, Salina Point Bonefish Lodge, Acklins

Mrs. Arnette Chisholm, Owner, Chester’s Highway Inn Bonefish Lodge, Acklins *

Mr. Nevin Knowles, Owner, Long Island Bonefish Lodge, Long Island *

Shavonne Davrville, Owner, Gems of Paradise, Long Island * * still trying to make contact to confirm participation

If you need further information, please contact Cindy Pinder at 561-202-8575 or via email skeeterone@coralwave.com. LIKE US ON FACE BOOK – ABACO FLY FISHING GUIDES ASSOCIATION to keep up to date on progress. Please spread the word throughout the fishing world as we need your help to rebuild the fly fishing industry in the Southern Bahamas. Thank you!

All the other stuff — No Comments
04
Oct 15

Bahamas Fly Fishing Hurricane Relief Fund

Bahamas Fly Fishing Relief Fund
Joaquin has caused some major damage in the Bahamas as it sat over islands like Long, San Sal, Crooked and Acklins for days. Since it formed locally, many of the precautionary measures normally taken were impossible. Once the immediate food and shelter issues are taken care of there will be a lot of folks who need some help getting their businesses back up and running to support their families. The Bahamas Fly Fishing Hurricane Relief Fund is intended to help members of the fly fishing industry who need help getting their businesses back up and running. This isn’t about giving a man a fish, or teaching a man to fish (they know how to do that already), it is about getting him back out fishing again.

How it works
Funds will be collected by the Abaco Fly Fishing Guide’s Association. To apply for help applicants need to be a member of one of the fly fishing associations (AFFGA or BFFIA). Applicants just need to say what they need the money for and how it will help them get their business back up and running (a more flushed out application will be made available once we get a sense of how much money has been raised). Funds will be administered by the AFFGA. Amounts given will be determined based on the total amount raised, the need stated and the principal of widest possible impact (helping as many people in a meaningful way as possible).

Oversight
The total amount of money raised and the total amount of money given out, for what and in what amounts, will be posted within 3 months.

How to give
You can give to the fund through the AFFGA’s PayPal account (the link is on the left side, just click on the PayPay icon). Simply include “FLY FISHING HURRICANE RELIEF FUND” in the purpose.

First, we need to raise some money, then we can see how much support we can actually give so we can let the guides know how much help they can get. So, if you know some industry folks or a few hedge fund guys who love bonefishing, let’s get some money into the AFFGA so we can get some help to those guides impacted by that rat bastard Joaquin.

The Bahamas is a special place. These are good, hard working people. These are people we like and people we generally spend some of our best days with. Let’s do what we can to keep them in business.

Locations — 3 Comments
02
Oct 15

The Drake’s Take

A great satirical look at the Bahamas situation came out in The Drake’s on-line incarnation. I feel honored to have been mentioned for the small role I’ve helped play in keeping people informed.

One of the humorous items on the list was:

6) DIY angling still allowed, but only in two Designated DIY Zones: Swimming Pig Beach on Great Exuma, and Stingray Lagoon at the Atlantis Resort. DIY anglers must fish standing on one foot, wearing only a banana hammock, while singing “March on, Bahamaland.”

See, that’s funny because it sounds a lot like the Unguided Angler areas proposed by our pals over at the BFFIA.

It seems on the surface of things that they are not going to get their way with their long list of power-grabbing proposals. At least, ya know… on the surface.

So… is this it?

Recently, a Department of Marine Resouces spokesperson had this to say:

“It was also noted that there are persons and companies that offer accommodations throughout the Bahamas who cater specifically to DIY fishers. Given the significance of the DIY portion of the sector, the management measures being contemplated now will require these fishers to obtain a personal license to engage in flats fishing, provide access by these fishers to all fishing flats except those under special management, and also ensure that DIY fishers have the latest information with regard to catch and release methods and fishing etiquette in the Bahamas.”

See… that sounded pretty good at first glance, but I wasn’t the only one to wonder “So, what are these special management areas?”

Is that pre-spawn aggregation points or is that every easily accessible flat on Long Island, Acklins, Crooked, Eluthera and Cat? Basically, is this the Unguided Angler areas in different packaging? Maybe this is everywhere but good ole Singray Lagoon, more or less.

The warm cozy feelings are being replaced by the paranoid questionings as I’m starting to really want to see a map of what they are talking about.

What do you think? Am I being paranoid here?

Fish Tails / Locations — 4 Comments
29
Sep 15

Interview with Justin Lewis from BTT

As hard as it is to believe, I actually asked these questions of Justin Lewis from Bonefish & Tarpon Trust before all this Bahamas regulation stuff came up.

Justin works for BTT. He’s a Bahamian working in the Bahamas for BTT. Shows BTT’s commitment to protecting bonefish where bonefish live. I applaud that up and down and am only sorry I have but two hands to applaud with. See… BTT is awesome.

Justin Lewis in the Bahamas

You are working with BTT out in the Bahamas. Can you give me an overview of what that work entails?

Working as the Bahamas Initiative Manager for the BTT, I travel around the Bahamas visiting lodges and working with local guides which has helped us identify bonefish home ranges, juvenile habitat, bonefish spawning sites, and bonefish spawning migration pathways. The Bahamas Initiative is a collaborative, multi-year program to conserve and protect the bonefish fishery and their habits in The Bahamas.

The work I do when I travel to the different islands ranges from giving presentations to guides, anglers and schools, to tagging, to snorkeling with thousands of bonefish in pre-spawning aggregations. The scientific information we collect is then applied to habitat conservation plans in conjunction with fishing guides, lodge owners, collaborating NGO’s, and the Bahamas Government.

Nice fish from Justin.

What is one thing you wish anglers knew about conservation.

The one thing I wish anglers knew about conservation is how much they are capable and welcome of getting involved in conservation efforts. For the work we do at BTT, angler and guide participation is key to the success of many of our projects. For example, our tag-recapture study in the Bahamas involved a lot of angler and guide participation. From anglers and guides tagging bonefish and reporting recaptures we were able to figure out that bonefish have very small home ranges (<1km), and also travel long distances (>30km) for spawning purposes. By anglers participating in research like the tagging program, the information they help collect is vital to conservation efforts and planning for bonefish and their habitats. It is also a great way to give back to the resource we have such a passion for.

The BTT in collaboration with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has initiated a new genetics study looking at the connectivity of bonefish and tarpon populations in the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Western Atlantic. We collect fin clips from bonefish and scales from tarpon that are used for genetic analysis, and can help us determine whether different populations are related to one another. If anglers or guides who target bonefish or tarpon in those areas are interested in participating in this study, they can request a fin clip or scale sample kit by contacting us at info@bonefishtarpontrust.org.

A baby poon, Bahamas style.

What’s one unexpected thing you’ve see out there on the flats?

On a flat in Eleuthera, I saw a very large porcupine fish. I’ve seen them countless times out on the reef, but never thought I’d ever see one on the flats.

What do you think is the biggest threat to Bahamian bonefish?

We have identified habitat loss and degradation to be the greatest threat to bonefish populations in the Bahamas. Lots of areas that are prime feeding and spawning habitat for bonefish are also sought after by developers for sand mining or hotel and marina developments. Removing or altering habitat could negatively affect a local bonefish population that depends on habitats like mangroves and seagrass beds for food and cover.

How good is the Bahamian rugby team? And please explain how to play rugby. (I admit I asked this question to be funny, but Justin just went ahead and answered it anyway)

We are a good team and have a lot of talent, but we still have things we need to improve on. We had a good international season this year, beating both Bermuda and Turks & Caicos.
Rugby is a continuous game whereby two teams carry, pass, kick and ground the ball in order to score. In rugby there are 15 people playing at a time per side. The key to playing rugby is that you always have to pass the ball backwards, and to be in support of the man with ball in order to receive a pass or ruck in order to secure the ball. The purpose of the ruck or maul is so that the game can continue without any stoppage in play. The line-out and scrum are two key distinguishing factors to the game of Rugby Union. A scrum occurs when there is an accidental infringement and a line-out occurs when the ball goes out of bounds. A try is scored when a player places the ball in the opposition’s in-goal area, and is worth 5 points followed by a conversion kick which is worth 2.

On an average day of bonefishing, average conditions, what fly are you pulling out for your first cast?

Well that all depends on the area I am fishing. My go-to fly for most situations is a simple crab pattern, most of the time a merkin or bastard crab that will match the bottom I am fishing. The two keys to choosing the right crab pattern is weight and color. Match the weight of the fly to the depth of water you are fishing, and as I already mentioned match the color of the crab fly to the bottom. Most of the time crabs will take on the color of the bottom they are on. Crabs have a very high caloric value which bonefish love, so to heighten your chances of getting one to look and hopefully eat, I’d recommend a crab fly.

If you were writing the laws in the Bahamas and could enact one law to help the fishery stay healthy, what law would you enact?

If there was one law I could enact, it would be the protection of key bonefish habitat from unsustainable development. From the research BTT and our collaborators have done over the years on bonefish, we have come to the conclusion that degradation, blockage, and removal of bonefish habitat is the greatest threat to the species.

One other law I would enact is total ban of gill nets. They are a non-selective and extremely destructive type of fishing, and if they get lost and float at sea or get stuck in mangroves, they can cause even more destruction by entangling any marine organism that gets near it.

Thanks Justin!

Locations — 6 Comments
25
Sep 15

Light on the Horizon in the Bahamas

Andros South in the morning.

Well… this certainly looks like good news.

The Department of Marine Resources has come out and alleviated a lot of the fear around what these regulations might look like. It indicates a lot of wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes to scrub the most offensive parts of this thing.

DIY is safe.

You’ll need a license.

Guides will be licensed.

Mother ships will continue to be regulated by other laws (even though most people were fine with that going away).

None of that “Unguided Angler Permitted Area” stuff.

No power consolidation in the BFFIA.

Can you hear the collective sigh of relief? I can hear it from all the way in California.

So, don’t cancel that trip. Don’t boycott the Bahamas. No need to get any more worked up over what some of those guys wanted to do. They aren’t going to be able to do any of it.

It appears right now, that the Bahamas might just be saved.

Conservation / Locations — 5 Comments
28
Aug 15

Damning

The MidCurrent story, both I & II are getting a lot of eyeballs. There are probably more comments on those two stories than all the stories I’ve written about the topic. It speaks to the authority MidCurrent has as a brand.

If you are still on the fence… I think these comments by our pal Prescott Smith about the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust really should help you pick a side. This is from the MidCurrent story:

BFFIA president Prescott Smith, who argues that BTT resists local input and is out of touch with ordinary Bahamians, says that BFFIA has no relationship with BTT now and no plans to work with the group on common cause conservation concerns in the future. Instead BFFIA works closely with Bahamas Sportfishing Conservation Association (BSCA), which Smith himself began in 1995 to address conservation issues he believed were of particular importance to Bahamians. According to Smith, BSCA has approximately 250 members; a request for the number of members with fisheries science backgrounds and/or advanced degrees in marine resources or natural resources management went unanswered. In any case, Smith asserts that locals know more about local fish behavior and patterns than do experts who visit the islands for a few months for programs like bonefish tagging.

Really?

Just to be clear… THIS is the organization Prescott won’t work with (and by the way, that is what actual conservation work looks like).

It is unclear if Prescott knew BTT has a Bahamian staff member, living in Grand Bahama, working every day on conservation issues (not weekends, really, working 5 days a week), getting in touch with ordinary Bahamians.

Instead of working with and supporting a world-class conservation organization like BTT, Prescott will only work with an organization he himself started and controls. This is the organization he’s talking about. Last news update on the website was from 2013. There is no list of staff. There is no list of partners or funders. Their facebook page was last updated in 2013. There is a Twitter account, started in 2008 with zero tweets. It is a ghost of an organization.

Incidently, this nearly non-existant entity is the only “Industry Partner” listed on the BFFIA’s website.

These are the partners of the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.

Which organization would a rational person choose to partner with I wonder?

I mean… is anyone still buying this stuff?

BTT & the Bahamas… they go well together.

Locations — 6 Comments
23
Aug 15

The best comments thread anywhere is on MidCurrent

One of the bones of 2014

The MidCurrent story on the Bahamas stuff was interesting, sure, but the comments… the comments are pure gold. You simply have to read this stuff, especially the very well reasoned and level-headed responses from Stephen Vletas (author, along with his wife, of The Bahamas Fly Fishing Guide).

I can’t do any better than he did… and I mean, I really can’t. He knows the history because he was part of it and his even-tempered replies are just fantastic reading.

You MUST READ THIS.

I’m not so good at remaining civil in the face of the rhetoric. It’s a shortcoming of mine. Give me another 40 years and maybe I’ll make some headway on that. Stephen Vletas is the voice of reason that I sometimes am not. Read it. Now. Go ahead. I’ll wait here.

Bonefish on the Brain Bonefish and all that relates (maybe a bit about tarpon too).

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