Postcards Summer 2025 US | Page 31

culture
images: getty; alamy

1NEW PROVIDENCE Home to Nassau and the country’ s main international airport, New Providence is usually the first stop in the Bahamas. The Southern Flats are home to some of the country’ s biggest bonefish, which thrive among the shallow sand and turtle grass shoals around Coral Harbour and Cay Point. Access to these flats can be a bit challenging and they’ re best explored on foot.

2ABACO ISLANDS

On these islands, situated in the north of the Bahamas, you’ ll find the‘ Marls’— around 300 square miles of sand flats peppered by mangrove cays and pine islands, where bonefish move in and out with the tide in search of shrimp and crabs. From Abaco Lodge on the lip of the Marls, anglers can put flies in front of some that average between two and four pounds, and, if they’ re lucky, even tip the scales at an impressive eight pounds.

3ANDROS

Around 150 miles southwest of Miami is perhaps the world’ s premier destination for saltwater fly-fishing. Andros Island offers a vast network of sandy flats and shallow creeks— perfect habitats for plus-sized bonefish. The Andros complex is legendary for its bonefish and the seemingly never-ending blondesand flats where they live. With more than a dozen lodges from Red Bay to Congo Town, anglers visiting the island will have plenty of options for guides and expertise.

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BELIZE This Central American nation is home to some of the most productive bonefish flats on earth. Covered by verdant turtle grass, Belizean flats make for challenging sightfishing, but fly-fishers have more choices.
YUCATAN PENINSULA, MEXICO From Tulum all the way south to the border with Belize, this fish-filled stretch of the Mexican Caribbean is one of the most dependable places to visit for fly-fishers looking for the‘ grand slam’— catching a bonefish, permit and! tarpon all in the same day.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC‘ DR’ is a‘ big game’ fishery for fly anglers hunting for blue and white marlin, sailfish and swordfish. Chasing them on a fly requires a capable guide and the ability to‘ tease up’ these fish with hookless lures. Once a fish shows up, the fly caster gets to work. If they’ re lucky, they’ ll spend the next hour battling the fish of a! lifetime.
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