What to expect on your Bahamas fishing vacation with Core Angling
If you’re looking for a completely different type of fishing vacation: this is it.
What you’ll learn on your Core Angling Bahamas fishing vacation
The Core Angling program is totally unique and takes your saltwater flats fishing experience to a whole new level.
During the fishing trip you will have the opportunity to:
- Research catch-and-release mortality
- Study predator-prey interaction
- Measure the health of bonefish stocks
- Study the impact of coastal development and the benefit of habitat protection
- Experience hands-on field research including genetic sampling and tagging studies
- Learn more about bonefish habitat and their ecosystem
- Research reproductive behavior of bonefish
2-Day/3-Night or 4-Day/5-Night Trips: Your Choice
Core Angling offers a variety of experiences to suit your level of adventure.
Our introductory 2 day trip is spent fishing Cape Eleuthera and various bonefish habitats and locations that are far off the beaten path. This trip includes fishing on both The Bahamas Bank and Exuma Sounds and features an offshore component to either end the day or start it off, based on weather and tides. We compare and contrast the abundance of inshore habitat and diversity with the relative lack of nutrients found in the offshore environment (both environments are literally a 20 minute boat ride apart) and discuss how important the transport of inshore nutrients are for the offshore fishery. Expect to find members of the tuna family, dolphin and barracuda along the wall with shots at other pelagics including sailfish and wahoo a possibility (in season). Fishing for inshore gamefish and then switching gears to tackle some exciting offshore denizens has been widely acclaimed by our clients, to the extent that it has now been added to the Core Angling experience (weather dependant).
Our 4 day/5 night trip takes anglers down island (north!) for the second half of the experience, comparing the inshore fishery on the south end of Eleuthera with exciting Atlantic side flats and some of the largest fish (and predators) on the island. Habitats are quite different at these sites and your learning experience will be deepened by better understanding the many diverse locations bonefish can be found. This part of Eleuthera is like being on another island and the bonefish often behave quite differently from their southern brethren.
Please see the accommodation page for further information on the 2 and 4 day packages.
Prior to your trip
Before you arrive for your Bahamas fishing vacation you’ll receive a comprehensive equipment and packing list so you’ll know exactly what to bring. And we’ll also send you a research plan and some reference material that will get your angling juices flowing ahead of your trip.
Your first evening
On your first evening you’ll meet the members of the research team in a relaxed and informal environment to discuss the following day’s activities. We’ll talk about the fishing grounds, weather forecasts, tide conditions, current research efforts, and what you hope to achieve during your trip. Our aim is to help you get the most out of your time with us and have a truly memorable experience.
Morning activities
In the morning, after your hearty breakfast, you’ll be picked up by boat directly from your waterfront accommodation. Or you’ll enjoy a short drive through local communities to get to our secluded fishing sites.
Because of the nature of some fisheries and their associated research programs, you’ll access the angling sites by flats boat, road - or even kayak!
A typical day out on the water will begin around 8.00am.
Depending on the research required, you’ll study the extent of the fish’s fight; where they are hooked; the size of the fish; how much handling is needed to release them; and the condition of the fish when they are released.
You may also get involved in external tagging for mark-and-recapture studies which look at population estimates, size and movements. Or you could be asked to participate in fin clipping for future genetic analysis, or the implantation of sophisticated acoustic tags for tracking the movements of bonefish and larger predators.
Break for lunch
A picnic-style lunch will be served around midday, right on the boat or the beach, depending on where we are and how the fish are biting.
And during our lunch break, we’ll reflect on the morning's activities and our researchers will record some of your observations. To maintain flexibility, the success of the morning’s activities will set the course for the rest of the day.
End of the day
Your day on the water will end at around 4:30 pm. Our pre-dinner gathering will be used to summarize the results of the day's angling activities. And there will also be an opportunity for you to talk to our scientists and researchers over dinner one evening.
Our meal will include locally produced fruits, vegetables and seafood (when available); we’re also happy to cater to any special dietary requirements you may have.
After dinner, we’ll discuss the following day’s activities, and then let you get some rest to prepare for another exciting day on the water!
After the program
So how will the knowledge and strategies you've learned be put to good use after your immersion in the Core Angling experience? Closing the loop by providing you with a one year membership in Bonefish & Tarpon Trust creates an outlet and challenge to do the following:
- Share what you have learned with others that are as passionate about fishing as you are.
- Support initiatives on research and angler education that will strengthen the recreational fishery.
- Stay in tune with the science and angling best practices through a cutting edge organization.
At Core Angling we provide the spark, it’s up to you how big and bright that fire will grow.
Want to know more about Core Angling’s Bahamas fishing vacation? Contact us today.