LOCATION
South Andros Island, Bahamas
SEASON
Year round, with peak season October through July
CAPACITY
A maximum of 8 anglers per week
SPECIES
Primarily bonefish, with possibilities for tarpon, permit, more
GENERAL INFORMATION
Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge is a relatively new and small lodge near the southeastern tip of Andros that affords anglers a short and easy skiff ride to the area’s enormous and productive flats – flats that are among the most unfished, untouched, and pristine in all of the Bahamas. This smaller lodge is ideal for groups that want to take over a whole destination..
LENGTH OF STAY
Designated arrival and departure days are typically Saturdays, which means that a seven night / six fishing day itinerary from Saturday to Saturday is the standard package. Other schedules can be accommodated based on availability, however, and trips of any length are available if space permits. Please call Yellow Dog for details.
SEASON
Mars Bay Lodge offers year-round fishing and guest accommodations. October through mid-July is peak season for fishing in Andros, when the weather and water temperatures are ideal.
January – February
A wide variety of fish species can be caught at the beginning of the calendar year. Best months for trophy bonefish! Lots of big barracuda on the flats as well.
March – April
Peak bonefish season, as well as a great time for tarpon.
May – June
Bonefish, tarpon, and barracuda are plentiful. Winds are calmer and cooling afternoon rain showers are possible.
July – September
Morning fishing is best for bonefish, as the flats heat up quickly. Great months for stalking barracuda, sharks, and snapper. Calm winds, with the exception of the random Caribbean storm. Tarpon are also available.
October – December
All of the bights of Andros are great during these months. Good time of the year to find the elusive permit.
THE FISHING
Mars Bay is the end of the road on Andros; you literally cannot drive any further south. That puts you ten miles closer to the best fishing grounds on Andros than the nearest lodge. What does that mean to you? Well …no less than a ten mile shorter run over rough open water and up to an extra hour fishing each day. There are great flats just ten minutes away. You can expect to encounter large schools of two-pound mudding bones, sight cast to schools of five to twenty fish in the five to six pound category, as well as take shots at cruising doubles and singles in excess of ten pounds. Most of the fishing is done wading from the boat on these vast hard bottom sandy flats.
Andros, the largest of the Bahamian islands, is located 150 miles southeast of Miami and 40 miles southwest of Nassau, New Providence. One mile off the coast of the island lies the third largest barrier reef in the world — the Tongue of the Ocean — where the water depth plummets from 30 to 6,000 feet. The reef runs for about 170 miles. Cool waters from the deep flow upward against the walls, feeding an unbelievable fishery. Just off the reef in deep water are dorado, tuna, sailfish, wahoo, and jacks. On the reef are barracuda, snappers, and grouper. All this is surrounded by hundreds of square miles of fishable flats known worldwide for trophy bonefishing.
During your time on South Andros, you’ll be fishing such areas as Beach Cay, Grassy Creek, Hawks Nest, Jackfish, and Water Cays to name a few. Bonefish in the area average three to five pounds with fish exceeding ten pounds found on an occasional basis. All of the guides at the lodge are licensed bonefishing guides who live in Mars Bays and grew up on the water. They’re as comfortable in a boat as they are on land, and they’ll work hard to put you on fish every day of your trip! Mars Bay is arguably the best location for those wanting to fish the southern tip of Andros and take advantage of an undeveloped fishery that receives very little fishing pressure.
BOATS AND EQUIPMENT OFFERED
Anglers fish from 16-foot Rahming Bonefish skiffs, complete with poling platforms, 40-60 HP Yamaha outboards, and spacious casting decks. They are roomy, fast and comfortable.
THE LODGING
You’ll be on the water early each morning and back in time for dinner each afternoon. At the end of the day if you still want to fish or practice your cast, you’re welcome to step onto the flats in front of the lodge and fish until dark. Accommodations are in four comfortable, air-conditioned rooms, featuring a private bath, two full-sized beds, ceiling fans and plenty of room for fishing tackle and personal belongings. The fifth master suite has a king sized bed for couples. Daily housekeeping is provided and laundry service is available upon request. The lodge is comfortable, the food is good and atmosphere is exactly what you would expect from a quality Bahamian fishing operation.
RATES & DETAILS
2009
TRIP LENGTH |
2 Per Boat, 2 Per Room |
1 Per Boat, 1 Per Room |
7 Nights / 6 Days |
$3,650 |
$4,500 |
6 Nights / 5 Days |
$3,300 |
$4,000 |
5 Nights / 4 Days |
$2,950 |
$3,500 |
4 Nights / 3 Days |
$2,600 |
$3,000 |
3 Nights / 2 Days |
$2,250 |
$2,500 |
WHAT’S INCLUDED
All accommodations and meals at lodge, guided fishing with boat, daily lunch and bottled water, alcoholic beverages and bar tab, soft drinks in boat, transfers via taxi from Congo Town to lodge and back, and government room tax.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Airfare from hometown to Congo Town, South Andros, overweight baggage charges, gratuities for guides and staff, airport departure taxes, and telephone calls.
DEPOSIT INFORMATION
A 50% deposit (per angler) of the total package cost for each trip is due to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures (YDFA) within 10 days of booking to secure the reservation. Guides and dates cannot be held or reserved without a deposit. YDFA reserves the right to charge a handling fee of $100 per person for date changes after the initial reservation has been made. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
HOW TO GET THERE
There are three ways to reach Mars Bay Lodge and Congo Town. The first is via one of the two daily regularly-scheduled Western Air flight from Nassau, and the second is via private charter from Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. The third and easiest way to get to Congo Town is Lynx Air that now flies on Wednesdays and Saturdays direct from Fort Lauderdale.
If you are planning on traveling via Western Air you will first need to travel to Nassau. Once you arrive in Nassau head for the domestic terminal, where you will catch a short 15 minute flight to Congo Town Airport (TZN), South Andros. Western Air flies there twice a day. The first flight is at 7:00 AM and the second departs to Congo Town at 3:00 PM. A round trip ticket is $140.00, due in cash before boarding. Reservations are required. Incoming parties are asked to arrive on the afternoon flight into Congo Town whenever possible.
You can also fly directly from Florida to South Andros by booking a private air charter. These charters are available from either Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. Please call Yellow Dog for a complete listing of charter services that fly to Congo Town.
Upon arrival on the island, a cab will be waiting at the Congo Town airport for you and your party. From there it’s a 22 mile drive on new road to Mars Bay Bonefish Club, the most southern club on Andros.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
As of 2006, all U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport that does not expire within 6 months of trips dates. Please be sure that your passport has at least two blank, unstamped pages remaining in back, and that it is not torn, delaminated, or damaged in any way.
NON-ANGLING ACTIVITIES
Because South Andros is completely undeveloped, there are not a lot of non-angling activities to take advantage of – unless of course a person wants to do nothing but relax, swim, soak up the rays, and read a good book! There is no night life, no place to shop, and no quaint villages to explore. Non-anglers will find that the accommodations at Mars Bay are clean, comfortable, and air-conditioned, and the relaxation potential is limitless.
OTHER INFORMATION
Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge is a small operation. Availability is extremely limited. Most dates are filled a year in advance, so plan on booking early! During the peak months of March, April, and May, a minimum 5 day / 6 night stay is required.
The lodge usually closes for the summer season June 30th, and re-opens for the Fall season October 1st. They also close for the holidays from December 15 - January 1.
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