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Let me explain the geography of Andros. The island is altogether over 100 miles long, north to south. It is divided by three large "rivers" or bights, we call them "cricks", flowing through the middle of the island, east to west, making the larger North and South Andros islands and the smaller middle islands, Big Wood Cay and Mangrove Cay. ( See MAP ) These rivers may be a mile wide but are shallow except where they've been dredged to allow a bit of access for the mail boat and supply ships. They dissect the island, which is forty miles at it's widest, but about twenty five in general.
 A stretch of ocean flats near Fresh Creek. |
The western shore and indeed most of the width of Andros is flats and mangroves. This area is beautiful and pristine, and offers a diversity of tropical birds, marine life and even butterflys for the naturalist. The western shore, with few exceptions, (Joulter's Cay in the north, for one ), is generally too far to go for casual outings, or to fish. However, I'll take you anywhere you want to go by trailer and boat that's safe to travel if you want to access the remoter areas or try some unique ( fishing ) opportunities. I can find bonefish, snapper, and tarpon locally, or on the west side, along with permit and, of course, shark and big barracuda. |
Nearly everyone lives and fishes on the eastern shore of Andros, which is mostly: inland flats, ocean flats, river systems, beaches and the barrier reef. The reef is the third greatest in the world, over 125 miles long. The reef is also a spectacular opportunity for snorkeling and diving, not to mention fishing for barracuda, wahoo, snapper, jacks, and yes, bonefish too, at times.
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I guide from Andros Town/Fresh Creek
(check the map ).
I can trailer my flats boats
 Nearby Fresh Creek, pictured
at left, is just minutes away by boat, as are the excellent ocean flats
south of AUTEC, a U.S. sub base. The ocean flats are miles wide and easily
provide a lifetime of bonefishing exploration for the enthusiast. The names
of famous places to try are too many to list, but you may have heard of
Cargill Creek, Fresh Creek, White Bight, Stafford Creek, Staniard Creek,
Morgan's Bluff and Joulter's Cay. There are many, many more. |
Fresh Creek has nearly twenty miles of inland flats up river. These flats are wide and fertile, and offer excellent fishing opportunities. Like the flats, the creek offers fishing opportunities for bonefish, barracuda, snappers, jacks, tarpon and shark. In places, right from shore.
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Clothing . . .
Bring what's light and comfortable for walking and sitting out. You won't
be chilled, but you will want to explore your area and community on foot.
For fishing, light colored but not white clothing is the most practical.
It absorbes the least heat, and is the least noticeable to the fish. Khaki
or light blue is fine. Long pants or shorts for standing in the boat or
wading is up to you but if you aren't used to the sun, long pants may be
a better choice. Of course, a hat or a cap and neck protection is important.
Don't forget the sunscreen 50!
Comfortable walking shoes , sandals and water shoes will help you relax or explore wherever you want to go around town, along a back road, or walking and splashing along a beach. Wading shoes are a minimum for the flats.
The bush is tropical brush (you should learn what "poison wood" looks like if you plan to explore where there aren't trails - (It looks a bit like poison sumac according to Capt. Mike - shiny and three or more odd numbered leaves). The "outback" is mostly poisonwood, pines, palms, figs and mangroves ending inevitably along a shoreline somewhere.
The beaches and flats are coral. . They may be coral "sand" which is very soft and sand like. Or, if not sand, then hard and smooth weathered coral like a cobblestone surface. The most difficult surface is hard, very sharp weathered coral they call sharp rock. This last is rare but occurs in a few places along the ocean shore. Most folks avoid it.
For fishing , wading boots or shoes are essential. Some places along the beaches and the ocean shores are open enough for you to wade barefoot if you are careful, keep an eye out, and realize that bits of sharp coral, sting rays and spiny urchins can be anywhere. But the usual choice for visitors, and Bahamians too, is boots or shoes. Many clients have found that wading shoes provide adequate protection and are more comfortable than the heavier wading boots for all day fishing.
Bugs. The usual breeze is from the east and blows off the ocean through the settled areas toward the mangroves to the west. Biting bugs are at a minimum. Tiny "no-see-ums", mosquitoes and an occasional biting fly are the only offenders. (Capt. Mike's note - If the wind blows from the west, you'll want the bug stuff you brought, but you won't be driven indoors at any time. It's never as bad as Maine in August, or the Everglades in July!)
Weather . . . Mild and sunny. Andros cools to the sixties in the winter months, and warms to the low eighties in midday in the summer. Being surrounded by the ocean, and with a predominant easterly breeze, the climate is temperate and regulated from extremes by the ocean. The overnight temperature drop is usually ten degrees or less. Sunny days with a few sparse clouds are the norm. Expect a rain shower one day out of five in the winter, and a breeze, half the time. The summer is the "rainy" season, and might shower one out of three days. Fall is the "hurricane" season, but the prevailing wind patterns consistently route storms north of the island towards the States or south towards Cuba and the Gulf. (Capt. Mike's note - I was talking with a lady in South Andros who said she hadn't experienced a hurricane in 71 years! Then again, 2001 hit them with a storm of the century - though no one was hurt. So maybe it's over for another 100 years?)
[ Here's the Miami Weather site , much the same as Andros because it's just 150 miles west.]
Swimming - Snorkeling . . . (According to Michael's nine year old son, Ben, the best of Andros is the warm clear water, interesting little grunts and jacks right along the shore in waist deep water or less, the coral and the shells, sea life and sponges; all without even going out to the reef which is even more interesting, shallow, and very easy to boat to and full of beautiful fishes and corals.) That about sums it up! There is scuba diving and local operations to support it in places like Fresh Creek and Cargill Creek.
Crime? . . . There is none, 0%.
 For more information by email, you may also contact
Capt. Michael Eichenseer at michael@capecodoutdoors.com
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Email Capt. Michael Eichenseer, Webmaster, Guide, Author.
Fresh Creek looking
upcreek toward the flats on a quiet day.
up and down the island from Morgan's Bluff and Joulter's
Cays in the north to Cargill Creek and the Northern Bight in the south.
This lets me provide you with the greatest diversity of fishing opportunities
available on the island. I also accomodate those sporting men and women
who want to fish specific places they may have read about or have returned
to fish again. 