FAQs Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Frequently Asked Questions- Why should I come to Mars Bay bonefish Lodge?
We are a small lodge and book singles, pairs, and sets of fishermen to fill the space. However, some groups prefer to reserve the entire lodge for themselves — whether it’s for a corporate outing or just a getaway with friends. If your group is large enough, we’ll reserve the entire lodge exclusively for you.
Bill is the American manager and owner. Like most hands-on owners, he works a little harder than most. He’s been running the lodge since 2002 and is easygoing, polite, and incredibly friendly. Each morning, he’s up well before you — hauling coolers and mixing gas.
Now, we’ve had a few complaints. One guest thought we served too much food… and to be fair, we did. On the flip side, another mentioned needing more closet space, and one thought his pillow was too hard. But perhaps the most memorable complaint? A guest who enjoyed a great week — but wished he hadn’t seen a couple of dogs fornicating on the beach. He didn’t have to watch.
LONG BOAT RIDES
Fortunately, we’re the southernmost lodge on all of Andros. That gives us prime access to the southern tip of South Andros — widely considered the jewel of bonefishing in the Bahamas.
The boat ride from Mars Bay to our fishing grounds takes anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes, depending on conditions. When the water is rough, it can take longer. Occasionally, a guest will comment on the ride. I just tell him, “You’re lucky you’re this close.”
By comparison, popular lodges north of us take the ocean-side route when winds are calm — it’s the fastest way south, but still adds over an hour of run time compared to Mars Bay. But when the winds pick up (as they usually do — 10 to 15 mph for weeks at a time), that ocean route becomes dangerous. Boats have to detour through inland creeks, dramatically increasing travel time.
Bottom line? If you’re staying north and want to fish the southern tip, you’re guaranteed four to five hours of boat riding each day.
In fairness, those other lodges don’t always head south — they also fish the west side. Could we fish the west side too? Sure. But we don’t. The boat ride is just too long.
AN EXTRA DAY FISHING
Thanks to our location, you’ll gain at least one to three extra hours of fishing each day. While guests at other lodges are still gunning across the water, you’re already wading the flats. Do the math — on a six-day trip, that adds up to nearly an extra day of fishing. No extra charge.
There’s even a flat large enough for a dozen fishermen right in front of the lodge. Of course, you’ll need to wait for the tide to drop if it’s high, but it’s a prime spot — the largest fish of the year has been caught here three years running.
Best of all, your guide can drop you off on the way home and you can fish your way back if the tide’s right. Or, just walk 100 feet from your room and fish until dark.
DEPENDABLE BOATS
We installed new motors for the 2023 season, and Bill personally maintains all boats and motors. In fact, they’re probably over-maintained — and that’s a good thing.
We’ve towed boats back from just about every lodge on the island at one point or another. Since 2002, Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge has had to tow exactly one of our own boats home. And yes, they were still back in time for dinner.
We also keep a backup boat ready to go at a moment’s notice. If there’s an issue, we can have a replacement in the water within five minutes.
And one more thing — our dock is less than a minute away. No long walks. No long rides.
What is a day the lodge like?
Schedule
- 4:30 AM – Morning Staff arrives to prepare the coffee, breakfast, and lunches.
- 5:00 AM – Coffee is brewed and ready.
- 6:30 AM – If you are not already up Bill will wake you up.
- 7:00 AM – Breakfast is served
- 7:30 AM – Load up in the truck and drive one minute to the Mars Bay Dock to meet your guide, stow your rods, and put on a raincoat.
- 7:45 AM – Throttle up and go fishing!!
- 4 – 5 PM – Return to dock after a day fishing.
- 5ish PM – Hors d’oeuvres are served in the dining room.
- 7 PM – Dinner is served.
What’s the best fly?
See our WHAT TO BRING page for suggested flies.
When is the best time of the year to come?
Anytime you can get here.
Truth is, the fishing is good year-round — though naturally, some days are better than others. That said, March, April, and May are considered peak season and are by far the most popular months to visit.
However, October, November, December, and January are actually my favorite months if you’re hunting trophy bones. Why? The weather is cooler, and the bigger fish tend to show up.
If I didn’t live here and were booking a trip myself, I’d come in the fall. Hurricane season is over, the water and air temps are cooler, there’s no risk of a winter cold front, and the fish haven’t seen a boat or a fly since the previous May. In other words, they’re fresh and ready.
Moving into summer, June offers fantastic opportunities for sheer numbers. Double-digit days are common, and the winds are typically calm.
Surprisingly, I had a group of eight show up in early July one year. They were catching 30–50 fish a day. So much for the “it’s too hot” theory.
How are the guides?
You won’t find better guides anywhere in the Bahamas than the ones at Mars Bay. In fact, I get nothing but compliments about how good they are — all of them. Honestly, I don’t get complaints.
Our guide team includes Pap, Dingy, Bruce, and LJ. Between them, we’ve got two guides with 17 years of experience, one with 13, and a young gun with four solid years under his belt. Importantly, all of them are licensed boat captains and bonefishing guides who were born, raised, and still live right here on South Andros. They didn’t just learn this fishery — they grew up in it.
As a result, they understand the fish, the tides, and the terrain like the backs of their hands. The guides are just as comfortable on a skiff as they are on land — and they’ll get you on fish.
Now, maybe you’ve heard the horror stories — rude guides, hot tempers, and bad attitudes. Or worse, maybe you’ve even experienced it. But not here. Not ever.
How many fish will I catch?
That’s a tricky question — and honestly, not a fair one.
South Andros is arguably the best bonefishery on the planet. However, every fisherman knows that some days are diamonds, and some days are dust. You take what the flats give you.
All things being equal, it really comes down to how well you can cast. On the same day, an experienced angler might land twenty fish, while his less-seasoned partner may hook just two or three.
That said, catching five to ten fish in a day is fairly common. If things line up, fifteen in a day isn’t unusual and would be considered a very good outing. Hit twenty, and you’ve had a great day — that’s about as good as it gets. Anything beyond that, like thirty in a day, is rare. And let’s be honest — you were probably yanking schoolies.
In terms of scenarios, you might find yourself on Jackfish Flat casting into a school of 200 small bones circling back again and again. Just a tip — don’t mistake that large school of fish for a cloud shadow.
Elsewhere on the flats, you might spot pods of four to twenty larger fish pushing toward you in waves. And when you see just one or two bones cruising together, there’s a good chance they’re big. Make that cast count.
More than once, guests have returned from the water swearing they saw a bonefish the size of a shark or barracuda — and didn’t make the cast. Here’s the trick: sharks swim with an “S” motion, cudas hover still like logs, but bonefish swim straight and steady with little body movement.
So when in doubt? Make the cast.
Do we pole or wade?
Yes… both. It depends on the tides — and on you.
All boats at Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge are fully equipped with push poles, platforms, and leaning bars. That said, whether you wade or pole often comes down to three things: the wind, tides, and your personal preference or capabilities.
Some anglers prefer to wade; others like to stay in the boat. We’ve had 75-year-olds who insist on walking the flats, and 40-year-olds who won’t step out of the boat. Either way, we’ll work with what you’re comfortable doing — but flexibility helps.
On a flood tide, you might pole along the mangrove edges, or you could walk deep into a creek. When the tide is low, we might pole a deeper edge, wade a massive flat that stretches for miles, or set up at a creek mouth and wait for fish coming out of the mangroves.
Generally speaking, Andros is a wade fishery. Some of the best bonefish water simply can’t be reached by boat. If you’re set on staying in the skiff, you’re limiting your guide’s ability to get you into the best spots. Bonefish will be tailing in inches of water — and if you won’t wade, you won’t reach them.
Also keep in mind: poling in strong wind doesn’t work. The boat moves faster than you can strip, and by the time you see a fish, it’s already darting left or right, ten feet off course.
Bottom line? We’ll do our best to accommodate your style — but plan on doing a little of both: poling and wading. It’ll give you the best chance at the best fishing.
Will it be windy?
Probably — so come expecting it, and be prepared.
Before my first bonefish trip, I imagined being poled across glassy flats under windless skies and blazing sun. Sure, it can be like that… but very rarely. More often than not, you’ll be wading in a steady 15 mph wind — it’s just part of the experience.
Ironically, calm conditions can actually make fishing harder. With no wind, the fish are on high alert — jittery and easily spooked. And keep in mind, they can see you just as clearly as you can see them. In those cases, you’ll need to stretch your leader, scale down your fly, and make it land soft as a feather.
That’s why wind isn’t the enemy — it’s your friend. The surface chop helps conceal your presence, masks the fly’s entry, and gives you a better chance of getting close without blowing the shot.
That said, you’ll need to be able to cast in 10–15 mph winds. Please practice your double haul and focus on throwing a tight loop before your trip. It really is the difference between catching two fish a day or ten.
And just so we’re clear — nobody practices before the trip. And I have zero pity for those who don’t. If you wait until you arrive to figure it out, you’re already missing opportunities.
What is the best moon and tides?
Honestly, fish counts don’t change — no matter the moon or tide.
This question comes up a lot, and I used to have a long, detailed answer. But after 20+ years of running this lodge, I’ve found that the number of fish caught is consistent regardless of moon phase or tide.
Yes, it’s true that moons and tides affect fish movement and feeding patterns — but they don’t affect overall success. Full moon, new moon, quarter moons high tide, low tide — it doesn’t make a meaningful difference in the daily catch count. Why? Because our guides know where to find fish on every tide.
I will say this, if you like to wade the quarter moons set up best.
So, if you’re planning a trip, don’t get hung up on timing it around the moon. The best time to fish is whenever you can get here. The most seasoned anglers I know agree: forget the moons and tides — just go fishing.
Is there anything for my spouse to do?
Only if they fish.
All slots at Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge are reserved for fishing guests. So if your spouse enjoys fishing — absolutely, bring them along. They’ll have a blast.
However, if they’re not planning to fish, then the answer is a hard no. Why? Because your non-fishing spouse will end up miserable — and so will you.
Mars Bay is beautiful but remote and completely undeveloped. Outside of fishing, there’s really nothing to do but watch the clouds drift by. There’s no daytime staff at the lodge, no one to make lunch, and no spa treatments. Forget beach tanning — the bugs will eat you alive. And don’t expect waves crashing on shore — the water is shallow and calm.
There’s also no nightlife, no shops, no quaint island villages to explore. In fact, any gas station back home would feel like a Super Walmart compared to what you’ll find here.
That said, there are other lodges on the island that cater to non-fishing guests — complete with pools, full-time staff, and creature comforts. If you’re traveling with a non-angler, we’re happy to recommend one of them.
What kind of money is used?
The U.S. and Bahamian dollar trade one to one, both are readily accepted anywhere in the Bahamas. Bring small denominations because vendors sometimes have difficulty breaking large bills.
How’s the food?
How’s the Food?
In short, very good! it’s homemade, and people come back just for it.
If it requires a blowtorch or flaming brandy, we don’t mess with it. But everything we do serve is made from scratch, delicious, and generously portioned. Ask anyone who’s been here — we’ve had guests say they’d return just for the food.
If you have dietary needs — like diabetes, shellfish allergies, or special restrictions — just let us know ahead of time and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
BREAKFAST
Mornings start with a hearty American breakfast. Eggs and bacon or sausage, omelets, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, French toast, and quiche — the usual suspects. Of course, cold cereal or oatmeal is available by request.
Feeling adventurous? Some guests like to try traditional Bahamian breakfasts like boiled fish, tuna and grits, or stewed conch.
LUNCH
Boat lunches are simple but solid. The sandwich of the day (made from baked or grilled meats — never processed lunch meat), a piece of fruit, chips, yogurt, and a candy bar. If you prefer PB&J, just ask — no problem.
Plenty of cold water is stocked in the cooler, too.
When you return to the lodge in the afternoon, you’ll find an appetizer waiting — maybe conch fritters, cracked lobster, shrimp, calamari, wings, or lobster salad. It’s the perfect way to wind down after a day on the flats.
DINNER
Dinner is a highlight. Some nights feature Bahamian classics, others lean American — either way, it’s a two- or three-course meal that starts with soup or salad.
Main courses might include snapper, hogfish, grouper, lobster, or conch — all caught locally — as well as ribeye steaks, rack of lamb, pork loin, or grilled chicken. The lamb is from New Zealand, the steaks are Nebraska beef, and everything’s cooked over a blend of hickory and mesquite for that real flavor.
And yes, there’s dessert. Cheesecake, key lime pie, guava duff, coconut pie, carrot cake — just save a little room.
Do you have any loaner gear available?
No — please bring everything you need.
We don’t offer loaner gear. Over time, we’ve found that it gets torn up faster than we can replace it. That said, if you run short on flies, I’ll be happy to tie up a few for you — no problem there.
But in general, if you’re serious about bonefishing, you should come prepared. Having your own gear means you’ve put a little skin in the game. And let’s be honest, no gear usually means no experience — and this isn’t the best place to learn how to cast.
So bring your own setup, come practiced, and you’ll have a much better time on the water.