Hi,

Our trip to Acklins was great. Arnette and Julius are wonderful people. By the time we left there I felt like we were almost leaving best friends. Arnette is a great cook and we had lots of food. The fishing was very different for us - first time bone fishing. It took a while to get used to strip striking. Anyway, our first day with JJ I caught my first bone in the mangroves and how fun can that be. We ended up using JJ, Elvis, and Terrance. JJ and Elvis are sooooooooo good at spotting fish.

The people throughout the Bahama's were wonderful. so friendly.
Anyway, thanks for a good first bone trip.

Susan E.
USA

“Part of the appeal was it’s practically virgin territory. My son and I went for three days and stayed at Chester’s Highway Inn at the north end of the island (see Google Earth). There are miles of ankle to knee deep water in every direction. There is a large easily waded bay just across the street, and you can hear bones splashing from your room.

Julius and Arnette Chisholm run the clean, comfortable, two-year-old lodge that could accommodate maybe six anglers. They know how to make you feel welcome, well fed and appreciated. We sensed that we were a significant factor in the island’s economy. Arnette’s cooking was native Bahamian, plentiful and delicious - oh, the conch fritters, and the lobster! Julius was a building contractor in a former life, as is evident by his work. The air conditioning system had the place cooled down in minutes every evening, and cooled down the bugs, which are a requirement at any decent fishing place. He’s working on a bayside dining room.

We used 7-8 weight rods and small size 6-8 size tan or green, minimally weighted, Gotcha-type bugs, with a few rubber legs dangling here and there. It is important not to have too much fluff to catch the wind as invariably the fish you really want are up-breeze. Ten-pound tippets are fine for the flats, but fifteen-pound fluorocarbon is needed by the bushes. It’s amazing how many loops around mangrove roots a five-pounder can make in five seconds, but the stout leader held for me.

Our guide JJ put us onto flats with hundreds of bonefish everywhere around low tide, and by the mangroves with hundreds of more fish near high tide. The first day we landed fourteen, lost six more, missed numerous other strikes, had hooks straightened, and plain blew dozens of opportunities. It was all wading and stalking. JJ worked with my son some and myself more, having considered our relative skills. The second day was only about one-third slower. The third day, when we went on our own, was a weather-influenced zero, but even then we had our chances. They were all good-sized fish with about half in the 2-3 lb. category and half in the 4-5 lb. category. Our biggest was 9 lbs. This was far better than our efforts in Belize, south Florida or US Virgin Islands. It was unanimous between the two of us that this is one trip we will do again.”

J. E. Bivins
USA

“Really had a wonderful time, I never caught more bone fish in my life. The food was wonderful and the host and hostess could not be nicer”

Ed Jones
Durham, North Carolina, USA