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Shop|Bahamas Equipment List
Bahamas Equipment List
Shop For Your Next Bahamas Fly Fishing Adventure
The Bahamas is known worldwide as a fantastic bonefishing destination with opportunities for permit, tarpon, barracuda, and other game species. Most anglers traveling to The Bahamas are going there to pursue bonefish, so the bulk of your gear preparations should be focused on the "silver ghost." With that said, depending on your final destination and the time of year, big permit and tarpon can be quite common. Depending on where you are fishing, wading can be the ideal method of pursuing bonefish for the benefit of stealth, so anglers should pack apparel and accessories accordingly.
Having extensively traveled and fly fished the world, we are the industry’s foremost authority on destination-specific equipment, gear, and flies. Over a week of fishing in The Bahamas, anglers will prioritize bonefish, but permit, tarpon, barracuda, and mutton snapper can be found. If you are fishing for less than five days, we recommend a bare minimum of twenty-four flies or a more adequate selection of thirty six flies. To be prepared for anything, we encourage you to select a hand-picked box of forty-eight flies.
How Many Flies? For bonefish, a selection of at least two dozen flies is recommended. While you may not use each fly, having variety in weight, size, colors, and duplicates can be useful throughout your trip.
What Sizes and Colors? Flies between sizes #2-8 are ideal, with the bulk of them in the #4-6 range. The majority of your flies should be suited for shallow flats, so beadchain eyes are recommended, though some flies with lead eyes are necessary for bonefish found in deeper water. Tan, white, pink, pearl, and root beer are all commonly used.
Important Notes: Some flies should have weed guards, especially in fisheries where corral and sea grass are found.
How Many Flies? Anglers should bring anywhere from a few to a dozen crab or shrimp flies for permit, depending on the fishery. If specifically traveling to The Bahamas to pursue permit, a selection of eighteen to two dozen patterns is encouraged for variety.
Sizes and Colors? Fly patterns in the #2-6 range are ideal in white, cream, and tan.
Important Notes: Flies with lead eyes are recommended to ensure the fly reaches the bottom. While not common everywhere, locations such as The Berry Islands, Crooked Island, Abaco, Grand Bahama and Andros all regularly see permit.
How Many Flies? A handful of tarpon flies is generally all an angler would need given tarpon are not as common in most parts of The Bahamas. If traveling to The Bahamas during the warmer months, tarpon opportunities are generally better.
Sizes and Colors? Grizzly, black, purple, and chartreuse are all popular colors for tarpon. We suggest hooks range from 1/0 to 3/0.
Important Notes: Grand Bahama, Andros, and some of the out-islands are more common for finding tarpon in The Bahamas.
What Type of Rod Action? Medium to fast action for bonefish, while permit and tarpon are best targeted on fast action rods.
What Weight? An 8-weight is the best all-around bonefish rod, allowing for ease of casting through heavy wind while also capable of casting most flies with ease. On windy days, a 9-weight can be useful as well as double for a permit rod. For juvenile tarpon, a 9 or 10-weight will suffice, while larger, migratory tarpon call for an 11 or 12-weight.
What Type of Fly Reel? Strong, smooth and fully-sealed drag systems are a must in this fishery.
What Weight? A 8/9 rated fly reel for bonefish and permit, while an 11/12 rated fly reel for tarpon.
How Much Backing? 150-200 yards of 20# backing is recommended for permit, bonefish, and juvenile tarpon, while migratory tarpon require 250 yards or more of 30# backing.
Bonefish: A weight-forward, tropical floating line is your go-to when fishing for bonefish. Beginner fly anglers should consider opting for a quickshooting line, while more experienced casters can perform with a more gradual tapered fly line. Ensuring a delicate presentation is crucial for most any bonefish scenario.
Permit: A weight-forward, tropical line that allows the angler to quickly load the rod, deliver an accurate cast, and turn over sometimes heavily weighted flies is a must. Longer fly line heads are handy here to both deliver flies at long distances, while also allowing for gentle presentations.
Tarpon: Depending on the setting, a floating, intermediate, or sinking fly line can all be utilized for tarpon. At some Bahamian islands, tarpon can be found in deeper channels and require heavy sinking lines, while cruising tarpon and juveniles can be targeted on a weight-forward, tropical floating or intermediate line.
Over time, dirt, grime, and other contaminants can accumulate on your fly line, which can negatively impact your casting performance. A dirty fly line can stick to your guides and drag through the water, resulting in poor casting distance and accuracy. Regularly cleaning your fly line can help extend its lifespan. Dirt and other contaminants can cause the coating on your fly line to degrade faster, leading to cracks and other damage that can weaken the line. A clean fly line can help you detect subtle strikes and improve your overall fishing experience.
How Many Leaders? Two to three leaders are recommended for a week, though some anglers prefer to have fresh leaders each day. More are recommended if anglers intend on targeting species other than bonefish.
What Size and Weight Leaders? A 9 or 10-foot 12# leader is most common for bonefish, while 16# test is recommended for permit. Anglers pursuing tarpon can bring 20# leaders.
How Many Spools of Tippet? A single spool of each recommended size.
What Size and Weight? Spools of 10#, 12#, and 16# can be used for bonefish, while the addition of 20# tippet will cover you for permit. For juvenile tarpon, a spool of 40# tippet is ideal for bite tippet, while large, migratory fish demand a shock tippet of 50-80#.