Shorter days and biting cold temperatures make fishing in the winter months an unpleasurable experience most of the time. When tying flies, reading Gierach gets tiring, and cabin fever sets in there is only one option, head to the tropics. A week of wading the flats for Bonefish and Permit can refresh the mind and spirit, keeping you rejuvenated until the long awaited spring thaw. The Bahamas have long since been a great tropical fly fishing location offering large numbers of Bonefish close to the United States. Andros Island and Grand Bahama have the reputation as world class Bonefish destinations but there are still undiscovered gems in the Bahamas with eager Bones. The Exuma Islands are a chain of 365 Cays stretching 120 miles long with large uncrowded flats and mangrove coastline. The extensive flats have seen far less pressure than than most other islands in the Bahamas and the Bonefish are less weary to the saltwater angler.

Great Exuma is the largest Cay in the Exumas and home to George Town, the largest settlement. George Town is serviced daily from Nassau, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami by Bahamas Air, http://www.bahamasair.com. There are numerous guides on Great Exuma that will take you to the nearby flats but for the more adventurous, sea kayak rentals are available through Starfish adventure center, http://exuma-bahamas.com/starfish/rentals.html. Sea kayaking through the Exuma Islands gives you access to remote flats that see very little traffic as well as some amazing remote beaches.  Heading north from the Great Exuma you will leave civilization behind, paddling through shallow turquoise water, spotting cruising Bonefish.  This type of fishing is not for everyone, but for those with an adventurous spirit it can’t be beat.