Facilities & Services

The lodge

Bair’s Lodge on South Andros Island offers deluxe ocean-side lodgings in an attractive plantation-style building surrounded by palm trees. The bright, airy lodge is nestled on a sparkling white sand beach. Stretch out and relax on the verandah. Enjoy a cocktail from the fully stocked bar. And breath in the laidback South Andros scene, where you’ll spot friendly locals and bonefish tails for miles along the adjacent shallow-water flats.

Living and Dining Rooms

Our unpretentious and air-conditioned living room and dining room areas have comfortable sofas, plenty of reading material, and face the ocean. Here you will find your buffet breakfast laid out each morning.

The lodge has a main bar fully stocked with spirits, cold beers, soft drinks, plenty of ice, a blender and mixers for cocktails. Satellite television has been installed for those who wish to catch up on news or sports during cocktail hour. Wi-Fi is available at the lodge.

Shop

Our shop is stoked with almost anything you could need- fly line, leader, tippet and an excellent fly selection. Along with sun protection and Bair’s Lodge logo’ed merchandise.

Veranda

Two of the six rooms in the house open to a long veranda facing the ocean, furnished with comfortable benches and tables to sip coffee in the morning or cocktails in the evening. There are rod racks beside the outdoor showers, and we have a hose with fresh water to wash down your tackle. From the veranda you can walk to the beach, where the skiffs are moored. We also have comfortable lounge chairs and hammocks for relaxing outdoors.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

All of our beautiful bedrooms have terracotta tile flooring, white cotton sheets, as well as tropical-weight duvets and plenty of down pillows. Room have A/C, with lots of storage space, and outlets for recharging phones, computers, etc. En-suite bathrooms and full baths are standard, hot water is plentiful, and towels and laundry bags are provided in all bedrooms.

Food and Drink

We pride ourselves on serving delicious fresh local produce, specializing in fresh fish (Mahi, Tuna, Grouper and Hog Snapper), conch and lobster. We carefully stock our larder with fine quality foods from the US and Nassau. Our chef bakes bread, pastries and cookies daily. Our coffee is made from freshly ground beans and will be waiting for our guests in the buffet. Alternatively, we will bring a cup of coffee to your room!

A full breakfast will always feature a variety of cereals, coffee and a selection of teas, as well as fresh fruits. Eggs will be cooked to your preference, with bacon, sausages and grits. Hot cereals are also available to order. A lunch menu card allows you to choose next day’s lunch and the contents of the boat coolers.

On your return from fishing you will find cold beers, spirits, and a blender for cocktails, as well as stacks of soft drinks. Delicious appetizers are served on the veranda, so you can sample local specialties such as cracked conch, grouper fingers and conch salad. If you have a specific preferred brand of liquor, please be sure to let us know in advance so the lodge can have it ready for you upon arrival (payable upon arrival to the lodge). Otherwise, you can bring your own bottle. A good range of local spirits will be available free of charge at the lodge.

Dinner starts with appetizers such as homemade soups or conch ceviche. Our emphasis is on mixing local dishes with light fresh recipes such as snapper with mango salsa, and some barbecued fish . Desserts will vary from chocolate decadence to key lime parfaits. House wines such as Malbecs from Argentina, Chilean Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon will be served with dinner. After dinner, liquors will be served in the sitting room. We can happily cater to special dietary needs. When you complete your pre-trip questionnaire please mention any requirements or food allergies you might have, so we can inform the chef. Salads are offered in our cooler lunches for those on low-carbohydrate diets. The lodge has a good supply of drinking water from our reverse osmosis system. You will find water in your bedroom and your boat, and you can drink the tap water. In our arid climate, conservation is always appreciated.

Fishing Areas

Bair’s is located on the east side of South Andros Island, Bahamas. The lodge is a five-minute skiff run north or south to Deep or Little creeks. Advantage: no trailering required. These easily accessed “cuts” open up to more than 120 square miles of flats, swimming with impressive populations of bonefish in the 4- to 6-pound class. Our sheltered creek systems are both habitat and fish rich, and they offer anglers appreciated weather reprieve if the wind kicks up. Little Creek connects to the island’s West Side, which can be reached by flats skiff in about 45 minutes. There you’ll find some of South Andros’ largest bonefish—adult specimens that have been known to reach the trophy 10-pound mark. This is where anglers with sharp skills go to stalk larger singles and doubles pushing into skinny water on favorable tides. The pristine, undeveloped zone is protected by Andros’ West Side National Park.

The southern flats, on the other hand, are home to some of the least-pressured fishing in the region. Grassy Creek is a 40-minute boat run from Bair’s. Weather permitting you can ride on to Hawksbill Creek and as far as Cistern Point. This area is renowned for bonefish in high numbers. Think endless wade-able flats, abundant schools, and very few competing skiffs and anglers.

The Daily Program

The typical trip does not fish on arrival or departure, but if time allows and guides are available, half-day trips can be arranged prior to getting here. Typically you’ll be shuttled from the airport to the lodge where you can check into your room, prepare gear, and spend an afternoon relaxing on the lodge grounds.

Here is a sample schedule of the daily program:

6:30 am Coffee ready at the buffet table

7:00 am Breakfast

8:00 am Depart dock

4:00 / 4:30 pm Return to lodge

4:00 pm Cocktail hour

5:30 pm Appetizers

7:00 pm Dinner

Guides

Our guides are some of the best in Andros, and we’re proud to have them working with us at the lodge.

Between them, they have more than 125 years of combined guiding experience at Bair’s, and have extensive knowledge of the South Andros flats. They are professional, hard working, and sincerely personable.

They also understand how tides affect bonefish feeding behavior and know where to go under different weather conditions. With their skills as captains, and great eyes developed over years of spotting bonefish, they will put you on fish and give you as much or as little guidance and instruction as you want.

Each day, your guide will decide where to go based on the weather conditions and guest preference discussed with the lodge manager. You should express any special preferences to the lodge manager, such as wading versus boat fishing. If you only want to target large individual Bonefish, or if you prefer to fish to large shoals of fish, just let us know. We will work with your guide and try to tailor your day accordingly!

Our rotation policy gives anglers the opportunity to fish with all six of these topnotch guides.

Bonefish are pound-for-pound one of the strongest, fastest-running saltwater fish anywhere. They are also one of the coolest to have your photo taken with. Their scientific name is Albulidae, which means “white fox.”

Bonefish are noted for moving from deeper water onto shallow tidal flats to feed, where you can find and cast to tailing fish—one of the most challenging (and rewarding) saltwater experiences available. They typically retreat back to deeper water as the tide ebbs. Bahamas bones can reach upwards of ten pounds, but a more representative size would be about a third of that. A big bonefish, a lifetime fish, would be any fish equal to or in excess of ten pounds. Larger, adult fish break away from schools, traveling in singles and doubles and offering great sight-fishing opportunities on the flats of Abaco and South Andros islands.

As prolific as Bahamas bonefish are, relatively little is known about them. The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) aims to change that, and has been heavily involved in scientific research in conjunction with our lodges. For more information, BTT is an excellent, angler-friendly source. Visit tarbone.org.

Season

Fishing Equipment

Bonefish: We recommend 9ft, 7-8wt. rods. Under normal conditions, you can make a delicate presentation with a 7-wt. rod, a long leader, and an un-weighted fly. A fast 8-wt, on the other hand, helps you punch flies through the wind. Use saltwater capable reels with adjustable drags and capacity for 150 yds. of 20lb. test backing.

Weight-forward bonefishing lines should be paired off with fluorocarbon leaders. A general rule of thumb is 10’ 10 lbs for leaders. Bring extra leaders and a few spools of tippet in the 8-15lb. range. Fly wise, the list of options is endless and selections depend on the kind of flat you are fishing, its bottom color—turtle grass or sand—and depth. A few we wouldn’t want you to go without include: Puglisi’s spawning shrimp, Miehieve’s Flats Fly, Kwabbit, mink shrimp, Veverka’s mantis shrimp, spawning mantis, and of course the Gotcha. (For custom options, see the next page.)

Predators: For barracuda and sharks you want a stout leader with a wire bite-tippet, about 12 inches long. Use a haywire twist to combine sections of mono to wire. Flies for ‘cudas include any and all needlefish imitations.

For sharks, we like large poppers in blood-red or other bright, attention-grabbing colors. The topwater takes are awesome.

Sage produces many of the rods we use regularly. In addition to a great lifetime warranty, the company engineers high-performance options perfectly suited for this fishery.

While the lodge has a well-stocked shop, we recommend bringing the following:

• A waterproof lightweight rain jacket is a must for the occasional shower
• Light colored trousers (full length) and long sleeved shirts will protect you from the sun and insect bites
• Saltwater-specific wading boots are a good idea to protect your feet from coral
• A good long-billed cap protects you from the sun and enhances your vision
• Light clothes for the evening and a swimsuit for relaxing in the pool
• Sun gloves and a buff are highly recommended For everything from layering essentials, waders, boots, and stormproof jackets to fishing-ready accessories and more—Patagonia produces some of the best. Laundry service is available at the lodge.

Bonefish are pound-for-pound one of the strongest, fastest-running saltwater fish anywhere. They are also one of the coolest to have your photo taken with. Their scientific name is Albulidae, which means “white fox.”

Bonefish are noted for moving from deeper water onto shallow tidal flats to feed, where you can find and cast to tailing fish—one of the most challenging (and rewarding) saltwater experiences available. They typically retreat back to deeper water as the tide ebbs. Bahamas bones can reach upwards of ten pounds, but a more representative size would be about a third of that. A big bonefish, a lifetime fish, would be any fish equal to or in excess of ten pounds. Larger, adult fish break away from schools, traveling in singles and doubles and offering great sight-fishing opportunities on the flats of Abaco and South Andros islands.

As prolific as Bahamas bonefish are, relatively little is known about them. The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) aims to change that, and has been heavily involved in scientific research in conjunction with our lodges. For more information, BTT is an excellent, angler-friendly source. Visit tarbone.org.

Bair’s Lodge

RATES

Peak Season: March 1st – June 30, 2019

7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing   $ 6,150

6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing   $ 5,775

5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing   $ 5,200

4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing   $ 4,305

3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing   $ 2,995

High Season: October 2018 – February 28th, 2019

7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing   $ 5,950

6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing   $ 5,560

5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing   $ 4,990

4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing   $ 4,100

3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing   $ 2,795

• Included: Lodging, meals, open bar, guided fishing, fishing license, transportation between Bair’s Lodge and Congo Town Airport and loaner fishing equipment (rods, reels and lines)
• Not included: Transportation to South Andros, flies, gratuities and government taxes
• Full day fishing on arrival and departure: $750 per boat (1 or 2 anglers) + government taxes + fishing license
• Half day fishing on arrival and departure: $550 per boat (1 or 2 anglers) + government taxes + fishing license
• Non anglers: $450 a night + government taxes
• Payment terms: 50% deposit to guarantee booking. Balance 60 days prior to departure.

Single room and boat: 60% surcharge

*Prices are in USD