Fishwest Hosted Trips Archives

The dust has settled, and I am reflecting on our recent hosted trip to Andros South Lodge in Kemps Bay, Bahamas. The trip ran from February 22nd to March 1st, 2025, with six days of guided fishing. We included extra travel days on the front and back to accommodate flights to and from Congo Town International Airport in South Andros. Traveling from Salt Lake City to South Andros isn’t the easiest, but it’s worth it. I arrived at Salt Lake City International Airport at 4:30 AM for a 6:00 AM flight to Atlanta. From there, I connected to Fort Lauderdale. A long delay in Salt Lake City and a short connection in Atlanta made for a stressful transfer, but I barely caught my flight. For anglers traveling from the East Coast or Central Time zones, it’s possible to reach Congo Town and Andros South Lodge in one day. Our group from SLC, however, never manages that. After arriving in Fort Lauderdale, we collected our luggage and took a shuttle to the Marriott Courtyard – North Cypress Creek. This hotel is conveniently near Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), our departure point for the final flight. The next morning, after a good night’s sleep and a quick breakfast, I headed to the Makers Air terminal at FXE. Makers Air serves about a dozen Bahamian destinations. While their fares are slightly higher than alternatives, they provide direct daily service to Congo Town, making the trip much easier. Upon arrival in Congo Town, our crew cleared customs and met Kermit and Michelle, the familiar faces behind the Andros South Lodge bus. Boarding that bus always sparks excitement. Fifteen minutes later, we reached Andros South Lodge. For many in our group, it felt like coming home to our Bahamian family. Big changes are happening at the lodge in 2025. The new management team consists of Ethlyn Smith, Rosealie Knowles, and Philip Knowles. These three aren’t newcomers. Philip, for example, has been with the lodge for nine seasons. He started on the yard crew, where he kept the grounds in pristine condition. Eventually, he pursued his passion for guiding, training under South Andros legends Capt. Josie Sands and Torrie Bevans. Now, Philip serves as the head guide and the face of Andros South Lodge. His friendly attitude and enthusiasm for bonefishing make him a guest favorite. Watching his journey unfold has been inspiring. Each year, day one begins with eager anticipation of landing that ten-pound bonefish. This time, we woke at 5:30 AM, ready to go. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. Intense wind and heavy rain greeted us. The rain let up just enough for us to launch, but by 10:00 AM, we faced a torrential downpour. With winds exceeding 30 MPH and dark clouds overhead, conditions were far from ideal. By lunchtime, we called it quits and marked day one as a loss. Many in our group had seen this before. Early-season bonefishing at Andros South can be unpredictable. We retreated to the Slack Tide tiki bar to pass the time. That evening, the rain stopped, the clouds cleared, and we hoped the worst was behind us. The forecast for the rest of the trip turned out to be the best in our 14 years of hosting. The tides were favorable, mornings were calm and glassy, and wind speeds stayed below 15 MPH. Clear skies dominated. Mornings started with skittish fish, but as the sun rose, anglers began bringing in solid numbers. Over five days, we hooked and landed plenty of bonefish. The flats offered a mix of action. We encountered large schools, triples, doubles, and the occasional monster single. Despite our efforts, nothing over nine pounds made it to the boat. Four fish estimated over ten pounds broke off in the mangroves, but the excitement was still there. For this trip, I used the Winston Air 2 Max 890-4 paired with a Bauer SLT 7/8/9 and the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Grand Slam line. This setup feels like an old friend—always reliable. The Air 2 Max excels at turning over long leaders in calm conditions but has enough power for windy days. When paired with a Pearl Gotcha, Crazy Charlie, or Craven’s Bonefish Junk, the fish didn’t stand a chance. Each year, our Andros South Lodge adventure keeps getting better, and this trip was no exception. Our group has plenty of stories to share—at least until next season. The 2026 trip runs from February 22nd to March 1st. Space is limited and fills fast. If you’d like to join this saltwater adventure, contact our travel staff at 435-783-6791.

Fishwest Hosted Trips

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