****New Poll****West End / Gathering?

[Snookerd]

The Bahamas is my dream trip....especially the Abacos. Bimini sounds fun too. Is this the year? Is another Key Largo trip up for discussion? I believe asking the right questions yields the correct answer-Yoda.

[Bushwacker]

. . .There are better choices besides Bimini... just sayin' . . . [/QUOTE]

Bimini has the advantage of the shortest crossing from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale at about 45 nm, but West End or Lucaya on Grand Bahama (about 60 and 90 nm from Palm Beach respectively) would have more accommodations for those who can't stay aboard their boats.

Too bad Walkers Cay (100nm from Palm Beach/Lake Worth inlet) is still out of commission (as far as I know), although maybe you could now clear in at nearby Grand Cay, who may also have gas now. Lots of nice reefs nearby, so great diving and fishing. After clearing through West End on my first couple trips to Green Turtle in the late '70's, we started clearing in at Walkers on later trips. We'd spend the night anchored off Grand Cay and then spend the next couple days working our way down the chain of uninhabited islands the next 65 nm to Green Turtle, making for a much more relaxing trip than trying to run all the way to GT via WE in one day! Don't know how it is now, but back then the W.E. customs guy covered both the marina and airport, and you can guess who got priority! Only the skipper can get off the boat till you've cleared customs, so waiting several hours in that well protected marina (=no wind=hot!) is no fun. At Walkers, you knew the customs guy had to be on island somewhere, all you had to do was find him!

Navigation to Walkers from PBI is also a bit easier than to WE, which bears 90 deg or due E. This means you have to head about 95 degrees or so to compensate for Gulf Stream current. Course to Walkers via Memory Rock, which is about 20 nm N of WE, is about 85-87 degrees, so you're getting a lift from Gulf Stream on the way to Walkers instead of fighting it on the way to West End! Memory Rock was a very important waypoint since this was way before GPS! It's about the size and looks like a submarine conning tower, so if your dead reckoning navigation was off by more than about 5 miles, you'd never see it! Although you're never more than 20' from land once you get to the Little Bahama Bank, you're out of sight of land or any landmarks for about 4 of the 5 hour trip to Walkers!

[kmoose]

As expected, logistics will play a big role in where and how. Range for me is not really a problem and I could likely get it done without refueling as well as several others here. Accommodations for the Admiral and myself would also take precedence as we may opt for more than just a weekend. I am thinking at least 3 days with two days for travel. That may be too much for some and require a flexable time window for weather. Ultimately I would love to make it happen this year but that only gives us 5 months to nail it all down.

My hopes are that someone takes the lead on this as I think experience should set the course.

[bumpdraft]

The first time I went to Bimini, in 1992, we planned a 3 night trip with a couple other boats. When it came time to start the trip, there was a small depression out there that was supposed to fizzle, so we went with calm seas. We stayed at Browns.
The second morning of the trip, the little storm had grown to hurricane Andrew and after a little debate, we decided to head home after fishing the day. We got back to haulover at about 10 pm on Saturday.
Two years later, we went back and I was surprised to see the amount of windows in the area that were still not replaced. We ended up that trip by way of government cut, due to a pretty bad thunderstorm.
I've stayed at Walker's in May for a week on a 35' boat and only got out fishing once, due to the winds howling. So you never know.
I now only go out when it's two feet or less.

[kmoose]

The good thing about planning this is we could convert to a local gathering or coastal trek if weather just won't cooperate. An alternative plan will be a must.

[rcnight]

Been +30yrs since I sailed over - I'll work on getting the boat in order. The cruising permit is $150 and believe good for 90 days. Cross over early enough and maybe get two trips in during the summer months. My daughter has been after me for years to take her so count us in. Lots of useful info on Florida Sportsman forums.

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by kmoose

. . . An alternative plan will be a must.

Absolutely true! The single most dangerous thing you can have on a boat for a Bahama trip is a schedule!

It's such a long trip to the Abacos on the far eastern side of the Bahamas that we always went for 2 weeks, but since we planned to stay on the boats for several days, that gave us flexibility to shift the schedule a few days if required! It's the folks that feel like they HAVE to go to hold a schedule that get into trouble! The worst crossing I ever had, with steep 6-8' breaking seas in middle of gulf stream due to a 10 kt north wind, was an afternoon return from West End because one of the guys wanted to get back in time for lobster mini-season, which started the next day. If we had just anchored out that night and come back early the next morning, it would have been flat glassy calm!

[kmoose]

Looking at a fishing lodge on the west end. Bootle Bay? I see what looks like a big hotel with a purple roof and a marina (Google Earth). Anybody have any intel on this?

[dave s]

Great place and people! Vida Blue owner/manager, lobster/ flats guide. Wife is v. good cook. Nice rooms, reasonable rates, recently fixed up. Small place, limited number of rooms.
I'd stay there instead of Old Bahama Bay.

Bootle Bay Fishing Lodge

Bootle Bay
West End, Grand Bahama Island
The Bahamas

Bahamas Line: (242) 349-4010
U.S. Line: (561) 283-3891
Vida's Cell: (242) 443-7915
Email: VidaBlue42@hotmail.com

GPS Coordinates: N 26.38.774 - W 78.57.042

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by Bushwacker

Absolutely true! The single most dangerous thing you can have on a boat for a Bahama trip is a schedule!

Island time.