Part 1: Bahamas on the Run - Mangrove Cay Club

Tucked into the expanse of Andros Island is Mangrove Cay Club, a polished and deeply professional operation that feels refined and rooted in the fishery. Andros is the largest of the Bahamian islands, set on the western edge of the country. What makes it unique though, is that it’s split by three distinct “bights,” which are the channels that cut the island into smaller sections. The North, Middle, and South Bights create natural breaks that determine where North, Middle, and South Andros Islands begin and end. Mangrove Cay Club is situated on Middle Andros, in a prime position to access a wide range of water. Getting to the lodge is straightforward, though there are a couple of main ways to go about it.

Option 1: In my opinion, this is the easiest route. Makers Air offers direct service from Fort Lauderdale into South Andros. Once guests arrive, a taxi is waiting for the short 15 minute drive to the harbor. From there, the lodge’s comfortable center console transport boat takes you straight across the South Bight to the dock at Mangrove Cay Club. It’s a smooth, scenic ride and a great way to start the trip.

Option 2: Fly into Nassau and connect onward to the Mangrove Cay airstrip. This can be one of the more challenging options, as schedules tend to be slightly inconsistent. Two airlines service Mangrove Cay; Flamingo Air and LeAir. Upon arrival, a taxi will be waiting to transfer you to the lodge.

This was my first time at the lodge, and I was honestly blown away the moment I stepped onto the property. Liz Bain, the fantastic lodge partner and on ground manager, greeted me at the dock and gave me a tour. The bright yellow buildings sit directly on the water’s edge, leaving nothing to the imagination with turquoise ocean in every direction. Sandy paths lead from the main lodge down through the property, all the way to the pool overlooking the ocean.

The lodge was built from the ground up to be an angler’s paradise, but non-angling guests would have a great time just hanging out here. Guests can expect excellent food, oceanfront accommodations, and stellar guiding. There are four cabins, each with two separate rooms, comfortably housing two anglers per room. Every room includes a private bathroom, a small living space, two queen-sized beds, and a porch overlooking the ocean which is perfect for an early coffee or a late afternoon reset.

The main lodge features two large dining tables that can comfortably seat 16 guests. The chefs truly work magic here with the food being five-star quality, and I’d go back for that alone. They also have a full bar with a dedicated bartender who’s happy to mix up whatever you’re in the mood for. Each evening, this is where everyone gathered to swap stories about the fish we landed along with, of course, the ones that got away.

Fishing days started early with a made-to-order breakfast in the main lodge. Around 8 a.m., the guides would pull up to the dock, and we’d head out from there. Typical run times to the fishing grounds were rarely longer than 45 minutes. Depending on the tides and the day’s plan, you could make the run to the famed West Side of Andros, well known for holding some of the larger bonefish on the island. Out there, we saw more singles and doubles cruising rather than big schools.

When we focused more on the “middle ground,” meaning the vast stretch of water between the lodge and the West Side, we encountered many more schooling fish. It offered a nice balance: steady shots at numbers of fish with the occasional larger single mixed in.

I spent a couple of days fishing with Tito, one of their guides, and he was outstanding. On our first morning together, we knew right away we hit the day right. We eased into the first flat and were instantly greeted by wakes from groups of Bones sliding along the mangrove lined shoreline. Within the first few casts, we had fish to the boat, but shortly after a large lemon shark showed up and scattered the party. Over the next two days, the pattern held: plenty of waking fish, lots landed, a handful of lost, and a few blown shots to keep things interesting.

One of my favorite moments came during a Barracuda encounter. That morning, I had tied on a larger baitfish pattern that I thought would get the job done. About halfway through the day, we spotted a big ‘Cuda laid up along the shoreline. I put the fly in front of him and gave it a few fast strips with no reaction. We tried a few more times with the same result. Tito calmly said, “Switch to a needlefish fly, that’ll get him.” I made the change, laid out one cast, and before I could even get a proper strip in, the fish shot over and absolutely smoked it. Always listen to your guide!

For most of my time at the lodge, I rotated between two bonefish flies. Depending on the depth of the flat, we fished either a bonefish Gotcha or a Petersen’s Spawning Shrimp. The Gotchas were tied with lighter bead chain eyes, making them perfect for the shallowest flats since they landed softly with minimal commotion. Once we moved into deeper water, the Spawning Shrimp, which is typically tied with heavier lead or brass eyes, came into play to help get down quickly. If I were only allowed to bring two flies on a Bahamas trip in the future, it would be these two without hesitation.

Being my first stop on this multi-week Bahamas tour, Mangrove Cay Club set the bar high right out of the gate. Everything from the fishing, accommodations, staff, and food was all top notch. It’s the kind of place that checks every box and then some. I’m already looking forward to getting back.

Onto the next stop: Andros South Lodge… Stay tuned!