Mike
11/25/2009, Rose Island

November 20th, 2009 Adlers Cay, Berry's to Rose Island
We left the anchorage at 7 a.m. and powered our way out the cut against the current. Our course was set for Nassau Harbor and we hoisted the main and rolled out the jib. Winds were light but we were able to get some help heading up about as far as "Sapphire" heads up.
After about 5 miles we made deep water and got our fishing lines in the water. We've been fishing with one hand line in the middle of the stern and two rods angled outboard to get as much spread as we can.
The trip was about 35 miles and uneventful. We called Nassau Harbor Control for permission to enter and followed a huge cruise liner in...
The Harbor here consists of a wide channel between Paradise Island and New Providence. It is easy to deal with even though the shipping traffic is heavy. "Fine Lion" stopped for fuel but we continued through and out the other end ... a distance of about 4 miles, then snaked our way through some rocks and headed north a couple of miles to Rose Island where we joined 4 or 5 other boats in the anchorage.
Our dinghy was lowered and Steve and I went snorkeling on some coral that we could see from our boats. There were lots of fish. I saw a couple on nice grouper but they hid under the rocks and wouldn't come out.
Later we had a nice dinner of left-over tuna... and listened to the Spartans slop their way to a win against Toledo.

Comments [0]

11/25/2009, Alder's Cay, Berry Islands

November 19th, 2009 Great Stirrup Cay to Alders Cay, Berry's
Our plan this morning was to leave about 9 a.m. at high tide and fish our way south for about 25 miles. The weather was once again perfect and we sailed all day. The motor was on some of the time because fishing at less than 6 knots is not a good thing here.
After getting out to deep water, which took us the better part of an hour, we got our lines in and turned south.
Before long, with Kathy below, we had a double. I had fish on the salmon rod and one on the hand line. As I worked the hand line in the other fish got off. Kathy got things moved around in the cockpit and without much delay, we had dinner....a nice Black Fin Tuna. They don't get really big, which is good for the tackle, but this one is certainly large enough to make a dinner for four.
The rest of the trip was a wash out. "Fine Lion" caught a barracuda but we didn't have another hit.
We motored through the cut between Bonds and Alders Cays to the banks on the west side. "Fine Lion" checked out the area behind Bonds Cay while we surveyed the area behind Alders a mile to the north. We could tuck in closer to shore in the northern anchorage so ended up there for the night.
Steve and Kim took their dinghy and explored the area finding one good coral head to dive. They got their stuff and returned but didn't really see anything to shoot.
After taking showers and putting together some snacks we motored over to "Fine Lion" so that Steve could sear the tuna. He is much better at it than I, rarely overcooking.
It was a great meal...seared tuna that was in the ocean the same day, with wasabi, is about as good as it gets.

Comments [0]

Mike
11/25/2009, Great Harbor, Berry Islands

November 18th, 2009 Lucaya to Great Harbor, The Berrys
We were up at 5:30 and away from the dock an hour later. Our trip today took us south to the Berry Islands across the Northwest Channel. There wasn't much wind, so we motored sailed with the jib up for a little push and some stabilization. Our target in the Berry's is a place called "Great Harbor" about 56 miles away.
Our fishing gear was in the water by 7:30 and stayed there all day. We did have one hit in the morning and caught a Barracuda in the afternoon, but failed miserably at catching dinner.
The Northwest Channel is the main thoroughfare between Nassau and Miami so we had lots of shipping traffic to deal with as well as the cruise ships that ply these waters.
We arrived at about 3 p.m. and worked our way into a small anchorage passing through the shallowest water we've ever traversed without hitting bottom. It was a little scary but we went slow and were very careful. It was dead low tide ...and there was less water than the charts indicated.
There is not much here. The cruise ships anchor within sight and send folks ashore to the beach during the day... so it's not really our kind of place to spend much time. Tomorrow we'll move south in the Berry's about 25 miles to find a spot to do some swimming and hunting for a couple of days.
After sitting in the sun for a couple of hours in the cockpit ... soaking up the 80 degree temps and thinking about our friends who are still in cold climates, I went below to make dinner.
We had some left-over turkey that needed to be used up so... with no fish today, I made some biscuits and made the turkey into a nice chunky gravy to pour over the top... It ended up being quite good. There seems to be enough left to do it again for lunch tomorrow- if we can look at it once more.

Comments [0]