The chill that winter brings typically means the end of fishing, at least until spring for many enthusiasts, unless ice fishing is your thing, of course. But if you’re willing to travel a bit, a trip to the Caribbean not only means warm weather and beautiful beaches but the opportunity for fishing. Let these especially amazing Caribbean resorts be the inspiration for a fabulous vacation that includes fishing and a whole lot more.
Swain's Cay Lodge - Andros, Bahamas
Swain’s Cay Lodge makes a great spot for the best fishing in the Bahamas, ideal for bonefishing, deep-sea fishing or reef fishing. Just off the beach near the lodge is wadeable flat – you can step outside of your rustic island cottage and onto the sand anytime you’d like and be right in the middle of the bonefish domain. The lodge caters to serious fishing enthusiasts of all types. It’s uniquely positioned on Mangrove Cay, providing easy access to both the South Bight and the fabled Middle Bight. Independent, local guides are all handpicked – and know just the right spot for wind and tide conditions. Just outside the Andros Barrier reef are ideal conditions for large game fish like tuna, billfish and wahoo.
Bimini Big Game Resort - North Bimini, Bahamas
The quintessential Out Island boutique property, Bimini Big Game Resort is home to the Big Game Dive Shop which offers snorkeling excursions, daily dive trips, scuba lessons and rental equipment. Bimini Big Game is also serious when it comes to fishing, with tournament-rigged vessels used for sport fishing charters that are all decked out with the latest gadgets that only fishing fans will truly appreciate. The boats also feature live bait wells, swim platforms and comfortable staterooms. Guests can bring their catch to the restaurant’s kitchen for a fabulously cooked dinner too.
Choose a garden cottage for the perfect hideaway, tucked among the towering palms and hibiscus gardens. You can get a glorious start to your day by stepping off your patio and onto the docks to watch the sunrise over the bonefish flats.
Abaco Lodge - Schooner Bay, Bahamas
The “Marls of Abaco,” located along the western shores of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas, is a saltwater fisherman’s paradise. The area is renowned as a prime wilderness bonefish habitat – one of the best spots to be for those seeking productive bonefish waters. Abaco Lodge, situated on the west side of the island, abuts some of the very best of those fishing waters. There are plenty of opportunities for catching fish that exceeds five pounds as well. Record catches of marlin, sailfish and tuna are common, with outstanding fishing throughout the islands.
The lodge is a perfect place to rest after a day out on the water, offering plenty of comfort in a “no frills” package that includes a spacious room with a waterfront porch, satellite TV, a fire pit, swimming pool, an open bar and delicious cuisine. The highlight here is the fleet of skiffs that are captained by some of the top guides who will take you out to fish the famed Marls.
Stella Maris Resort Club - Long Island, Bahamas
Long Island is renowned for its shorelines that are teeming with schools of tuna, wahoo and billfish all year round, and one of the main activities at Stella Maris Resort is fishing. Resort guides will fill you in on all of the hottest spots for casting your line. Deep-sea fishing, reef fishing and bonefishing excursions are available any time of the year, while the wide range of accommodation options include everything from panoramic ocean view rooms to four-bedroom waterfront villas.
The resort’s beaches are ideal for beachcombing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, or just soaking up the sunshine. A small beach just below the resort features a freshwater swimming pool, cabanas, hammocks, a playground, a beach bar and more.
Westin Puntacana Resort & Club, Dominican Republic
This famous destination for big game fishing hosts a number of summer fishing tournaments, including ESPN2’s Billfishing Xtreme Tournament. One of the best resorts in the Dominican Republic, Westin Puntacana Resort & Club offers ocean-view rooms with access to white-sand beaches as well as an expansive outdoor pool, a beachside grill, restaurants, gym and walking trails, while the Puntacana Aquatic Center offers a variety of half-day and full-day fishing excursions. A range of other marine sports is also on the menu, including kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing, catamaran sailing and water skiing.
Petit St. Vincent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines
An ideal destination for completely unplugging from the chaos of the modern world, Petit St. Vincent is a 113-acre private island resort framed by two miles of pristine white sands. There are no televisions, no phones and no planned activities, but you can indulge your ultimate private island fantasy, including plans to go fishing. Not only is it one of the most romantic destinations in the world, but but the resort also offers sailing excursions that provide the perfect opportunity for Caribbean casting. The Grenadines are home to a wide array of fish species, including regular catches of mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, great barracuda, Spanish mackerel and giant trevally. Resort chefs will be ready and waiting to cook up your catch for you when you return, or you can cook it up yourself on the boat’s grill.
When you return to your cottage, you can enjoy total privacy by hoisting up a red flag that signals staff to stay away. If you’re in the mood for a drink, food or just about anything else, just raise the yellow one. The same system is used at the beach, where you can have a picnic lunch or tropical beverages delivered right to your hammock.
Laluna Boutique Hotel and Villas, Grenada
Grenada is renowned for its crystal clear waters in stunning shades of blue and green – flanked on one side by the Caribbean and the other by the Atlantic, the waters offer an incredible array of marine life as well as fantastic fishing. It’s also home to Laluna Boutique Hotel and Villas, which is partnered with a local company to take guests out on the water and give them the chance to catch dinner. The waters are teeming with fish and guides show passengers their favorite spots to hook the best catch on half-day excursions. The resort itself features cozy rooms, each with an open-air shower, a veranda with day beds and a private plunge pool, while a Balinese-inspired spa provides a relaxing harmony of east and west. An Asian-inspired spa and sunset bar are popular hangouts too.
Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort - Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
Beaches is ideal for families as an all-inclusive beach resort that offers scuba diving, a swimming pool, kayaks, a spa and health club, lighted tennis courts a children’s center and deep-sea fishing. Talk to the tour desk about arranging an excursion to enjoy some of the best sport fishing in the world. Novice and skilled anglers alike can reel in everything from yellowtail and snapper to group, barracuda and more.
The kids will especially love the 45,000-square-foot waterpark, while teens (and their parents) will appreciate the teen disco and Xbox Play Lounge. This massive resort boasts six swimming pools, three with swim-up bars as well as a nightclub, a long list of specialty restaurants, bars that serve unlimited premium drinks, a supervised kids camp, a scuba diving program and more.
Bair's Lodge - Andros, Bahamas
Bair’s Lodge is yet another great Andros, Bahamas option, located among prime bonefish waters. The plantation-style lodge is situated on South Andros, between Deep and Middle Creek offering a beachfront paradise with a picture-perfect white sand beach, swaying palms, fire pit and access to a flats skiff that’s just steps away from your room. The tidal paths found on this part of Andros provides water pathways to access the famous west side while offering protection from the winds and create a fertile, bait-rich environment that bonefish prefer. Most of the fishing is done from the bow of the 16’ flats skiffs, though there are opportunities to wade out across the hard, white sand bottoms.
Waterfront rooms include air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms and lots of room for storing clothes along with all of your fishing gear. After a day out fishing, you can come back and soothe those hunger pangs with gourmet cuisine, including fresh conch, lobster, locally-caught fish, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Meridian Club - Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos
The Meridian Club, a private island resort, isn’t a typical Caribbean fishing destination. It doesn’t cater mainly to the fisherman, but it is ideal for those with a non-fishing spouse with its multitude of other activities to choose from, from snorkeling swimming and kayaking to yoga, tennis and biking. Bring your family, and your rod and reel, and experience world-class fishing for sailfish, marlin, wahoo, tuna, mackerel and barracuda in the sheltered waters just beyond the reef of the national park. You can even have your catch prepared by the chef for dinner as your own personal ‘fish of the day.’ The resort offers boats, all of the necessary equipment, and highly capable guides.
The Sand Dollar Spa is a perfect spot to unwind and relax when you’ve had all of the fishing you can take, a massage or a hot stone treatment from the Balinese masseuse is especially heavenly.
Galley Bay Resort & Spa - St. John’s, Antigua
Galley Bay Resort & Spa was truly made for the adventurous, with its long list of thrilling excursions that include zip-line rides, 4X4 tours through the jungle, helicopter tours, sunset cruises, mountain biking, snorkeling and, of course, fishing. Nightwing charters will take you out on its Bertram into the Atlantic waters to fish for mahi-mahi, kingfish, sailfish, marlin, wahoo and barracuda, with the tackle, bait and drinks all provided. Everyone from the beginner to the highly experienced angler is welcome aboard. You can also take advantage of all types of complimentary watersports equipment and instruction or just lounge by the pool with a good book.
Most of the accommodation is found tucked into the landscape along the beach and includes 98 rooms that are set among 40 acres of beautiful tropical gardens. Cottages offer lagoon views as well as hidden, individual plunge pools when you want to take a private dip.
Casa Blanca & Playa Blanca Fishing Lodges - Punta Pajaros, Mexico
Casa Blanca is a premier fly-fishing lodge on the northern tip of Puna Pajaros with immediate access to the prime fishing areas of Ascension Bay. Built right on the water, it overlooks a flat visited daily by bonefish schools as well as tarpon and permit. Cast your line right off the lighted pier after dark where you’ll enjoy some of the best fishing around. The vast, varied flats, hidden lagoons, very little development and a prohibition on netting help make this pristine body of water an angler’s dream.
All of the lodge rooms are spacious and offer impressive ocean views, while the open-air main lodge includes a fully-stocked bar and a friendly bartender. A daily selection of snacks is freshly prepared every afternoon. And, while Casa Blanca is remote, it’s not completely disconnected. Wi-Fi and satellite phones are both available for guest use.
Archie Fields Rio Colorado Lodge - Rio Colorado, Costa Rica
Rio Colorado Lodge, tucked into the tropical jungle where Costa Rica’s Colorado River flows into the Caribbean, offers the chance to fish for tarpon, snook and a host of light tackle game fish. The average tarpon taken by Rio Colorado Lodge guests is said to be around 80 pounds, with fish over 200 pounds not unheard of. The lodge has 23-foot fiberglass boats, and the entire fleet includes fishfinders as well as compasses and radios to stay connected with other boats and the lodge. English speaking guides, born and raised in the area, are familiar with every hole and riffle, are provided as well.
The lodge is the only one on Costa Rica’s east coast with air conditioning and the cuisine, served all-you-can-eat, family-style, is said to have “earned high praise from ardent fishermen” around the world.
Casa De Campo - La Romana, Dominican Republic
This Kennedy-esque compound aptly named Casa de Campo, or “house in the country” offers a wide variety of activities, including fishing. You can enjoy the thrill of deep-sea fishing as well as the tranquility of freshwater angling. Cast your line for trophy fish like tuna, kingfish, sailfish, marlin, wahoo and barracuda – all plentiful in the local waters. There are plenty of other active pursuits available as well, from sailing and kayaking to snorkeling and diving. When you start to feel waterlogged, head back to land and enjoy a game of tennis on one of 13 courts, go horseback riding at the equestrian center or head to the Sporting Clays Shooting Center with its safari-themed clubhouse. Golfers can play the “Teeth of the Dog” course, a Peter Dye designed golf course which features seven water holes as well as railroad ties fashioned from native woods.
Palmetto Bay Plantation - Roatan, Honduras
Palmetto Bay Plantation, located on the beautiful Honduran island of Roatan, offers the ultimate escape where you’ll be surrounded by magnificent scenery that includes lush greenery and gorgeous flowers in a natural habitat with a spectacular stretch of sand. Here you can walk for a mile with only the sounds of birds singing and waves gently lapping onto the shore.
The resort features a restaurant serving up traditional island flavors and international cuisine, a dazzling swimming pool and all sorts of activities like diving, kayaking, scuba diving courses, snorkeling, dolphin encounters, zip-lining, and, of course, fishing trips. Whether you’re a beginner or a serious angler, you can take a fishing charter that offers instruction and extensive knowledge of fishing techniques that are unique to the local area.
