Deadman's Bonefish Camp: Long Island, Bahamas

Words by Drew Evans

That’s why House of Fly specifically choose Long Island for our 2026 Deadman’s Bonefish Camp, where four guests joined a two-man crew and fished with the team at Sammy Knowles’ Bonefish Adventures.

The group spent four days on the water and five nights on the island, based out of Deadman's Cay. Getting there followed the typical Bahamas travel routine: an entertaining overnight stop in Nassau, followed by a quick flight south the next morning. Once we landed on Long Island, things slowed down quickly. Small settlements, quiet roads, and endless flats seemed to stretch forever. It’s that combination, that sensation of time slowing down, that makes the Long Island bonefish scene so rewarding. And we eagerly soaked it in.

Endless Flats

The first thing that struck me about Long Island is the scale of the flats. They’re expansive. Miles of shallow, blue water stretches over bright-white sand, broken up by patches of turtle grass, coral edges, and winding channels that fish use to move in and out with the tides.

On many days the water was so clear that spotting fish wasn’t even a challenge. If they were there you would see them. And that’s an advantage. A dark shape sliding across the sand could appear from a long way off, giving anglers time to set up a cast while guides quietly positioned the skiff.

We focused on bonefish and were rewarded nicely; the size of those bones was impressive with most falling squarely in the three-to five-pound class. These were strong fish that ran hard the moment they felt the hook.

What made the fishing especially interesting was the variety of species we encountered throughout the week. Along with bonefish, we saw triggerfish tailing along coral edges, permit cruising the flats, and barracuda lurking in the shallows waiting for something to kill. A few boxfish showed, too, creating plenty of laughter as anglers tried to figure out how best to present a fly to one. Those stories will be revisited many times over the years, funny little narratives that stand out in memory as vividly as the taking of a good fish. The week also produced some big firsts. First bonefish. First barracuda. First triggerfish. Overall, it was the kind of fishing that kept everyone on their toes, not knowing exactly which fish might show up next, and which rods to keep at the ready.

One of the more memorable moments arrived on the first day when Mike and Terry were fishing with their guide, Clyde. Mike and Terry have known each other for years, but their story goes back further than that. Unknowingly, they grew up near each other and at one point were stationed overseas within steps of one another while serving in the military, though they didn’t become friends until much later, after both eventually landed in Great Falls, Montana. And yet, here they were, standing on the same skiff in the Bahamas, fishing together for the first time.

At one point Clyde spotted a sizeable barracuda cruising the edge of a flat. Terry, who is a talented fly tier, immediately grabbed a rod rigged with a fly he’d tied just a few nights earlier. It was a long, slender needlefish imitation. His cast was true and after just a couple quick strips that fly proved its worth: that ‘cuda accelerated across the flats, as only barracuda can do, and crushed it. Clyde manned the poling platform and calmly kept the boat positioned while Mike shouted encouragement as the fish made several powerful runs. Eventually the barracuda tired, allowing Mike to grab the leader and swing the fish alongside the skiff.

Then came the brave part. Without much hesitation Mike grabbed a tiny, four-inch long set of pliers and reached into a mouth full of teeth. As everyone held their breath (or was that a laugh), somehow the operation went smoothly, with no bloodshed and the fly popping out completely intact.

A few nights later, while going over the details of the pattern, I suggested that Terry stick that fly into the cork of a freshly finished bottle of scotch. It had already earned a story.

A Group from Around the Country

An attractive element of our House of Fly Fish Camps is the diversity of people who join. On this trip Jim traveled from Michigan. Mike and Terry wandered down from Big Sky Country. Mark, who has fished our redfish camps in Texas, joined us from Oregon.

Like many of our Camps, the week started with a group that didn’t know each other particularly well. But a few days of fishing together tends to change that pretty quickly. Long boat rides, shared excitement over fish, and plenty of laughs around the dinner table go a long way toward breaking the ice. By the end of the week, it felt less like a collection of anglers and more like a group of friends who had spent a few memorable days together, forming lasting bonds while chasing a variety of fish on those sun-drenched flats.

When people join in on one of our Fish Camps, they’re not simply booking a destination. They’re joining a group that travels together, fishes together, and shares the entire experience from start to finish.

Guests often say they wouldn’t have booked a trip on their own. Traveling to a new fishery can feel like a big step. Having a hosted group takes a lot of uncertainty away. There’s strength in numbers. You’re never navigating the experience alone. We’re right alongside you the entire time.

A Moment Twenty Years in the Making

For more than two decades, Jim had read about fishing on Long Island. Somewhere along the way he came across Sammy Knowles' writings and began researching the fishery in detail. One of the names that kept appearing was Jerry, a longtime guide who has spent more than 20 years poling skiffs over the Long Island flats.

Jim spent years imagining what it might be like to fish those flats, standing on the bow with a seven-weight rod ready to roll, Jerry handling the push-pole in the stern. And then, suddenly, as if a dream, he was standing on the bow of Jerry's boat, an idea manifesting itself . . . 20 years later. Ironically, on Jim's first cast with Jerry, a bonefish tracked down the fly and ate. Seconds later Jim's first Long Island bone was ripping across the flats.

It was the start of our trip and nobody could have asked for more.

A Strong Guide Team

The guide staff at Sammy Knowles’ Bonefish Adventures is a mix of experienced veterans and younger guides who clearly take pride in what they do.

Jerry has more than two decades on these waters. He brings a calm confidence that immediately puts anglers at ease, and he’s a master at quietly positioning the boat for good shots.

Another veteran guide we spent time with is Clyde. Clyde has built a reputation as an exceptional flats guide, and it doesn’t take long to see why. He moves methodically across the water, spots fish from remarkable distance and sets anglers up perfectly. He’s also known among the crew for another skill. When he’s not guiding on the flats, Clyde spends time competing in pro-am pool tournaments in Las Vegas.

The younger side of the guide team includes Dawson, age 20, and Paice, age 22. Both impressed everyone with their focus, and how eager they were to find fish and set their clients up for success. They spent the days scanning water constantly, quietly positioning the skiff, and calmly calling out shots. “Bonefish. Eleven o’clock. Sixty feet. Moving left.”

Life at the Lodge

After long days on the water, coming back to the lodge was one of the highlights of the routine.

The lodge has eight bedrooms, arranged in connected condo-style units. Each unit includes a kitchen, bathroom, and two private bedrooms, which makes it easy for anglers to spread out and relax.

The rooms were cleaned and refreshed each day by a local professional cleaning service. Beds were made, bathrooms restocked, and everything kept tidy so guests could focus on fishing instead of logistics.

The lodge had a comfortable, relaxed feel. By the second evening, a routine started to settle in. Gear drying outside, rods leaned in corners, and everyone gathering to discuss the day and plan for the next.

Meals Worth Looking Forward To

Dinner each night was prepared by a local Bahamian family. Fresh seafood played a big role in the meals. One evening featured an especially memorable round of fish tacos made from the day’s catch. Other local favorites appeared throughout the week, giving everyone a chance to experience traditional Bahamian cuisine. Cold local beer helped round out the evenings. Bush Crack, Kalik, and Sands were the go-to’s while everyone replayed the day’s events. Between the fish tales and the occasional exaggeration that always seems to sneak into those stories, dinner was rarely quiet.

Evenings on Long Island

Evenings on the island had a way of slowing everything down. Most nights ended with the group watching the sun drop toward the horizon. The sunsets on Long Island were impressive, often painting the sky in colors that looked like something pulled from a postcard. Once the sun disappeared, the stars took over. With almost no light pollution, the night sky was incredibly clear, and we found watching the stars to be a perfect way to wind down after long days on the flats.

Friday Night at Max’s

Our final evening on the island lined up with a weekly tradition for the guides. Every Friday the guide crew heads to Max's Conch Bar & Grill for food and drinks where they share notes on the week and plan for the next. We were invited to join, which turned out to be a perfect way to close our trip. The menu at Max’s changes, depending on what’s fresh and available that day. Our table quickly filled with conch bites, grouper fingers, steamed ribs with peas and rice, and an excellent hogfish parmesan. Margaritas, Kaliks, and plenty of laughs kept the evening going. After spending several days together on the water, sharing that night with the guides felt like a fitting end to the week.

Looking Back

When everything was wrapped up, the highlights were easy to see.

Miles of beautiful flats.
Healthy bonefish and plenty of shots.
Encounters with triggerfish, barracuda, and other surprises.
Guides who know their water and worked hard to put anglers on fish.
Great meals, comfortable lodging, and a relaxed, island atmosphere.

We feel like Long Island lived up to its reputation, booting out some big bonefish and giving us solid shots at many more species, all on uncluttered flats that allowed a very gratifying and relaxed pace. For our group, it was a week of great fishing, great food, and even better company. Exactly the kind of trip Fish Camps are meant to be.

If you want to join in on one of our 2027 Deadman’s Bonefish Camps, best get on it. At the moment we have four openings for the week of January 5-10. Got a group of friends who want to simply concentrate on the fishing and let us do the rest? We have you covered.

4 Days of Fishing  5 Nights of Bliss  $3,500 (pre-tax)

Arrive Jan 5; Depart Jan 10

Not Interested in Bones?

We could say, What’s wrong with you?

But, instead, we’ll just say this: We have several great Fish Camps in our offerings and are happy to discuss any of them with you. Puerto Rico tarpon and permit. Missouri River rainbows and browns. Overlooked Texas redfish. Wilderness tarpon, permit, snook and cubera snapper in southern Mexico. Permit and tarpon in Belize.

Give our travel manager, Caden, a call and he’ll fill you in on prices, availability, travel details, etc.

Caden.byrer@north40.com  Phone: 406-761-6623  x10604