Selection of bonefish and permit fly patterns used for guided flats fishing trips in Grand Bahama, Bahamas.

What To Bring

Packing List

  • Lightweight, long-sleeve sun shirt

  • Quick-dry fishing pants or shorts

  • Hat

  • Polarized sunglasses — amber, copper, or brown lenses are preferred, ideally with a green mirror

    • For overcast or low-light conditions, we also recommend a second pair with yellow lenses and a silver mirror

  • Buff or sun gaiter

  • Lightweight rain jacket

  • Non-marking boat shoes or sandals

  • Reef-safe sunscreen

  • Reusable water bottle

  • Small personal dry bag (optional)

  • Camera or smartphone

  • Any personal medications

Fishing License

A valid Bahamas recreational flats fishing license is required for guests participating in flats fishing trips. Your flats fishing license can be purchased online before your trip through GoOutdoorsBahamas.com.

We recommend purchasing your license in advance so you’re ready to fish as soon as you arrive.

Tackle

Guests are welcome and encouraged to bring their favorite equipment, but Goombay Outfitters also provides quality rods, reels, flies, lures, and tackle for every trip. Whether you travel with your own setup or arrive empty-handed, we’ll have you covered.

Fly Fishing

  • 7–9 weight fly rods for bonefish

    • A 9-weight is our most versatile flats and inshore setup and is what we fish most often because of its ability to handle changing weather conditions and a wide range of species.

  • 9–10 weight fly rods for permit, mutton snapper, jacks, and barracuda

  • Floating fly lines

  • Leader and tippet material in approximately 15, 16, 20, and 30 lb

Recommended Flies

  • Bonefish — sizes 4: Gotchas, spawning shrimp, fur shrimp, Borski Sliders, Bastard Crabs, and Merkins, with a mixture of medium/large bead-chain eyes and extra-small/small dumbbell eyes

  • Permit — sizes 4–2: Spawning shrimp, Strong Arm Merkins, Merkins, Danger Muffins, and Raghead Crabs with small/medium dumbbell eyes

  • Mutton Snapper & Jacks — sizes 4–2: Spawning shrimp, Strong Arm Merkins, Merkins, and Raghead Crabs with small/medium dumbbell eyes

  • Barracuda: Ka-Cudas, chartreuse Bangers, and needlefish patterns

Spin Fishing

  • Medium-light to medium spinning tackle

  • Bonefish & Permit: 2000–3000-size reels with 10–20 lb braid and 15–30 lb leader

  • Mutton Snapper, Permit, Jacks & Barracuda: 4000–5000-size reels with 20–30 lb braid and 30–50 lb leader

Included on Your Trip

  • Professional guide

  • Boat and fuel

  • Ice, sodas, and drinking water

  • Lunch

  • Rods and reels, if needed

  • Terminal tackle, flies, and lures as needed

Angler on the bow of a flats skiff serching for bonefish in shallow flats of Grand Bahama, Bahamas.
Large permit caught while flats fishing in Grand Bahama, Bahamas.
A person fishing on a boat in shallow water with a fishing rod, wearing a hat and a light blue jacket, under a cloudy sky.