Walkabout again on Compass

Man the fish have been going crazy so we haven't done any blogging lately. We went early this morning and caught more than 20 fish in less than 2 hours; all between 20 to 30 lbs. I have never seen so many fish so frantic to bite bait.
The above pic is Mel and Gail. Gail is an old friend of Karen; she's from Taos, New Mexico and has flown in to visit for a few days. She, Mel, and I hiked the south end of the island.

Refrigerator Rock

Today as we were trolling for Mahi Mahi and the excitement had slowed a bit, Tucker said, "steer toward that calm stream". I didn't know what the hell he was talking about but he motioned to starboard so I went that way. Soon I saw what he meant. In the choppy seas was a calm spot. As we passed through this calm stream the fish started hitting like crazy. We had at least 2 at a time on and sometimes 3. There were 20 or so under the boat and they would hit if we were trolling or not.
Sometimes we would just jig the bait under the boat and they would strike it and run. Truly the wildest fishing trip yet.
Tucker explained that the calm spot was caused by current and held bait fish and that's what the Mahi Mahi were looking for.

Weathered rock

Years of wind and waves have eroded the terrain on the south side of the island in a peculiar way.
The fishing has been too frenzied to take any fishing pictures.
Not sure what tomorrow will bring but the weather is perfect which gives us plenty of options.

Till later.

Adios,

Istaboa

Fishing with the King

Tucker wanted to go fishing and asked if I wanted to go along. He didn't have to bend my arm.
We went out in front of Compass Cay where the depths go from 100' to 600' like falling off a cliff. We only fished for about an hour and half but caught 5 nice sized Mahi Mahi.



I think Melonie was surprised when we returned so quickly; then she saw what we had in the box.



What a great day it was. I really enjoyed fishing with Tucker and getting to know him better. He's an interesting man.
He told me the story of how he named Refrigerator Rock. (a big rock offshore of crescent beach)
He said that when he was a kid there was a restaurant on the island and his job was to supply it with fresh fish everyday. He laughed as he told me he never had to go further than that rock. That was his refrigerator. Tucker says the rock still holds plenty of fish and lobster today.
So while I cleaned the boat, Tucker cleaned the fish and we gave everyone on the docks some. Made a lot of folks happy. Fresh fish for all

Another memorable day amongst many.

Adios,

Istaboa

Compass Cay Characters

The evening drink and think.

Happy hour discussions are always interesting here on Compass. This day's group included our German friend Torsten and Giles from Corsica. Giles and his wife Martinique have been here for a few days. Giles doesn't speak English as well as Martinique so she translates. Our dry American humor does not always translates as we expect. Often we get odd looks until we explain; then we get big laughs at the absurdity. This day's pow wow was all about alcohol. Torsten likes Haitian rum and broke some out. Barbancourt is good stuff. Giles shared his Anisette which is similar to Absinthe; also good stuff.
Happy hours around here are never boring.

Crew of the Bahama Star

Our German Friends on Sandpiper

Captain Bruce of the Bahama Star

All very colorful characters we have had the good fortune of meeting and getting to know.
Bahama Star is a charter sailing boat. Bruce and Eric have crossed our path several times during our stay in the Exumas. Fun Guys.

More pics later when we find more net

Adios,


Istaboa

PS... Thanks to Mike from Panama City for the Smoked Chicken quarters. They were very much enjoyed and totally consumed here on Compass.

What is, is...

No restaurants... No problem.

Tonight we will have Whole Roasted Yellowtail snapper with herbs. Tucker pointed out an area I could go and catch fish without being blown away by the 30kt wind. I went out in the dink and a little while later we have just what we wanted. One 2lb Yellowtail... Just what the recipe called for.

The sharks love it when you clean fish.
They are like puppies.

If you spend time here on Compass Cay you soon learn that Paradise comes at a price. No, not money but the loss of things we take for granted back home instead . Restaurants, grocery stores, unlimited internet, and cell phones are not always available. Right now the wind is blowing and the seas are rough so we just hang out and exist. Which is not bad at all. You soon come to understand... What is, is. Before you know it, you prefer it that way.

Our favorite bar is the overhang next to the dock office. You couldn't find a more interesting bunch of characters if you tried. They come from all over the world. Everyone gathers there around 4:30 or 5 and we stick around until 6 or 7. Low key to say the least.
Sometimes it's our favorite restaurant too; if we decide to do some cooking and sharing. Tonight our favorite restaurant will be on Istaboa.
Our grocery store? about a quarter of a mile behind us on Exuma Bank.
Cheap too. A wad of conch guts on a hook and now we have dinner.

Cell phones come and go as does the internet.

Tucker finally allowed me to take a look at the wireless internet network and I managed to get it back up again. The Taycom techs back home in Memphis would be proud.
All the folks here on the island are ecstatic.

We walked around the eastern side's crescent beach yesterday and we saw a few things to come back and take pictures of when the light grows warm just before sunset.

So until later...

Adios,

Istaboa

Not much net

The Blue Hole on Long Island
This is world famous for free divers. It is 650 feet deep.

Staniel Cay Harbor from the the Thunderball side.

Our Friend Andy, on Maggie May, passed by as we were having lunch at Thunderball

Then later we were strafed by this guy. He and 5 other planes like this were terrorizing Pipe Creek.
They are Chinese training planes.

Rode over to Staniel and dropped Russ off to fly back to the states for biz.
We are at Compass again and ducking the wind which is blowin like hell. No internet in Paradise so we will be dark for a while.

Life is good.

Adios,

Istaboa

Sub-Tropical again

Another cold Kalik
Max's World Famous Conch bar at Deadman's Cay, Long Island

We left Long Island today and made way for Cave Cay. Long Island turned out to be a really cool place. We became good friends with the all the folks at Long Island Breeze. Mike, one of the owners, was still around even though they are closed. He still made us Rum drinks, shared a few with us, and also allowed us to use his internet. Nice chap from Brighton, England.
Our friends from Germany pulled into Thompson Bay yesterday. We always seem to pass each other on the way in or out.
We will return to Long Island next year.
When passing Georgetown on the way back our friends Dick and Patra, the owners of our former boat, hailed us on the radio. They are going to hang around there for the Family Island Regatta.
The National Family Island Regatta is a really big deal here. All the folks at Salt Pond were spun up about it. We would have gone but it was a bit crowded and loud. All of this peace and quiet has really spoiled us.

We are now back at Cave Cay in the Exumas. It was a pretty good run today even though the seas were a bit large. At least they were on our tail which made for a dry run.
Mel met the owner of Cave Cay Marina today and said he was a very nice guy... He just stopped by to see if we needed anything. We really hope he hurries and completes this marina. It will be a jewel.
The above pic was taken by Molly while she and Mel were hiking on our last stay here. If you enlarge the pic you can see the dingy where Russ and I were snorkeling. An absolutely beautiful spot that I mentioned in an earlier post.

So now we are working our way back north. Next we will anchor at Big Major's Spot where the wild pigs are tame and swim out to greet the boaters in hopes of a handout. Wonder what Radar will think?

Soon back to our Exuma home... Compass Cay.

Adios,


Istaboa

A do-nothing day

Total Return at Anchor

This is a pic of another 57 Nordhavn we are traveling with. We have known Russ and Molly for a few years. Actually met them in Tennessee at Pickwick. They were doing the Great Loop and stopped at Grand Harbor.
It's nice to have a another boat to travel with.

Huh?

The Entrance to St Paul's Church

Sunrise this morning

We didn't go on the island tour with Russ and Molly yesterday. The winds were howling so we just hunkered down and had a down day. Nice to do sometimes...

Today the winds are still howling and it looks like our weather window on Monday just got smashed. The real problem is Long Island Breeze, which is the Center of the Universe here on Salt Pond, is closing. Oh No...No Net...No Pizza... No Chicken Souse...No Rum.
Oh well we will survive somehow.

Until next time... whenever that may be.

Adios,


istaboa

Touring Long Island

Shot from the front porch of Long Island Breeze
The sun broke through the clouds and just lit up this little rock.

We rented a car and drove around the island yesterday. It is a beautiful island. Driving down south on The Queens Highway (the only highway) to Clarence Town we spotted this church in the distance. It has some history that I googled up. It was built in 1843.

Clarence Town is twice blessed with fine churches. St Paul's Anglican Church was built by expatriate architect-priest Father Jerome. He converted to Roman Catholicism and then built St Peter's Catholic Church, also in Clarence Town.


This is not a church but a private residence that is in the final stages of being built. We like that the owners have respected Father Jerome's architecture. We would love to see this when finished.

then a stop for a cold rum drink at Max's World Famous Conch Bar. Great local color and very nice patrons.
Yesterday was a good day... amongst many good days.

More I google up about Long Island.

Long Island - beauty queen
The Atlantic side of Long Island is a dramatic rocky shoreline. The lee side is the essence of tranquillity, fringed with soft sandy beaches.

Bahamian artists consider Long Island, believed to have been visited by Christopher Columbus in 1492, the beauty queen of the country.

In the 1790s, Loyalists migrated here from the US and set up prosperous cotton plantations. More arid than most of the Bahamian islands, Long Island is noted for its sheep and goat herds. Long Island mutton is a Bahamian speciality.

Many say Long Islanders are the most physically attractive of all Bahamians. Their Afro-Euro-American genes may or may not include input from the Lucayan-Arawak-Taino aborigines who lived here in the 15th century and before. Archaeologists have found ceremonial stools, called duhos, and other evidence confirming pre-Columbian inhabitation of Long Island's magnificent caves. Today, one of the caves at the north end of the island is used for dining and parties. A network of caves with stalagmites, stalactites and tiny fruit bats lies at Deadman's Cay, six miles north of Clarence Town, the island's largest settlement.



Today we still have the rental car so we will head up Island.

More later...

Adios,


Istaboa

Long Island

This is not a fellow from Long Island but I have yet to take any pics.
So... more interesting things from along way. This is a fellow who wanted his picture taken. I think this was at Farmer's Cay.

Star fish from the Deca Station

Compass Cay Sharks

Not much going on yet... We are having lunch at Long Island Breeze. A nice restaurant right on Thompson Bay where we are anchored. Nice folks own and operate the place. Jackie and Mike.
We hope to rent a car tomorrow and look at the interior of the island. We have heard it is a beautiful island. So far it is living up to it's reputation.
The folks are quite nice here. I bought fish this morning right off the boat. The fishermen were locals and were having a great time. Very friendly.
Fresh fish tonight and tomorrow and the day after. Hog Snapper and Nassau Grouper. Good fish!

Hope to have some good pics of the island in the next few days

Until then...

Adios,

Istaboa

Interesting images from along the way

Old Conch shells at Little Farmer's Cay

as the sun sinks at Cave Cay

Tiz de I-lans... Mon

click the image to enlarge

Le Grand Bleu

380' Private Yacht

If you look closely you will see this boat has a Sail Boat and a Sport Fish loaded onboard.

She was anchored in the Sound...  out from the [now defunct] Emerald Bay Marina.

Sunrise over Elizabeth Harbor in Georgetown.

This morning.

At this moment we are waiting for the tide to rise so we can begin our run to Long Island. This will probably be the last of the net for a while.

 

Exciting day for us. We will be crossing the Tropic of Cancer and entering the true Tropics. None of this Sub-Tropical stuff for us now. 

Actually we are on the edge of the T of C now; we are just running about 35 miles south.

So until we find bandwith....

Adios,

Istaboa