LOCATION: 280 miles southeast of Nassau. POPULATION: 500-600 (estimated).

From Mike's Archives:

Christopher Columbus noted these isles in his 1492 log as "the fragrant islands"-a reference to the scent of indigenous cascarilla plants.  Five hundred years later, Bahamian cascarilla bark is used in the perfume industry as well as in the Italian aperitif Campari.  Columbus, however, wasn't looking for perfumed plants.  He was searching for a place the aborigine Lucayans called Samoete, where gold was rumored to be available in large quantities.

Crooked and Acklins' strategic location made them a major port-of-call for Atlantic Ocean steamship traffic.  The area also prospered as a center for growing sea island cotton.  The ruins of Hope Great House, a 17th century colonial mansion at Landrail Point, recall the plantation heyday of the islands.  There are also six four-tonne cannons built long ago by British imperial forces at Marine Farm.  The first Bahamian post office, served by the still-existing network of mail boats, was located in Pittstown, once a thriving commercial center.

Extensive inland and marine cave systems are the subjects of frequent explorers from overseas. The Ocean Den in the Bight of Acklins, more than a mile long, is one of the most impressive marine caves in The Bahamas.  Divers may tour and study the cave system by making prior arrangements with The Bahamas Blue Holes Foundation, tel. (242) 373-4483.

Among ecological treasures is the hutia, a nocturnal rabbit-sized rodent, once a food source for the Lucayan-Arawaks and now a protected endangered species.  Other endangered species include the Acklins Bight Rock Iguana.

At the moment, Acklins is the least developed of the Bahamas Outer Islands.  Even now you will hardly encounter any tourists and certainly no hotels, no crowds, not even taxis.

The Bight of Acklins is more than 1000 square miles of shallow water.  This is by far the largest area of prime bonefish-flats one can find.  Exploring this system of flats, creeks, channels and mangrove marls would take a lifetime. Acklins island provides the best bonefishing throughout the Bahamas island chain with no overfished flats.

So come to our lodge and relax.  We offer unparalleled fishing, good food and the best guides.