The Exumas are a 120-mile-long island chain-within-the-chain of the Out Islands, with the Exuma Cays scattered in a long line extending north-east toward New Providence from Great Exuma. The Cays are the most exotic of the Out Islands, a collection of tiny jewels set in the aquamarine and sapphire of the most beautiful water you’ve ever imagined.

Many of the Exuma Cays are private, some operating as luxuriously exclusive private-island resorts and others the ultra-exclusive homes of such stars as Johnny Depp and country singers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The hub of the Exuma Cays is Staniel Cay, where boaters gather at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club’s bar and restaurant, and where a landing strip serves as the gateway to the northern stretch of Cays.

Within sight of the Club is the famous Thunderball Cave – seen in the James Bond film of the same name as well as the movie, Splash – where you can put on a mask and snorkel and duck inside a small hollow cay that’s filled with friendly fish accustomed to being hand-fed.

Great Exuma

The anchor of the Exumas archipelago is Great Exuma, Bahamas. Here, you’ll find the laid back capital George Town and a great selection of casual Bahamian restaurants like Iva Bowes’, Big D’s Conch Shack, Eddie’s Edgewater and Club Peace & Plenty. Hotels here range from condo-resorts to locally owned fishing lodges.

 

A dream destination.

With beautiful blue water, water everywhere, the Exumas are a dream destination for boaters, fishermen (flats, reef and offshore), divers, snorkelers and kayakers. The private islands are custom-designed for those seeking the ultimate escape, and the new levels of luxury available in both the Cays and Great Exuma are a definite draw for lucky couples looking for the perfect spot for an island wedding or honeymoon.

In deeper water over the reefs and drop offs available in all of The Bahamas Near and Out Islands, One Call Charters will put you right on top of the best spots and offer a great day of Bahamas fishing fun for the whole family. Further out, in the indigo blue of the Gulf Stream off Bimini, in the mile-deep Tongue of the Ocean alongside Andros, and off the Atlantic sides of the Abacos, Acklins, Exumas, Eleuthera, Cat and Long Island, lie the sleek strong pelagic fish. Fishing out here is big game trolling, when your senses are set to a hair trigger: eyes peeled for the electrifying sight of a marlin’s bill or tuna’s head crashing into the baits, ears tuned to the snap of an outrigger and zzzzzzzz of the line peeling off as the fish bites and runs. Hook up with a big blue marlin or tuna, or get a wahoo, kingfish or bull dolphin on light tackle, and you’ll have your own Hemingway story to tell when you get home.

Whether you fly fish, spin cast or prefer to troll big game gear – or want to do all three – The Bahamas has a selection of reefs and deep sea fishing drop offs with hungry fish waiting.