06 Sep Mangrove Cay Club: Bight Access to All Sides of Andros
Among the legendary bonefishing destinations across the Bahamas, Andros Island stands in a class of its own. But for anglers seeking direct access to all three of the island’s major tidal channels without sacrificing comfort, Mangrove Cay Club is widely considered one of the most strategically located lodges on the island.
Positioned on the northern shore of Mangrove Cay along the Middle Bight, this boutique lodge sits right in the geographic sweet spot of the entire Andros archipelago. Accommodating a maximum of 16 guests in private waterfront bungalows, the lodge gives anglers rapid skiff access to the North, Middle, and South Bights, the untamed West Side, eastern flats, and southwest cays.
Before booking your trip, it helps to know what sets Mangrove Cay Club apart, what to expect on the water, and how direct private aviation makes reaching this central lodge far easier.
The Bight Access Advantage
The key to a successful Andros fly-fishing trip is staying ahead of wind and shifting tides. Guides who fish these waters regularly describe an inverse tidal pattern between the island’s east and west sides, where when the tide is low and rising on the eastern side, it is high and falling on the western side.
Mangrove Cay Club’s position inside the Middle Bight gives its team of licensed local Bahamian captains a genuine tactical edge:
- All-Tide Access: Guides can shift positions between the bights throughout the day, ensuring you are always fishing ideal rising or falling water without waiting around for tide changes.
- Wind Protection: Tucked away from the open windward eastern shore, skiffs depart directly from the lodge dock into sheltered waters regardless of prevailing winds.
- Varied Fishing Options: Target massive schools of 3- to 5-pound bonefish in the interior bights or head west to hunt trophy solitary fish.
- West Side Access: On favorable weather days, guides can run through the bights directly to the West Side, where trophy bonefish frequently reach double-digit weights.
What to Expect on the Water
Daily operations at Mangrove Cay Club are engineered around maximum time on the flats. Guests typically head out aboard the lodge’s flats skiffs , which the property describes as equipped with 85-horsepower outboards, comfortable elevated seating, and poling platforms designed specifically for shallow-water stealth.
- Target Species: While bonefish are the primary target, anglers regularly spot and cast to permit, tarpon, barracuda, and jacks.
- Fishing Style: Anglers enjoy a combination of sight-casting from the bow of ultra-skinny flats skiffs and stepping out to wade hard-packed sand flats on foot across eastern shores and southwest cays.
- Lodge Equipment and Tackle: The lodge states it provides high-end loaner gear, a fully stocked fly shop, and a larger vessel for specialized runs.
- Evening Dock Fishing: Back at the lodge, guests frequently gather on the private dock after dinner for evening catch-and-release fishing right off the waterfront.
Lodge Comforts and All-Inclusive Amenities
Designed specifically by anglers for anglers, Mangrove Cay Club offers an intimate, all-inclusive experience across spacious beachside bungalows.
Each suite features an ocean-view bedroom, separate living room, private balcony, and purpose-built angler amenities, including exterior rod racks, dedicated reel-soaking buckets, and freshwater washdown hoses outside every suite door.
All guided lodge packages are fully inclusive, covering:
- Waterfront accommodations
- All gourmet meals, snacks, and full bar beverages (beer, wine, and liquor)
- Daily guided flats fishing with professional Bahamian guides
- Local ground transfers to and from Clarence A. Bain Airport
Note: The lodge has stated it operates during the prime Bahamian fishing season from mid-October through June (closing July through September, as well as December 15 through January 2).
Mangrove Cay Club is independently owned and operated. Inclusions, amenities, seasonal schedule, and closure dates are set by the property and should be confirmed directly with the lodge before booking your flight.
Getting to Mangrove Cay Club
Commercial travel to out-island lodges often involves tight layovers in Nassau, rigid luggage caps, and secondary boat transfers.
Tropic Ocean Airways offers private charter flights from South Florida into Andros, with routing reviewed around Mangrove Cay Club’s location, your group size, and gear.
- Direct Runway Access: Depending on aircraft type, weather, and operational review, our fleet may be able to land on Mangrove Cay’s paved runway, putting you a short ground transfer away from the lodge dock.
- Customs Planning: Tropic Ocean Airways will structure your flight plan around the correct customs process for your route, which may include clearing at a different approved port of entry before continuing on to Mangrove Cay.
- Streamlined Gear Handling: Fly with an FAA-certified two-pilot crew with ample room for non-standard rod tubes, heavy tackle bags, and extra luggage.
What to Pack for Mangrove Cay
Packing light matters as much as your flight time. Soft-sided duffels fit seaplane and aircraft storage best, and sun protection is essential given the hours you’ll spend sight-casting against bright flats. Bring 8- and 9-weight rods for daily bonefishing, plus a 10- or 11-weight rigged with heavy shock tippet on the skiff for unexpected tarpon or shark shots, and share your rod tube dimensions with Tropic Ocean Airways ahead of time so the crew can plan loading.
Plan Your Andros Fishing Escape with Tropic Ocean Airways
Getting to Mangrove Cay should feel as easy as the fishing itself. Tropic Ocean Airways provides direct, comfortable, and personalized private charter service from Fort Lauderdale, putting some of Andros’s best bonefishing within easy reach.
Ready to head out on the water? Plan your Mangrove Cay flight today.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is Mangrove Cay Club located on Andros Island?
Mangrove Cay Club is situated on the north shore of Mangrove Cay, directly along the south bank of the Middle Bight. This position sits between North and South Andros, offering fast boat access to all three interior bights and the West Side.
2. Which airport do we use when flying into Mangrove Cay Club?
Guests fly into Clarence A. Bain Airport (Airport Code: MAY / MYAB) on Mangrove Cay. The lodge provides ground transportation between the airport and the property; confirm current transfer arrangements directly with Mangrove Cay Club.
3. Is Mangrove Cay Club open year-round?
According to the property, the lodge operates during the prime Bahamian fishing season from October through June, closing mid-summer through early autumn and during a winter holiday pause. Confirm current dates directly with the lodge before booking.
4. Can we wade fish directly from the lodge?
While most bight fishing is conducted from the bow of specialized flats skiffs due to soft mud bottoms, your guide can take you to hard-packed sand flats on eastern shores or southwest cays when you prefer to wade on foot.