When you think of someone who hunts ghosts, I'm sure images automatically come to mind… but be warned, I'm not talking about the Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis version of Ghost Hunting (Ghostbusters as you may well remember), I write of hunting Grey Ghosts of the Bahamas - the bonefish.

 

Robin is a 6^th generation Bahamian bonefishing guide and is owner of Robin Albury's Bonefishing (robinalbury@hotmail.com) a guide service out of Cherokee Sound, Abaco Bahamas. Robin's playground is the world famous Marls, a 200 square mile expanse of fishable flats country where countless bonefish cruise thru creeks, cuts and channels churning up crustaceans. It is some of the most beautiful country I've ever experienced… the Marls literally looks like you're seeing the world thru a fish eye lens. You seemingly have greater than 180 degree vision as the light blue color of the foot-deep water seemingly melds into the expansive cloudless sky; marked only by the sharp blistering sun and a few clouds. There isn't any noise pollution, there aren't any other boats, and there aren't any other people - just you, the Ghost Hunter and the anticipation of what's to come.

 

We recorded our show intro, tied up and were immediately into the bonefish… it was a windy day blowing to 15 knots but our lee-side locations were ideal to beat the wind and, as I learned, more importantly to "see" the ghosts. I am a bonefish rookie and found it extremely hard finding the fish in the flats…I started off often casting blind. Not to worry, Robin is as precise and meticulous as they come… calm, cool, collected… "30 feet 11 o-clock" he whispered … I presented my crab imitation fly… I missed. "20 feet 1 o-clock" I presented the fly again, I missed… again, and again. 

I won't bore you with the blow by blow happenings of what went on that day… but I can tell you that we ended up landing 4 bonefish in 3 or 4 hours and I hooke  many more than that… probably missing up to 10 opportunities.

I took fin clip samples, length measurements and recorded location of each fish landed for DNA testing thru Bonefish and Tarpon Trust www.tarbone.org and all were released to join their schools.

 

Stealth stalking these wary animals takes practice and constant concentration as not to spook them. The slightest noise, quick body movement, jarring move of the boat, and even the slap of waves against the hull will send these fish fleeing, leaving behind a cloud of Marl mud to let you know you've missed an opportunity.

If you are on the fence about getting on the water for some of your own Ghost Hunting, I hope this will push you over the edge to go ahead to do it. Bottom line, bonefish pull, they fight, and they run - HARD. One particular fish took me 100 yards into my backing 3 times!!! Recall, that's 100 yards of fly line, 10 foot Vicious Fluorocarbon leader and 100 yards of backing - from a 3 lb fish? You can't beat it. I'd get the fish to the boat, it'd spook and we'd do the dance all over again… there isn't anything you can do to slow them in peak run, just let them go! Fishing with Robin was most definitely a highlight of my fishing career. 

Robin Albury doesn't talk much, nor does he get excited. He's stalks bonefish steadily and silently. Though he is a young man, (with the 7^th generation Albury bonefish expert newly arrived) it's obvious he's tapped into the generations of knowledge before him… bonefish truly is in his blood.

 

As I sit at my desk, a couple thousand miles from Abaco Bahamas, I'd like to consider myself somewhat a ghost hunter now, anticipating the day that Robin and I can get back out in the Marls for this world-class, untouched resource. I am fortunate to have this trip on tape for WFN's Reel Road Trip - it's one my family will see for generations for sure!