Looking for advice on real estate

[waynesworld]

I just recently retired, living in the Midwest and love saltwater fishing. Fished in the Keys for 10 years but found it too crowed. I'm looking for opinions on setteling on one of the bigger islands compared to the smaller cays in the Bahamas. What areas of the Great Abaco island are best for the fishing?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[TurtleDreams]

Can you give us a little background? Have you visited Abaco or any of the "bigger islands in the Bahamas"? And what type of fishing? Flats, reef, deep sea?

[waynesworld]

Thanks for the reply to my posting. We live outside of Milwaukee in
Pewaukee Wisconsin. We fished the Florida Keys for 10 years and haven't
been back there for a few years. We really miss the saltwater fishing. I like deep water trolling & my wife likes bottom fishing (she doesn't like the long rides out to the hot spots in the Keys).

I retired in June and now we are looking for some place warm to settle.

We would appreciate any recommendations on fishing locations in the
Bahamas. We are also interested in any experiences you may have had on
living on the smaller Cays as opposed to on the Greater Abacos Island.
Things like medical, transportation and the cost of living, building a
home verses buying an existing home?

We've never been there but are planning a trip this summer. We think
that we will be staying on Green Turtle Cay this summer. It depends
upon the group we are going with.

Thanks for any information you can give us.

Wayne & Rita

[big fish]

Hello,

Living in Abaco is so very different than anything you have experienced in the US, that it is hard to know where to begin. Green Turtle or one of the other close by cays is a great place to see for yourself. After many winters in the Florida Keys, we really enjoy being in Abaco now. The fishing is great anywhere near the cays. Don't miss an opportunity to check it out.

Bruce

[abacomah]

I just recently retired, living in the Midwest and love saltwater fishing. Fished in the Keys for 10 years but found it too crowed. I'm looking for opinions on setteling on one of the bigger islands compared to the smaller cays in the Bahamas. What areas of the Great Abaco island are best for the fishing?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I think you should spend some time on the different Cays (pronounced keys) before you jump in and buy. Even though the Abaco mainland is geographically large the towns, Cays and Cays off the mainland are pretty much "small Cay environment" when it comes to amenities, medical, etc. You will either like the "Abacos" or say "this is not for me".

Some tidbits:
Marsh Harbour is the third largest city in the Bahamas after Nassau and Freeport. It does have a traffic lighthttp://coconuttelegraph.net/forums/images/icons/icon12.gif. There is a medical clinic in Marsh Harbour that is set up to handle NON Emergencies. Pretty much if you need immediate medical care you will have plenty of help by very caring people to get you to Nassau or the States for emergency care. There is also a medical Doctor in Treasure Cay at a clinic. I think that is pretty much it, medical wise, other than very good volunteers. (See the HTVFR thread and donate some $$$. It's a great cause)

Having said even though Marsh Harbour is the third largest city in the Bahamas, it still falls into the "small Cay environment" of the Abacos.

As far as fishing, what kind? Deep sea, doesn't really matter where you stay. It will take a little longer to get out to the Atlantic from Marsh Harbour than Guana but not much longer. Bone fishing is probably best around Marsh Harbour and south. Check out "Cruising Guide to Abaco" on the yellow sidebar under books. It has a wealth of information. Abaco Books (http://abacomessageboard.com/books.html)

Again, just take a few trips, stay different places and see what you like. Think of a very small town in the midwest with one stop sign compared to Milwaukee or even just its' suburds when you think of Abaco!