Day one of our saltwater trip. Pam and I arrive from Nassau yesterday, minus luggage. Bahamas Air was supposed to leave at 1:00 p.m.; we're advised, though, that they're going to combine our flight with another and put us all on this jet. Then they change their mind, back to the Dash-8 prop-jet; leave at 3:00, no luggage for anybody. Bags do finally arrive. Trip down features a three hour wait on the tarmac in a blizzard in Toronto; tow vehicle jacknifes and almost bends nose wheel on the plane.

Anyhow, guide William Pinder and I head out from Pelican Bay Bonefish Club at about 8:30 a.m., rather cool morning, overcast, but later turns sunny and mid-70's. Turns out to be a very interesting day - get fifteen to twenty good shots at fish, hook a half dozen or so, land three, including a ten pounder! Break one off, lose one at about seventy-five yards, have a 'cuda snatch my fly from under the nose of a big bonefish. Break my Sage rod. Clicker on reel gets smoked by the ten pounder. I miss a shot at a fifteen pounder, according to William. I can actually smell the grease from my reel smoking while playing the double digit bonefish. Best action was on a flat just north of the town of West End. Various shots at good fish...very demanding fishing, with long casts into the wind being required. Spotting fish is very difficult at first.

There are five boats in the squadron; lots of room on the seemingly endless soft marl flats. William is quiet but cool; a seventeen year veteran of the game. At breakfast, I meet Jim Hoffman (Frontier's rep?); he hands me a couple of "Jim's Killers", and they do work. Back to the hotel by 4:30 p.m., after the half-hour boat ride back from West End. Seven hours on the salt is a pretty good day. Glad I've got Neil Jenning's 9 wt. Orvis for backup. Note: Sunday night have interesting cab ride with "Captain Bullfrog" (or "Froggie", to his buddies)...