Buddy Pinder picks up Jimmy Powell and I at 7:30 a.m., and a short half hour later we're on the water at the southern end of the infamous Marls of Abaaco. Here's a story about the Marls that I found online:

"On the western side of central Abaco lies an area of muddy, scrubby cays and shallow channels called The Marls. Respect those Marls! They form a maze the Minotaur would be proud of.

Michael Barry and Jenny Whitlock found this out when they ventured to Woolendean Cay from the South Side Dock for a quick visit in early October in an aluminium dinghy. They found the cay and headed back to resume their normal activities like feed the cats and pay the maid. They only intended to be away for an hour or so. The Marls had other plans for them.

"It was frustrating," Michael told the Journal. "We had GPS and a compass and knew we were only 4.2 miles from land. We could see it but couldn't find our way to it." After hours of searching for the way through and no gas left, Michael and Jenny practised survival techniques. Luckily the couple were strong and resilient and a few rain showers provided them with some water. By Monday morning, however, things were getting desperate. A search plane flew right over them. Seven hours later they were spotted and an airboat picked them up.

The Marls form one of the world's most complex natural mazes. You could base a computer game on its intricities. As Michael said, "Don't go there without a guide. Or plenty of water.""

I had fished with guide Buddy Pinder in 2003. I had found him to be well-equipped, hard-working, funny and knowledgeable on all manner of topics. Buddy knows the Marls as well as any human, and I know that we're never going to get lost in the maze. I was glad to be able to fish with Buddy again in 2006.