In Pursuit of Salt and Solitude: 72 Hours in Inagua

By Capt. Kyle Morella| Marsh Wear Clothing | Inagua Outback Lodge

Day 1: From Myrtle Beach to Nassau — The Journey Begins

The trip kicked off in Myrtle Beach, SC, with a full day of flights: me leaving from Myrtle Beach to Atlanta, then Atlanta to Nassau. The other boys in the crew( Charlie, Nico and Drake) were all coming from Fort Lauderdale and Barrett was coming from Costa Rica. Now the kicker here is only a few of us out of the group had ever met before. So, after all arriving at different times and the boys getting acquainted, we hit the town to soak up a little nightlife and a nice sit down some dinner to plan out the next few days ahead. A quick reset(a few world angling videos..to get hype) and an early bedtime prepped us for the next leg of the journey—the hop to Inagua via Bahamasair. Naturally, the flight was delayed around 2 hours but you are on island time you can’t expect to get anywhere fast! The ride included a pit stop in Mayaguana to shuffle passengers who are island hopping for work, get groceries and such, because nothing is ever simple when you’re on an island.

We had a hiccup with customs holding our skiff and paddleboards that were sent down for the lodge, but hey—adaptability is the name of the game out here.

We landed on Great Inagua and after getting the vehicles packed out, a little backcountry drive we dropped our bags at the lodge and within minutes, we were rigging fly rods, prepping camera gear, and heading to the flats right outside the house. Crystal-clear water, soft golden light, and a couple of shadowy bonefish cruising. We had a narrow window to fish but we knew we could get it done. Now Nico, had never caught a bonefish before so it was our mission to get him hooked up first. After a hopping around a few different flats, Nico had his opportunity, a group of 20 or so bonefish looking for something to munch on. Without hesitation he stripped out 40/50 ft of fly line, carefully stalked his way in the ankle deep water. Started his haul and let it fly and within 4 beautiful long strips he was tight on his first bonefish!!! Electric!

Later that night, we dove into Inagua’s nightlife and found ourselves at one of the wildest, most unforgettable spots on the island: S Sinn L. It’s everything in one—bar, restaurant, nightclub, tire shop, and barber shop. Yes, you read that right. It’s the kind of place where you can get a haircut while ordering fried fish and dancing to island beats, all while someone’s getting their tire changed in the back. The music was loud, the energy was pure, and the doors don’t really close. It was the perfect introduction to the energy and resilience that defines the Bahamas. We stayed just long enough to soak in the scene before heading back to catch some sleep before our early morning for some wahoo and grouper fishing.

Day 3: Wahoo Runs, Island Drama, and Permit Games

With the flats skiffs sidelined, we jumped into a 16′ Carolina Skiff with reversed steering cables (yes, really and it wasn’t intentional) and headed offshore for wahoo. Now offshore for wahoo in Inagua is a little different, you could literally jump off the boat and swim to the shore. Because of the topography of the drop shelf on the one side of the island goes to 600 ft within a mile of land. After a few nasty squalls, the grind in a small skiff paid off. We knocked down a couple of wahoo trolling and followed it up with some vertical jigging for some strawberry grouper. The cooler filled up quick and we were ready to head home and potentially get some bonefishing in. Now half of us had gone wahoo fishing while Nico and Drake had set out on another bonefish mission, so we were stoked to get back and hear the report from them. As we expected, without fail, the boys had a morning with 4 bonefish caught, a couple permit sightings, we were firing on all cylinders.

Later that afternoon, we gave the flats another shot on the southeast side of the island. Despite wading 5+ miles through some pop up thunderstorms we finally spotted a tailing permit, the fish vanished before we could get in position. Still, the walk, the setting, and the rainbow to come afterwards made it a mission worth taking.

Day 4: Jeep Roof Spotting, Triggers, and Travel Troubles

Our last morning. One more shot. We drove 40 minutes across rough roads to a leeward-side flat. Cloud cover and high water made sight-fishing difficult, so I climbed onto the roof of the Jeep for better visibility. We spotted a group of triggerfish working the shallows—tails up, hearts racing. But they didn’t want what we were selling.

Time ran out. We needed to pack. But surprise—Jeep stuck again. After some digging and a phone call, we got it out and raced to the airport. That’s when I found out bags needed to be checked by 9 a.m. It was 11 a..m…. The airport employees were pretty much telling me my bag wasn’t coming home with me and I should have been here earlier, but no one had told me that. After some careful persuasion and extra security check, they were going to let me check it. Now to put this airport in perspective, the entire airport is about the size of a 20 x 20 building. So they ended up bringing me to the back and the Bahamian officer on duty grilled me like I was smuggling something. Passport. Credentials. Full search. But we made it out—barely. A full day of travel followed, hopping flights back to Myrtle beach , just in time to close on my house the next morning. Stress? Maximum. But every second of this trip was worth it!!

The Spirit of Inagua: Salt, Solitude, and Sanctuary

Great Inagua is more than just a fishing destination—it’s one of the most ecologically unique and culturally authentic islands in the Bahamas. Home to fewer than 1,000 residents, it’s famous for its massive Morton Salt operation, which spans over 12,000 acres and produces millions of tons of salt annually through solar evaporation. The shimmering salt fields are a stark, stunning contrast to the wild mangroves and sprawling flats just miles away.

But it’s not just industry—it’s nature. The island hosts more than 80,000 West Indian flamingos, along with countless other rare bird species, making it a globally recognized haven for wildlife. For anglers and adventurers, it’s paradise—remote, raw, and real.

Final Thoughts

These 72 hours in Inagua were unforgettable. It wasn’t about how many fish we caught, but how hard we hunted, how much we laughed, and how well we adapted to the chaos. Huge thanks to Marsh Wear Clothing, Barrett Rhymes, and Inagua Outback Lodge for making this trip possible. The crew, the scenery, the salt—it all hit different.

If you’re looking for an experience that goes beyond the brochure version of the Bahamas, make your way to Inagua. Just bring your sense of humor, your patience, and maybe a shovel.

Until next time, Inagua. You’re one of one.

Cheers,

Capt. Kyle Morella

Location: Inagua Outback Lodge

Sponsor: Marsh Wear Clothing