North Bight Anchorage

Approach and Navigation

Enter North Bight from the eastern end near Cargill Creek or Behring Point, where settlements offer the last chance for provisions. The channel shoals rapidly as you push west, and local knowledge or a detailed Explorer Chart is essential. Stay in the middle of the fairway and watch the sounder constantly.

Timing is everything. Tides on Andros behave unusually: when the tide is low and rising on the east side, it is high and falling on the west, allowing patient navigators to flow through with the flood. Plan to anchor midstream and wait for favorable water if you run out of depth.

Holding and Protection

Anchorages within North Bight range from sandy pockets near cays to soft mud among mangroves. Holding varies; test the set before committing. The surrounding islands provide excellent wind protection, and chop rarely builds in the enclosed waters.

Mosquitoes and no-see-ums can be fierce at dusk, especially near mangroves. Full screens and insect repellent are essential. The trade-off for the bugs is near-total solitude and sunsets that seem to set the shallow flats on fire.

Fishing the Flats

North Bight is hallowed ground for fly anglers chasing bonefish. The hard-sand flats and turtle-grass meadows hold unpressured fish that test even expert casters. Guides from lodges at Cargill Creek and Behring Point pole these waters daily.

Cruisers with a dinghy and fly rod can DIY by wading the flats at low tide. Look for nervous water and tailing fish in the early morning. Catch-and-release is the local ethic, preserving the fishery for future generations.

Cruising Onward

From North Bight, shoal-draft vessels can continue west onto the Great Bahama Bank or thread south through Middle Bight toward Mangrove Cay. Each passage requires favorable tides and vigilance for shifting sand bores.

For deeper-draft boats unable to transit the Bights, retreat east to Fresh Creek or Morgan's Bluff and continue south offshore. Always consult Explorer Charts and current cruising guides for waypoints and hazard updates before attempting any Bight passage.

Getting there

Access North Bight from the eastern settlements of Cargill Creek or Behring Point, where roads connect to Andros Town and the airport. Enter on a rising tide and favor the deeper middle of the channel. The western exit onto the Great Bahama Bank is extremely shallow and poorly charted; do not attempt without local knowledge or a very shoal draft. Explorer Charts provide essential detail, and inquiries at local lodges can yield current conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What draft can navigate North Bight?

A maximum draft of four feet is generally recommended, and even then, careful tide timing is essential. At low tide, depths of three feet or less are common. Centerboard or lifting-keel vessels fare best.

Are there any services within North Bight?

No. Once you leave the eastern settlements of Cargill Creek and Behring Point, there are no provisions, fuel, or facilities until the western exit onto the Bank or a return east. Carry everything you need.

How bad are the bugs in North Bight?

Mosquitoes and no-see-ums can be intense at dusk and dawn, especially near mangroves. Full boat screens and strong insect repellent are essential. Anchoring farther from vegetation and in breezier spots helps reduce the swarms.