Name: Chester's Highway Inn Bone Fish Lodge
Address: Chester's Bay, Crooked Island, Crooked Island, Crooked Island, N-8616, Bahamas
Rating: 9.4

24-hour reception

Elevator/lift

Smoke-free property

Ticket assistance

Garden

Terrace

General

Laundry

Concierge services

Services and amenities

Restaurant

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Tour assistance

Tourist services

Barbecue grill(s)

Picnic area

Barbeque

Recreation

Free parking

Parking

Conference Hall

Business

Babysitting and childcare

Kids

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

At the cottage

Crooked Island Airport

Springpoint Airport

Chester's Highway Inn Bone Fish Lodge

I went for relaxation and I can honestly said that is exactly what I got, the resort was extremely clean and very comfortable the meals were to die for enjoyable and tasty,all cooked by Annette. Best thing to do is get up early and watch the sun rise or if not a morning person the wait for the setting of the sun,amazing sight, and you won't have far to go just cross the street. 

While on vacation in Acklins, my son and I had the pleasure of dining at Chester's Highway Inn. The quality of the food was incredible, being further accentuated by the quality of the service. What I especially loved was that the, " Native, Island ambience, " was not lost in order to provide such quality service. I would definitely highly recommend Chester's Highway Inn to everyone.

Had a wonderful time at Chesters Highway Inn Bonefish Lodge.  Food was great, excellent fishing right across the street.  Very relaxing and laid back.  Arnette is very friendly and helpful and was able to get me a rental car so I could explore some other flats.  I really enjoyed our conversations over dinner.  I was also grateful for the ac in the room.  Just remember that you are traveling to a 92 mile long island with less than 500 people on it where everything comes by boat.  Everything.  So be a little flexible if there's a hiccup or two.  Another tip - the wind can blow hard in the Bahamas for several days in a row.  Even your 9 wt is going to be frustrating if it's blowing 22mph and you're trying to cast into the wind.  Consider bringing a medium weight spinning rod.  The bonefish will still fight just as hard and you can still catch them on a fly, just with an added split shot or two.   And you'll be able to make a much better presentation.  I'll be back!

I learned about Acklins island from a book called DIY Bonefishing by Rod Hamilton. The book told tales of huge flats with bonefish to match on a remote island. My interest was peaked and I began to research lodging on the island. I found a few worthy options but ultimately landed on Chester's Highway Inn Bonefish Lodge due to its fantastic Tripadvisor reviews. I can tell you that the reviews are accurate. The accomodations are comfortable and the bonefish are plentyful, however, it is the people that made my experience at Chester's Highway Inn so memorable; the people of Acklins island are the most friendly I have come accross in my entire life. 

When we arrived on Acklins we were greeted by our host Arnette. She loaded us up in her pickup truck and we began the 45 minute journey to the lodge. Arnette gave us the lay of the land and we were eager to begin fishing. Luckily there is a 3 mile long flat right in front of the lodge. Upon arrival I was able to rig up and begin fishing within the first 10 minutes. This would be the start of my week in paradise.

An average day at the lodge for me looked like this: wake up around 6:30 am. I walk to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee and say good morning to Arnette and Valerie (our chef). I would walk 50 feet from my room down to the edge of the flat and search for tailing bones while I drank my coffee. A hearty breakfast was served at 7 which typicaly consisted of eggs, waffles, sausage, bacon, and fruit (or something similar). Each morning we had the opportunity to chat with Arnette about the day ahead (Arnette is so wonderful that I could have spent hours chatting with her). Around 8 am we loaded up our gear, grabbed our sandwich/drink cooler, and made the short drive to the boat launch. At the boat launch we were met by our guide Gator. We had the pleasure of fishing with Gator five times. Gator was born on Acklins and has been guiding bonefish for 20 years. This was very evident as he spotted fish for us all day every day. We landed 30+ bones each in total and hooked countless more. Gator was patient, funny, and experienced. Fishing with him was a real treat. After a full day on the water (usually 8+ hours) we would be collected by Arnette for supper. Dinner was delicious and usually contained  fresh caught fish, conch, fried plantains, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and steamed veggies. After supper I would again make the short walk from my room to the flat in front of the lodge to look for tailing bones. 

To say this was the trip of a lifetime would be an understatement. Arnette, Valerie, and Gator were our hosts, but by the end of our stay they felt more like family. Before you come to Acklins you must realize there is a reason the bonefishing is so good. It is REMOTE. Everything on the island comes by boat. If it is not on the boat, it is not coming. Wifi and power might cut in an out - if you can't handle that this is not the lodge for you. But if you are looking for some of the worlds best bonefishing and want to be surrounded by some of the most fantastic people you will ever meet - Chester's Highway Inn Bonefish Lodge will exceed all of your expectations. 

As I write this review I am flooded by the good memories I made in my time at Chester's Highway Inn Bonefish Lodge. I can not wait until I am able to return to Acklins to spend time with my friends and rip some serious bonefish lips!

My adult son and I just spent an incredible week at Julius and Arnette Chisholm's Chester's Highways Inn Bonefish Lodge (definitely NOT to be confused with Chester's Bonefishing Lodge). Arnette is a warm and caring person who delights in ensuring her guest's needs are well looked after. The food and accommodations were exactly as advertised. 

We went to Acklins for the bonefishing, and it was nothing short of amazing. Our guide, Gator, put us in front of fish after fish (after fish!) and we took full advantage. We hooked and landed numerous fish every day--my son and I both remarked numerous times at how exceptional the fishing was!

If you are looking for a location far off-the-beaten-path that offers beauty, sincere hospitality, and unparalleled bonefish fishing, Chester's Highway Inn Bonefish Lodge is exactly that!

We were looking for a remote location with good bonefishing after a long Minesota winter.  We found everything we were looking for and more!  Arnette is a gracious host.  She works very hard to make sure you have everything you need.  She does all of the cooking and we enjoyed every meal.

The bonefishing was great too.  To be fair, we had some windy weather which is nothing new to us.  The wind follows us to every island in the Bahamas and we've been to many.  We fished with guide Chris who knew the flats like his own back yard. Which, of course it is.  We saw hundreds of bonefish per day and Chris put us in position to cast almost every time.  Now, if we could punch a flyline into that wind, we would have caught many more than we did, but we did catch fish every day and it was a blast.

Arnette arranged for us a rental car and on our fishing day off we traveled the length of the island.  We stopped and fished where it looked good (hard to pick, that's just about everywhere).  It's exciting for us to explore every island we go to and Acklins did not disappoint.  It's a beautiful island with plenty of room.  Everyone we talked to was warm and welcoming.

Now, to be clear, if you're expecting all-inclusive luxury like a Sandals or something, this isn't it.  But what you will get here is a true island experince with bonefishing galore.  Everything you need is available with a little patience.  We will certainly be back.

Craig and Patty

Chester's Highway Inn is the place to go if you enjoy fishing for bonefish and quiet nights. The accommodations are very comfortable and roomy. There is a separate living/kitchen area to relax. The food is delicious - served in their own restaurant. Lunches are prepared in a cooler for you to take fishing.
Unless you are an experienced fly fisherman, I would recommend hiring a guide. There are flats right in front of the lodge, but as an older couple with not that great balance, we chose to go with the guides. They know where to go, what the tides are and are very accommodating.
Be sure to purchase travel insurance - Acklins is remote and our flight there was delayed a day. There are only flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays unless you invest in a charter.
Kayaks and bicycles are provided. I took a kayak trip across from the lodge. Very clear and calm water.

Arnette and Julius were fantastic hosts! They made us feel like an extension of the family and were so wonderful to our 4 and 6 year old girls. They even had swings waiting for them in the nearby tree which our girls ran out to first thing every morning. Arnette made sure my family had fun while I was out on the water. She insightfully arranged for Patrika, a local guide and owner of Yahaka Tours, who is an amazing Acklins Historian and all around fun person to be with. My family had a great time with her. The tour included an opportunity to get to know some really cool people, culture, food, and hidden gems of Acklins. My girls loved her and Patrika was attentive to their every need. Shout out to Gator, an awesome guide that the Chisolms got me in contact with. Credit goes to him for helping a mediocre fly fisherman like myself lock up with 26 bones in one day. The Chisolms were very concerned about our safety and made sure the girls always had their bug repellent on. The meals were amazing too, snapper, lobster, and grouper just to mention the selection we enjoyed.

The fishing is Secondary to the hospitality, friendliness and warmth generated by the two lovely proprietors of Chester's Highway Inn.  We caught the conch and Arnette created the masterpieces.  Yes...the bonefish are there, but that doesn't make for return visits...the excellent treatment of guests does!

I am not sure if I enjoyed the bone fishing more or my time with Arnette and Julius on their lovely island. Yes- there is great bonefishing just 50 feet from your bedroom but the hospitality shown by the owners of the lodge is amazing. Arnette is a fantastic cook and takes pride in her meals. Every night that I got back from fishing she had waiting for me warm conch fritters. It's a great end to a perfect day of fishing. 

From talking to other anglers on the plane ride back, I really feel as if I had the best meals and accommodations on the island.

As for the fishing, you can literally walk across the street and see bonefish everyday,  tailing and working the flats. If you should decide to go the guided route, they work with a great guide named Jacob.  He has amazing fish spotting skills and will do his best to put you on the fish. Even when I made bad casts (plenty) Jacob still retained his patience. It was a pleasure to spend a few days on the water with him.

I highly recommend the lodge for the hospitality, great food, and proximity to a DIY bonefishing experience.  I'm a novice bone fisherman but one of my goals was to catch bonefish on my own and I succeeded. If you're looking for a bonefishing experience, this lodge is hard to beat.

Reid

Crooked Island

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

park access

Relaxation 

Had a great time at Chester’s Highway Bonefish Lodge, now Acklins Creekside. Went to get some bonefishing in and it didn’t disappoint. The flat across the street was great every night with amazing sunsets and tailing bones. Numerous DIY opportunities around the island. 
The lodge was great as well. Arnette made sure I had everything I needed from rental car to meals and fishing information. It was clean and comfortable. Would definitely go back again.

Great bonefishing

5 Star Service

4 of us had a nice stay at Chester's with Arnette in mid April.  Everything was operated on time, starting with a pickup with 2 vehicles at the airport on arrival until we were deposited back there at our requested time 5 days later.

The rooms are clean and spacious.  It's basically a 2 room setup with a small kitchenette and sitting area in the front room and then a bedroom with 2 queens in each other room.  With 4 of us, it was nice to have the extra space to hang out in the evenings.

Food was good.  Relatively simple, with something fresh from the sea most nights.  You are on a remote island with a small population, so you have to keep that in mind.  Sometimes the water pressure is weak.  The air conditioner in one of our rooms didn't get the room as cool as we would have liked.  Food options are limited so you might have a pairing that seems odd to an american.

However, the people were nice and reliable, the fishing was good, and the overall experience a blast.  So, if you are the kind of person who values the adventure over a ritzy experience, I recommend Acklins and Chesters.

April Trip to Acklins

Thank you, Arnette  for making my week on Acklins so enjoyable. The room was comfortable and spacious and food was fine.  I appreciate it is difficult to get a big selection of fresh produce at this remote destination. 
My main reason for the trip was fly fishing for bonefish and there can't be many other fishing lodges where bonefish are swimming past just 20 yards from ones bedroom on every tide.
I was  able to achieve my ambition of catching bonefish on a DIY arrangement as it was important to me to find,cast  and hook fish with relying totally on a guide. Although it was easy to wade straight out from the Lodge,  I also enjoyed the day that I took a kayak to reach other good places for bonefish. 
Finally please thank Jacob for the day I treated myself to going in your boat to some more remote flats. Great sport.
Thanks again.

Tyson Jackson

Great fishing, food and friendship!

A must stay for an off the beaten path adventure!

What a trip!

Just returned from The Chester Bonefish Lodge. 
It is definitely an unspoiled area. Little difficult to get to as it only has service on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Nassau. 
After about an hour drive you find yourself at the Lodge with a giant bonefish flat right in front of you. For the do it yourselfer like me with a lot of bonefish experience, I was in heaven. There are guides that can be arranged through the Lodge. 
We did not rent a car to explore this beautiful island but that would be for another visit. 
Food was plentiful with a spicy Bahamian flair. 
My wife relaxed with a good book while I beat up the bones!
As for usual in the out islands (and this is out there) tv is sketchy. The power on the Island can be a little pesky! But that is part of the charm. 
With no banks or ATM's as Arnette says "Cash is King"!


Chester's Highway Inn Bone Fish Lodge

Popular amenities

Location

Available rooms

Location

Description of the hotel

Services and amenities

Popular

General

Services and amenities

Meals

Internet

Tourist services

Recreation

Parking

Business

Kids

Pets

Conditions of accommodation

Conditions of accommodation

Additional information

Payment

Payment

For corporate clients