Look, I'll be honest — when my buddy first suggested taking the ferry to Grand Bahama instead of flying, I thought he was nuts. But after 8 trips with my son Tyler (and enough fishing gear to stock a tackle shop), I'm never going back to airports. The ferry saves us $843 per trip, we can bring THREE coolers, and Tyler hasn't gotten seasick once. Plus, watching dolphins race the ferry while planning which spot to hit first? That's what memories are made of, folks.
— Mark Sullivan, Fort Lauderdale Dad & Island Hopper
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Why We Ditched Flying for the Ferry
It all started with United losing our fishing rods. Twice. The second time, they found them... in Denver. We were in Nassau. Tyler was 11 and devastated — we'd planned that trip for months.
Then I discovered Balearia's Fort Lauderdale to Freeport route. Sure, it's 3 hours and 45 minutes vs. a 45-minute flight. But here's what nobody tells you: by the time you deal with airport parking ($25/day), arrive 2 hours early, wait for bags, and pay those criminal excess baggage fees for fishing gear, you're looking at the same total travel time. Except on the ferry, you're already on vacation the moment you board.
Now? We roll up to Port Everglades with our Yeti coolers, 6 fishing rods, tackle boxes, and even Tyler's cast net. The Balearia crew doesn't bat an eye — just tags everything and says "have a great trip!" Try doing that at FLL airport.
Bringing Fishing Gear: The Game Changer
This is why every serious angler should take the ferry
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Rods & Reels
Pack 'em in hard cases or rod tubes — they go with checked bags. We bring 6 rods now: 2 for bottom fishing, 2 for trolling, and 2 light tackle for the flats. Zero hassle, zero extra fees.
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Coolers Welcome!
This is HUGE. We bring 3 coolers: one for drinks/snacks, one for bait, one for the catch. Each passenger gets 2 free bags up to 45 lbs. Extra bags? Just $25. Try that on American Airlines!
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Tackle & Gear
Tackle boxes, cast nets, fish finder, even my portable cleaning station — it all goes. The ferry has way more storage space than planes. We pack like we're going on a serious fishing expedition... because we are!
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Easy Loading
Drive right up to the terminal, unload at curbside, then park. Porters help with heavy coolers. Compare that to dragging everything through MIA airport. Night and day difference!
Our Favorite Freeport Fishing Spots
After 8 trips, these are the money spots
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The Marls (Near Freeport Harbor)
Bonefish heaven! Wade fishing here at low tide is incredible. Tyler caught his first bonefish here — a 6-pounder that ran 100 yards of line. Hire a guide your first time; these fish are spooky.
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Little Bahama Bank
20 minutes by boat from Port Lucaya. Yellowtail snapper, grouper, and massive barracuda. In May, we hooked into yellowfin tuna here. Bring heavy tackle — you never know what'll hit.
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🏖️
Fortune Beach
Shore fishing that actually produces! Early morning and late afternoon, the jacks and snapper come in close. Free, easy access, and there's a bar 50 yards away. Win-win-win.
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High Rock (East End)
45-minute drive but worth it. Completely undeveloped, barely any fishing pressure. We limited out on mutton snapper here in 2 hours. Pack lunch and make it a day trip.
💡 Dad's Pro Tips for Fishing Freeport
- Book Lil B Fishing or Sarah from Reef Tours — both are excellent and family-friendly
- Rent a car! Taxis to fishing spots will kill your budget. Drive on the left isn't hard
- Stop at Kelly's Hardware for bait and tackle — way cheaper than marina prices
- Banana Bay Restaurant will cook your catch for $15/person. Best meal ever!
- Tuesday ferry is $20 cheaper and half as crowded as Saturday
- Download offline maps — cell service gets sketchy away from Freeport
The Money Shot: Ferry vs. Flying
Real costs from our last trip (2 people with fishing gear):
✈️ Flying to Freeport
Flights (2 people)
$678
Parking (3 days)
$75
Excess baggage (gear)
$200
Airport transfers
$80
Total: $1,033
⛴️ Ferry to Freeport
Ferry tickets (2)
$238
Parking (free!)
$0
Extra bags (2)
$50
Gas to port
$12
Total: $300
You Save: $733 (That's a lot of fishing charters!)
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What the Ferry Ride's Really Like
Tuesday morning, 7 AM. We roll into Port Everglades with enough gear to film a fishing show. The porter jokes "going for a world record?" as he helps load our coolers. Check-in takes 10 minutes — they scan passports, tag bags, done.
The ferry itself? It's nice. Real nice. Big comfortable seats, AC cranking, clean bathrooms. Tyler and I grab seats on the upper deck to watch for dolphins (saw 12 last trip). The café has decent food — nothing fancy, but the Cuban sandwich hits the spot.
About 90 minutes in, you lose sight of Florida. That's when it hits you — you're really going to the Bahamas. The water changes from murky green to that crazy turquoise blue. Tyler always says it looks fake, like someone added food coloring.
Pro tip: Don't sleep! The approach to Grand Bahama is gorgeous. You'll see boats working the flats, maybe some rays or sharks. Gets everyone pumped for fishing.
Would I Do It Again?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Are you kidding? We're already booked for July! Look, if you're a fishing family that's tired of airline hassles and fees, this is a no-brainer. Yeah, it takes longer than flying. But you save serious money, bring ALL your gear, and the journey becomes part of the adventure. Tyler's already planning which rods to bring next time. That says it all.
More Island Adventures
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What to Pack
Complete packing list for Bahamas ferry trips with fishing gear
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Fort Lauderdale to Freeport
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Grand Bahama Guide
Complete guide to exploring Grand Bahama beyond fishing
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