Name: Chester's Highway Inn Bone Fish Lodge
Address: Chester's Bay, Crooked Island, Crooked Island, Crooked Island, N-8616, Bahamas
Rating: 9

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

Location

At the cottage

Crooked Island Airport

Springpoint Airport

Chester's Highway Inn Bone Fish Lodge

Crooked Island

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

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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

kitchen

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. 

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

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.

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

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!

Great fishing, food and friendship!

It's challenging to even explain how dreadful our experience with Arnette Chisolm at Chester's Highway Inn Bonefish Lodge truly was, especially in light of the other shining reviews, but please believe. 

I have been traveling to the Bahamas for years now. I adore the people as much as the pristine nature and incredible fishing. I've stayed at high end lodges and dirt cheap dives. 

This was the worst experience I've ever had by far. This isn't just that "one bad review" you always see on Tripadvisor. Please read the entire post. 

Arnette was under great stress upon our arrival. After much time trying to understand the situation, we believe it must be because she is now trying to operate the entire lodge without her husband who is no longer at the lodge. She was the only person there most of the time.

Upon arrival, she let us know that she did not have enough provisions for us. She had not received a wire transfer and could not therefore supply the lodge. And that the mailboat would not arrive until Saturday. Not a great way to kick off a trip that was relatively expensive and included pre-charges for gratuity and strange hotel fees that we had reluctantly accepted. 

It was true. She did not have provisions ready. We did not have drinks at meals. She asked for us to bring bottled water from our rooms. The meals were bizarre. Old, long-frozen grouper fingers one night. 1/2 of a tiny lobster tail the next. Absolutely miniscule steamed Snapper... 

On our first day of scheduled fishing, we awoke to the sounds of hammering and a compressor running. A man was working on the boat. It wasn't ready. And when it was, the boat was completely substandard. We had to shuttle Arnette with us to the dock where she picked up the guide's car and drove it back. Each day she asked us to shuttle her and the gas to the boat. 
Bizarre. 

She did not have enough bottled water and asked us to "help her with water," boiling discolored water in a pot and having us funnel it into empty water bottles -- this really happened. When we got out on the water to fish and drank it, we literally spit it out -- it was non potable salt water. If you've been out on a boat in the blistering heat of the flats, you know how important water is. Unacceptable. 

Two days into our stay, she came into our room and sat down in a tizzy and explained to us that she had received no wire transfer and that she wanted us to be aware of "our plight." We replied that we weren't in a plight but rather on vacation. She later apologized for this and said it was completely unprofessional, but the behavior didn't change. 

On Saturday, the mailboat did arrive. We had more snacks and bottled water. But the service continued to disappoint. For three days straight she was over one hour late in the morning for breakfast and we missed the ideal tides. We even talked over how we needed to make the time in the morning and she agreed, but then failed to be ready for us. 

There were other bizarre antics. One morning she was late because her priest or preacher was coming to get her. As the trip neared end, she demanded that we get covid tests one morning when we let her know that we had to do it within 24 hours of the flight and this was too soon. She refused to listen and delayed. Again, we were late and missed the right tide. 

Arnette helped us rent a car. On our last night, she demanded they take the car to get it cleaned. We were done using it for the day, so we went along with this unusual request. Unfortunately, in the morning, when we wanted to use it to visit a local flat, it wasn't back yet! The hits just kept coming. 

But the most egregious event occurred as our week came to a close. As mentioned, we paid a premium lodge fee. Over $4k a man.  We paid in advance for gratuity which is highly unusual. She had help with meals just once or twice. Our room was not cleaned when we returned at least once. And we were signed up for a Bahamas Buy One Get One Free promotion. We were each owed $300.  Arnette had literally requested our itineraries in an email to us and said she would give us cash or credit. She then refused to give us the money. It was truly bizarre. To the degree that it was hard to process. 

It's almost uncomfortable to suggest that this seemingly warm, honest person who plays the organ at the church could rip us off, but she did. If you ask the people at Yellowdog Flyfishing Travel who booked us, they will corroborate the story. Chad Chorney at Yellowdog let us know that they are dropping Arnette and Chesters Highway Bonefish lodge from their portfolio and are not representing this lodge any longer based on their experience with her. 

Go to Gray's Point. Go to the wonderful Crooked Island Lodge. Highly reco that lodge. Don't stay here. She ruined our entire week and literally stole our money.

Dishonest owner. Terrible experience. Avoid this business.

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!

A must stay for an off the beaten path adventure!

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!

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"!


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