At the southern tip of the Berry Islands, the shallow Great Bahama Bank collides with the Tongue of the Ocean, a 6,000-foot-deep trench that turns Chub Cay into one of the most productive fishing and diving platforms in The Bahamas. That edge—where turquoise bank water meets indigo abyss—isn’t just a view; it’s the reason this cay draws anglers, divers, and cruisers from across the Atlantic.
The Tongue of the Ocean reaches depths exceeding 6,000 feet just minutes from Chub Cay’s marina.
Chub Cay delivers world-class fishing and diving, but since September 2024 it’s a members-only community for resort access. Non-members can still clear customs and buy fuel daily from 7am to 7pm, making it a vital waypoint for cruisers transiting the Berry Islands or crossing to the Exumas. Plan your visit around that window if you’re not a member.
Anglers
Divers
Cruisers
Whether you’re here to target blue marlin along the drop-off or to clear customs before a crossing, Chub Cay rewards anyone who understands its geography. The overview below lays out the main things to do and how to access them.
| Activity | Best For | Key Feature | Access Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep-sea fishing | Anglers | The Pocket—confluence of bank and trench | Members-only marina; hire a charter |
| Diving the wall | Divers of all levels | Vertical drop from 40 ft to 4,000 ft | Via PADI 5-star centre at the resort |
| Customs / fuel stop | Cruisers | 109-slip marina, diesel & gasoline | Non-members welcome 7am–7pm |
Where the Banks Meet the Deep Blue
Chub Cay sits at 25.4170° N, -77.8830° W, on the southern edge of the Berry Islands chain. What makes this location extraordinary is what lies offshore: the Tongue of the Ocean, a deep oceanic trench cutting into the Great Bahama Bank. Depths exceed 6,000 feet within minutes of the marina, creating dramatic thermal currents and nutrient upwellings that concentrate marine life in predictable patterns.
Anglers call the zone where the bank meets the trench The Pocket. Here, deep-ocean currents push baitfish and game fish into accessible waters, making Chub Cay legendary among sport fishermen. The deep water lies so close to shore that thousand-foot depths are reachable within minutes of leaving the dock.
If your crew is split between serious anglers and beachcombers, the flats around Chub Cay offer bonefishing that even Lily or Ethan could try while you chase marlin offshore. Average bonefish here run around five pounds, with catches up to 13 pounds on the fly, according to local captain Rick Murphy.
The Billfish Capital of The Bahamas
Chub Cay is widely known as the Billfish Capital of The Bahamas, and the numbers back it up. The surrounding waters benefit from proximity to the Andros Barrier Reef, which hosts more than 160 species of fish. The Berry Islands are bordered by the Tongue of the Ocean, and Chub Cay sits just 15 miles from the trench’s edge—close enough that record-breaking catches are routine.
Target species include blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, and swordfish in deep water. The reefs produce grouper, snapper, and lobster, while the flats offer bonefish, permit, and barracuda. The island even hosts the annual Chub Cay Series, a multi-event Bahamas fishing tournament that draws competitors from across the region.
Best months for billfishing are February through April. October is the peak month for bonefishing, when the flats see the most consistent action.
Trolling along the bank edge produces consistent action—focus on temperature breaks and current edges where the Tongue concentrates pelagic species in predictable patterns.
Diving the Vertical Drop
The Chub Cay Wall is a continuous vertical cliff stretching from Chub Cay to Whale Cay, dropping nearly 4,000 feet into the Tongue of the Ocean. The wall begins at recreational depths around 40 feet and extends into the midnight zone, making it accessible to both newer and advanced divers.
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The wall features abundant black coral colonies, overhangs, ledges, and small caves that provide habitat for lobster, moray eels, and nurse sharks. Caribbean reef sharks are observed regularly in natural hunting behaviour without artificial feeding. Spotted eagle rays are common, with occasional sightings of hammerheads and other open-ocean visitors during peak season from November to May.
The PADI five-star dive centre at Chub Cay Resort is your launch point. Reachable by private airstrip from Nassau and Fort Lauderdale, or by boat from Nassau or other Berry Islands. If you’re bringing your own gear, a dive computer with depth tracking helps you stay within your planned limits along the wall.
Newer divers can explore the upper sections where black coral colonies and ledges begin. Visibility commonly exceeds 80 feet and can reach 150 feet during optimal conditions.
Advanced divers can descend to 100 feet or more along the wall face. Current strength varies by location and conditions, which influences photography difficulty and the presence of pelagic visitors like hammerheads.
Spotted eagle rays and Caribbean reef sharks are common sights. Hammerheads and other open-ocean visitors are more frequent from November to May. A sturdy action camera can capture the wall’s scale and the marine life along it.
The wall accommodates various experience levels, and the dive centre can match you to the right depth profile. Coordinates for the site are 25.4100° N, -77.8800° W.
Marina, Customs, and the Members-Only Rule
Chub Cay Marina features 109 floating concrete slips on modern Bellingham docks, capable of accommodating vessels from 20 feet to 190-foot superyachts. Each slip offers concealed power cabling with 240 and 208 single and three-phase shore power options. The full-service fuel dock provides diesel and gasoline, with ice, water from dual reverse-osmosis systems, and an air-conditioned fish cleaning house with gas barbecue grills.
Since September 2024, Chub Cay Resort and Marina operates as a members-only community. This is the single most important change for anyone planning a visit.
Since September 2024, Chub Cay Resort and Marina is members-only. Transient boaters can still clear Bahamian customs and purchase fuel at the marina between 7am and 7pm, but access to resort facilities—dining, pool, accommodation—requires membership or an invitation from a member.
The marina remains open for customs clearance and fuel purchases from 7am to 7pm, allowing non-members to complete essential logistics. An airstrip serves private aircraft, making the cay accessible by both sea and air. Chub Cay also serves as an important waypoint for cruisers transiting the Berry Islands or crossing to the Exumas. From here, you can continue south to Nassau or cross the Tongue of the Ocean to reach the northern Exumas.
The passage to Chub Cay from Great Harbour Cay traverses the length of the Berry Islands chain, offering stops at Hoffman’s Cay and other uninhabited islands. The deep water between Chub Cay and Highborne Cay requires careful weather planning before crossing.
Planning Your Visit to Chub Cay
The biggest decision is how you arrive and what you plan to do once you’re there. Here’s a breakdown of your options.
| Access Method | Best For | Key Limitation | Research-Backed Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private aircraft | Members & invited guests | Airstrip on cay; resort access restricted | Charter flights connect from Nassau and Fort Lauderdale |
| Private boat / charter | Anglers, cruisers | Must be member for resort facilities | Customs & fuel available 7am–7pm for non-members |
| Dive charter | Divers | Operates through PADI centre at resort | Dive centre reachable by boat from Nassau or other Berry Islands |
Best time for billfishing is February through April. October is peak bonefish month. Hammerhead sightings along the wall are most common from November to May. Hurricane season runs roughly June through November, so mid-December to mid-April offers the most stable weather.
Before You Go to Chub Cay
Can non-members visit Chub Cay?
Yes, but with limits. Since September 2024, the resort and marina are members-only for facility access. Transient boaters can clear Bahamian customs and purchase fuel between 7am and 7pm daily.
If you’re not a member, plan your arrival and departure within that window to complete essential logistics.
What fish can I catch at Chub Cay?
Deep-water species include blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, and swordfish. The flats offer bonefish, permit, and barracuda, while the reefs produce grouper, snapper, and lobster.
For the best variety, target February through April for billfish and October for bonefish.
How deep is the water near Chub Cay?
The Tongue of the Ocean reaches depths exceeding 6,000 feet just minutes from the marina. Thousand-foot depths are reachable within minutes of leaving the dock.
This extreme depth so close to shore is what creates the nutrient upwellings that make Chub Cay such a productive fishing and diving destination.
Is there a beach on Chub Cay?
Chub Cay has private beaches with stunning sea views, but access is restricted to members and their guests. For a crowd-free beach experience, consider nearby Great Harbour Cay with its 7-mile stretch of sand.
Hoffman’s Cay also features pristine shores and a 600-foot-wide blue hole ringed by 20-foot-high cliffs.
What’s the best way to get to Chub Cay?
Multiple airlines fly from Fort Lauderdale to Chub Cay and Great Harbour Cay. Charter flights connect from Nassau and Paradise Island. By water, you can arrive by private boat or charter from Nassau or other Berry Islands.
The airstrip serves private aircraft, and the marina can accommodate vessels from 20 feet to 190-foot superyachts.
Where the Deep Blue Changes Everything
Chub Cay sits at a rare intersection of shallow Bahamian banks and an abyssal trench, a place where the ocean’s depths shape everything above the surface. The same upwellings that draw marlin from the Atlantic also create the conditions for a dive wall that drops nearly a mile. Whether you’re here for the fishing, the diving, or simply as a waypoint on a longer cruise, that edge—where the Berry Islands meet the deep blue—is what makes this cay unforgettable. For a different kind of offshore adventure, consider exploring shark encounters and sandbars elsewhere in The Bahamas.
References
Sail Abacos. “Chub Cay.” Sail Abacos, 2025. ↗
Islands. “Berry Islands: Underrated Bahamas Destination for Fishing, Laid-Back Vibe, Uncrowded Beaches.” Islands, 2025. ↗
Sail Abacos. “Chub Cay Wall.” Sail Abacos, 2025. ↗
Kwal Mag. “30 Berry Islands in The Bahamas for Deep Sea Fishing: Complete Guide to Fishing Cays & Hotspots.” Kwal Mag, 2026. ↗
If you’re planning a longer Bahamas trip, you might also enjoy unwinding at The Retreat Garden in Nassau, or booking a beachfront massage at Junkanoo Beach for a different kind of relaxation. For more on the practical side of island travel, this guide to Bahamas infrastructure and equipment answers common logistical questions.
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