Fodor's Expert Review Ansil Saunder's Boat Building Shop

In Bailey Town, near the government park, is Ansil Saunder's boat-building shop where you can see his beautiful flats fishing boat called the Bimini Bonefisher, handcrafted from oak, mahogany, and island horseflesh. Ansil is firstly a bonefisherman of some repute, having scared up a 16-pound, 3-ounce bonefish for Jerry Lavenstein in 1971—the still-standing bonefish world record. Ansil is equally famous for taking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on a guided boat tour to the East Bimini wilderness. Dr. King wanted inspiration for an upcoming speech to be given for striking sanitation workers in Memphis. He found it in the mangroves, so rich in life and full of God's Creation, says Ansil, who recited his Creation Psalm to King. Three days after the Memphis speech, Dr. King was killed. At the time, with some foreboding, Ansil says that Dr. King mentioned to him that he didn't think he would live very long. To those who inquire, Ansil proudly shows memorabilia from Dr. King's wife and various VIPs. Saunders became an active member of The Bahamas independence movement, and met Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth of England twice. Saunders is regarded as one of The Bahamas's living legends—and a consummate ambassador. You probably can't find, in all the country, a more historically rich guide to take you fishing or to the Healing Hole in one of the boats he crafted.