After the devastation of Hurricane Dorian, the brand-new Abaco Lodge stands proud and ready to welcome passionate anglers from around the world.

The lodge features seven exquisite en-suite rooms with breathtaking views across the flats.

The vast flats system remains unpressured, teeming with an abundance of bonefish that beckon anglers seeking a challenging and exhilarating fishing experience.

Time in the lodge is spent unwinding next to the pool with an ice-cold beverage, enjoying a stunning sunset around the fire pit or sampling fresh seafood specialities.

WHY CHOOSE ABACO

• Hassle- free travel to/from the Lodge: Daily direct commercial flights from the USA into Marsh Harbor.
• Easy access to the fish: the only lodge located on the famed Marls.
• Short, smooth skiff runs to the flats means more time fishing.
• Unpressured fishery with bonefish galore!
• Tailing Bonefish, and lots of them!
• Shots at juvenile Tarpon and large Permit.
• Knowledgeable fly-fishing guides
• New Maverick Skiffs: beautiful, quiet, comfortable and fast.
• Island culture and activities make Abaco a great place for the nonangling spouse or children
• Superb fishing gear, from our custom Skiffs to industry-leading fishing equipment, is available at no extra cost.
• À delicious la carte menu with exceptional fresh, local dishes.

Typical Daily Itinerary

The typical trip does not fish on arrival or departure, but if time allows and guides are available, half-day trips can be arranged prior to getting there. Typically you’ll be shuttled from the airport to the lodge where you can check into your room, prepare gear, and spend an afternoon relaxing on the lodge grounds. Here is a sample schedule of the daily program:

• 7:00 am Breakfast
• 8:00 am Depart dock
• 4:00 pm Return to lodge
• 4:00 pm Onwards Cocktail hour
• 5:30 pm Appetizers
• 6:30 pm Dinner

The lodge offers comfortable accommodation with 7 double rooms featuring two queen-sized beds, air conditioning, and private bathrooms.

Enjoy breathtaking views from the pool area and make use of the lodge’s dining room, sitting room, bar, and fully equipped fly-tying table. Telephone and Wi-Fi services are available for your convenience

The lodge’s main bar is stocked with spirits, cold beer, soft drinks, plenty of ice, and mixers for cocktails. There is an on-site fly shop where you can purchase everything from flies, leaders, tippets, and lodge logo wear. Fly-tying equipment is also available.

• Capacity: 12 rods.
• Accommodations: 7 Doubles with 2 king/queen size beds. All have air conditioning and private bathrooms.
• Pool Area: Kick back with a drink in your hand to enjoy the view.
• Main Lodge: Dining room, sitting room, bar, and fully equipped fly-tying table.
• Telephone and Wifi Available
• Meals: Beautifully prepared Bahamian specialities concentrating on magnificent fresh seafood.
• Full Daily Maid Service and Laundry Services are available.
• Fly Shop: is fully equipped with flies, rods, reels, lines, selected items of flats wear, and local crafts.
• Non-fishing activities include snorkelling, kayaking, diving, and golf.
• Lunches: Picnic lunches and cold drinks are taken to the flats in a YETI cooler.

Getting to Great Abaco Island and Marsh Harbour International Airport is a straightforward process. There are multiple direct flights available from the U.S., and it is also possible to fly via Nassau. Abaco Lodge is conveniently situated on the Marls side of Abaco Island, just a 10-minute drive from the airport.

For travellers from the U.S., there are numerous daily direct flights to Marsh Harbour. Major carriers such as Delta, American, and Silver Air (a United subsidiary) offer direct flights to Abaco. If travelling from Nassau, Bahamas Air, Sky Bahamas, and Western Air operate multiple daily flights.

Abaco Island is located approximately 180 miles off the coast of Florida, forming the eastern edge of Grand Bahama Island at the northernmost tip of the Bahamas archipelago.

Abaco’s expansive Marls region is a vast wilderness flats area that stretches over 300 square miles, filled with untouched pine forest islands, mangrove cays, and an abundant population of bonefish.

A quick twenty-minute ride on custom Maverick skiffs brings you to the ocean-side edge of the Marls, where exciting fishing opportunities await. Throughout the Marls, you can expect to find bonefish averaging 2 to 4 pounds, with a good number of larger fish in the 5 to 8-pound range. The Marls also offer chances to encounter permit, juvenile tarpon, barracuda, jacks, and various shark species. However, it’s the bonefish that dominate due to the sheltered habitat and abundant food sources.

Besides the remarkable flats fishing, Abaco offers incredible opportunities for bluewater fishing targeting marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, and tuna, depending on the season. Keep in mind that these trips incur an additional charge, and it’s recommended to book early as the top captains are in high demand.

Fall Season – October & November: Experience exceptional Bonefishing in the Abacos during the fall season. With the end of the tourist season in August and the conclusion of hurricane season, the fish have had a break from fly fishing for almost three months. This period offers willing and hungry fish, including sizeable specimens and plenty of tailing fish. The reduced fishing pressure allows for closer encounters with bigger fish, and calm days provide outstanding fishing on the Ocean-side of Abaco.

Winter Season – December, January & February: Abaco’s winter season brings clear skies, pleasant weather, and increased wind. Despite the wind, the fishing remains great with good visibility and larger bonefish on the flats. Schools of fish move between channels and flats based on water temperature, while barracuda and baby tarpon provide additional angling opportunities.

Spring Season – March, April & May: Springtime in the Abacos offers world-class Bonefishing. Comfortable temperatures, minimal cloud cover, and stable water temperatures create ideal fishing conditions. Tailing fish can be found along mangrove shorelines, and larger singles and doubles move between flats to feed. It’s a season of abundant fish and the potential for multiple fish days. Late spring brings opportunities to target mutton snapper. Tarpon and Permit become more prominent.

Summer Season – June & July: The Abacos’ summer season brings calm weather and light winds, perfect for sight fishing. Despite occasional boat pressure and distant thunderstorms, fish are easily spotted and ready to feed, especially in the mornings. Large groups of fish gather on slightly deeper flats. Summer also presents opportunities to target large Abaco Permit and enjoy improved tarpon fishing with migratory fish near the lodge.

The main species in focus here are Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit. Although Bonefish are the primary quarry, it is always good to have equipment ready at hand for the elusive Permit and powerful Tarpon.

Bring a 9ft, 7-8wt. rod for the Bonefish. Reels that are saltwater anodised (ok to be used in Saltwater) are essential. For bonefish, we suggest at least 150 yards of backing on your reel. Weight-forward bonefish/saltwater lines to match the rod are best paired with tapered fluorocarbon leaders.  Bring extra leaders and a few spools of tippet in the 8-15lb. range. Flies. There are endless options. Some firm favourites are:

Puglisi’s spawning shrimp, Miehieve’s Flats Fly, Kwabbit, mink shrimp, Veverka’s mantis shrimp, spawning mantis, and of course the Gotcha.

Tarpon and permit opportunities, although rare, are present and it’s always best to be prepared. A 9-10 wt rod for these. Reels that are saltwater anodised are essential. 9-10wt weight forward floating line to match the rod. For the smaller tarpon, a section of 40-pound bite tippet is perfect. Recommend flies include the Toad, Black Death, or any smaller baitfish imitations. For Permit in the 10-25lb. range, keep a 9-10wt rod rigged and ready with a merkin-style crab pattern—just in case!

There are some toothy critters out here too. For barracuda and sharks, you want a stout leader with a wire bite-tippet, about 12 inches long. Use a haywire twist to combine sections of mono to wire. Flies for ‘cudas include any and all needlefish imitations. For sharks, large poppers in blood-red or other bright, attention-grabbing colors. The topwater takes are incredible.

RATES AND TERMS

2024

Shared room

7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing: $ 7,750 + Gov. Tax
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing: $ 7,200 + Gov. Tax
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing: $ 6,650 + Gov. Tax
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing: $ 5,550 + Gov. Tax

Single Room

7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing: $ 7,950 + Gov. Tax
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing: $ 7,400 + Gov. Tax
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing: $ 6,850 + Gov. Tax
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing: $ 5,750 + Gov. Tax

Govt. Tax 10%

2025 (JAN – JULY)

Shared room

7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing: $ 8,250 + Gov. Tax
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing: $ 7,550 + Gov. Tax
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing: $ 6,950 + Gov. Tax
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing: $ 5,800 + Gov. Tax

Single Room

7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing: $ 8,450 + Gov. Tax
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing: $ 7,750 + Gov. Tax
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing: $ 7,125 + Gov. Tax
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing: $ 5,950 + Gov. Tax

Govt. Tax 10%

Occupancy: 12 anglers – 7 rooms (From March 2024 – 12 Anglers 9 Rooms)

Check-in After 4 PM / Check-out Before 10 AM

Single Room AND BOAT: 75% surcharge (subject to availability)

Non-Fisher: $650 per night per person + government taxes

Full-day fishing on arrival & departure: $950 per boat (1 or 2 anglers) + government taxes

Half-day fishing on arrival & departure: $800 per boat (1 or 2 anglers) + government taxes

Government tax is 10%

Included:

Accommodation is based on shared occupancy.

Transportation between Abaco Lodge and Marsh Harbour

All meals and beverages (open bar)

Fishing License

Professional guide services

Loaner fishing equipment (Rods, reels & lines)

Not Included:

International & domestic airfares

Flies

Government taxes

Gratuities for guides and house staff