Abaco Lodge is conveniently located just a short ride from the Marsh Harbor airport and is situated on a picturesque site overlooking the Marls of Abaco.As you arrive you will immediately notice the Rustic look of the wood buildings painted in a bright cherry-tomato red which is a trade mark of the tropical Bahamas colors and captures the regional flavor of the Bahamian culture. The entire beautifully landscaped property takes on a decidedly Bahamian cottage air.Right away you will sense the understated elegance of the place. You enter the main lodge through a large open-air well-appointed lanai which radiates simple elegance. The central gathering area has window walls taking in the full view of the Marls, exposed wood ceilings, and a unique reclaimed wood floor with a pickled sanded finish which together set the theme for this unique fishing lodge. A fully stocked bar featuring premium selections of liquor, red and white wine, domestic beer, juices, sodas and other appropriate mixers and garnishes is open for your pleasure. Help yourself as all drinks are included during your visit. Water is from a reverse osmosis system. The chef bakes bread, pastries and cookies daily. Their coffee is made from freshly ground beans and will be waiting for you by six. Breakfast is made to order and is served at seven. Picnic lunches of your choice and cold drinks are taken to the flats in a cooler by your guide. In the event you want to check your email or go online there is free wireless service is available. Also, you can make phone calls from the lodge for a fee. There is a small, but well-stocked fly shop, which has plenty of flies, fly lines, reels, rods hats and clothing. Loaner rods are available for free, but if you break one there is a $250.00 fee to send it back to the US for repair. Each angler has their own private single-occupancy room. The ten rooms are stylish and simply decorated in a minimalist fashion with a Queen Anne bed frame with comfortable mattresses covered in fine linens, end tables with lamps, sitting bench, and writing table. All the rooms have ceiling fans, mini-split air-conditioners, and private baths with plenty of hot water. Eight of the quest rooms have balconies overlooking the water. And a cool freshwater pool provides a refreshing dip at the end of the day. Enough said about the lodge, so what about the fishery; The Abacos are a string of Bahamian islands located approximately 175 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida. The "mainland" is Great Abaco, third largest island in the Bahamas. The Bahamas are primarily a bone fishery and Abaco is no different. There are the occasional shots at permit and tarpon, but you should consider those species as a bonus. You will also have shots at barracuda, jacks, and sharks depending upon where you are fishing. The �Marls of Abaco� are a vast expanse of prime, wilderness bonefish habitat, situated along the western shore of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. The Marls have long been known by well-traveled bone fishermen as one of the most unique and productive fisheries in the Bahamas. On a typical fishing day you leave the dock at eight and return around four. This schedule can be tailored to your needs with advance notice. There is no organized fishing on arrival day or departure day, but you can wade in front of the lodge, walk the beach or relax in the pool. The lodge can arrange for a half day fishing if your flights allow. There will be an additional charge for this fishing. Abaco Lodge also offers some incredible fishing on the eastern ocean side of the island. Cherokee Sound, the Bight of Robinson and Snake Cay are minutes from the lodge and offer opportunities at incredible but challenging bonefish. And there are numerous blue holes in Cherokee sound which attract a multitude of species including mutton snapper and barracuda. These trips need to be pre-arranged with the lodge manager. In addition to the wonderful flats fishing Abaco has decent blue water fishing. The lodge will be happy to coordinate a day or two with the best captains available in search of marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, or tuna depending on the season. Arrangements can be made at the lodge but the best captain�s book early and we recommend you do as well. There will be an additional charge for this fishing. Commercial airlines with direct daily flights from Nassau include Bahamas Air, Sky Bahamas, Western Air, and Abaco Air. Charter services can be arranged from Ft. Lauderdale or West Palm Beach. Charters can be tailored to your own schedule. Private aircraft can also land at Marsh Harbor direct from the US, as the airport has international port of entry custom clearance facilities. In every respect, from the well-trained friendly guides, top quality accommodations, and the outstanding fishery, Abaco Lodge distinguishes itself. About Us | Travel | Home | Contact 531 N. Citrus Ave. Crystal River, Florida 34428 352-795-FISH (3474) 1-800-771-2202 E-Mail: Abaco Lodge © 1996-2011 Leisure Time Travel, Inc. Revised March 23, 2011 - html by Edward R. Johnston Photographs by Edward R. Johnston Abaco Lodge-Great Abaco Island, Bahamas |