LOCATION
Abaco Island, Bahamas (The Marls)

SEASON
Year-Round, with November through mid-July considered peak season

CAPACITY
Maximum capacity is 8 anglers

SPECIES
Primarily bonefish, with some possibilities for barracuda, sharks, jacks, and snapper

GENERAL INFORMATION
The lodge overlooks the most consistent fishery on Abaco Island, called the Marls. This is an extensive and well-protected flats system that provides excellent habitat for strong numbers of bonefish, barracuda, and sharks. Since the lodge overlooks the Marls there is very minimal running time to the flats each day, which maximizes your fishing time.

LENGTH OF STAY
Trips and packages of any length can be arranged. All trips are completely customized.

THE FISHING
If you prefer to walk from your room to your guide boat and not make long runs in boats, then this new bonefish destination on Abaco Island is a must! The main fishery is the Marls, which consist of over 250 square miles of marshy flats on the eastern shores of Abaco Island, and the lodge literary overlooks this expansive bonefish haven. When fishing the Marls you can expect to run less then 20 minutes on a daily basis, and there are productive flats within 5 minutes of the lodge. The Marls provides anglers with very strong numbers of medium sized bonefish that see little pressure. It is well suited for beginner and experienced saltwater anglers alike, and for those seeking to fish mainly from a boat. The lodge has purchased all brand new Hell’s Bay skiffs (we loved fishing from these boats).

The flats of the Marls are softer, which makes wading close to the lodge difficult as you are so far inland (15 miles). As you move east or closer to the deeper water, the flats firm up, making wade fishing easier. These classic white sand outer flats also hold larger bonefish then the island's marshy areas near the lodge, and this area is only a 25 minute run from the lodge. The guides also know the oceanside flats on Abaco’s west coast, where larger ocean bones cruise shorelines and the smaller bays adjacent to deeper water. The Marls are not as tide dependant as are other destinations in the Bahamas, but the wind acts as the tides. Since this area is so shallow and vast the wind pushes the water more then the tides do. Fortunately, the guides know the area and where to be during any conditions. We have fished the area in low and high winds and found the fishing to be consistently good during these varied conditions. There are enough islands to fish all day in the lee or out of the wind. Interestingly these cays (or islands) are taller then most other similar island we have seen in the Bahamas, thus providing more protection from the wind.

If you are after a trophy bonefish or want to see something different then the Marls, the guides like to trailer the boats to Cherokee Sound on the west side of the island. It is a half hour drive to the boat launch from the lodge. These hard white sand flats are great for wade fishing or poling and are more tide dependant then the Marls, because this large bay is adjacent to the ocean. You can expect quality shots at larger bones (7-10 lbs.) when conditions are right.  Bring your A game for these fish since they can be picky and spooky.  

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT OFFERED
Anglers fish from 2009 Hell’s Bay Waterman skiffs with 50 HP Yamaha outboard engines. The decks are clean of cleats and other snags. All the boats have removable lean bars, plenty of rod storage, dry storage areas, and very comfortable seats with backrests. These are excellent skiffs and pole in remarkably shallow water. All the boats have well stocked coolers for lunch and refreshments. All the lunches are customized and you will put in your lunch order after dinner for the following day. The chef creates an excellent lunch menu!

THE LODGING
We rank this destination at the top of the list for those seeking “just a little more” from a bonefish lodge. What do we mean by that statement? Well, the newly remodeled lodge and rooms are very well built and designed. The main lodge features an inclusive, well stocked bar, dining area, DIRECTV with XM, and a sofa you can disappear in. Large picture windows overlook the Marls and dock. Most of the furniture was imported from Argentina. There is a unique outdoor patio with a bar and large sitting areas decorated with colorful throw pillows. This area is perfect for post-fishing lies and stories, while sipping a cold Kalik and sampling the wonderful appetizers. Adjacent to the main lodge and the patio is a small fresh water pool and fire pit, which are nice amenities and rare for a fishing lodge in the Bahamas.

The separate accommodation building sits directly next to the main lodge. All the guest rooms are single occupancy with private bathrooms and a deck overlooking the flats. Single occupancy rooms are a nice touch, and this prevents your snoring buddy from keeping you awake all night. All the rooms have thermostat-controlled A/C, queen sized beds with high thread count bedding, more pillows then you could ever use, a desk, plenty of storage for gear and clothing, and a sliding screened door to the common deck area. The beds also have mosquito netting if needed. These new rooms are sealed tightly and the screening is excellent, so we figure the netting is for more aesthetic purposes, and it does look nice.

RATES & DETAILS 2009/2010

WHAT’S INCLUDED
All accommodations and meals at lodge, daily guided fishing, on-water custom lunches, all drinks (including alcohol), bottled water, wireless internet, and airport transfers.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Airfare from home town to Marsh Harbour, overweight baggage charges, gratuities for guides and staff, and airport departure taxes which is now included in all commercial plane tickets.

DEPOSIT INFORMATION
A 50% deposit (per angler) of the total package cost for each trip is due to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures (YDFA) within 10 days of booking to secure the reservation. Guides and dates cannot be held or reserved without a deposit. YDFA reserves the right to charge a handling fee of $100 per person for date changes after the initial reservation has been made. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
As of 2006, all U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport that does not expire within 6 months of trips dates. Please be sure that your passport has at least two blank, unstamped pages remaining in back, and that it is not torn, delaminated, or damaged in any way.

NON-ANGLING ACTIVITIES
This is a fishing focused destination. The grounds of the lodge do offer a very relaxing setting with a small pool and comfortable sitting areas. There is no beach, but there are beautiful beaches close to the lodge and a taxi could take a non-angler to these areas. Marsh Harbour does have shopping opportunities and numerous non-angling activities. Since the rooms are all single occupancy, non-anglers would need to be couples or have their own room.

OTHER INFORMATION
The manager Oliver White is a part owner of Abaco Lodge and is very professional. He is always around to ensure your stay will be comfortable and enjoyable. He is a great person and has an extensive background in fly-fishing throughout the World. We were very impressed with Oliver and his attention to detail.

Reisen

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