Sandy Point, Abaco, is one of the outstanding bonefishing destinations in the Bahamas. It has all the bases covered: good Bahamas fishing guides, large numbers of bonefish (including some very big bonefish) and plenty of wadeable, hard-bottom bonefishing flats. It is also a good place to fish for sharks, big barracuda, jacks and mutton snapper.
Pete and Gay’s Guest House is situated at the center of this great Bahamas bonefishing spot. Though Bahamas permit fishing generally does not compare to places such as Ascension Bay, Mexico or Southern Belize, Pete and Gay’s offers access to some of the best permit fishing in the Bahamas.
Species: Bonefish (large numbers, including very big fish), Permit, Sharks, Barracuda, Jacks, Mutton Snapper
Location: Sandy Point, Abaco, Bahamas
Plenty of wadeable, hard-bottom bonefishing flats; access to Gorda Cay and Mores Island
Fleet: Bonefish skiffs for flats fishing
Get a custom quote for your Pete & Gay’s Guest House fishing adventure!
From the lodge at Pete and Gay’s, the fishing guides have fishing options to the south, north and east. The south offers miles of white sand bonefishing flats as well as tidal creeks which offer excellent bonefishing. To the north lay vast sand and mangrove flats and the famed Marls of Abaco. Directly off shore from Pete and Gays are Gorda Cay and Mores Island, both of which are well known for large bonefish and permit.
There are no wadeable bonefishing flats within easy walking distance of Pete & Gay’s Guest House (there is a beach you can walk and at the right tide you may spot some bonefish), but you can fly fish off the nearby (200 feet away) Government Pier for jacks, snappers and mackerel.
Lodge Accommodations
Pete and Gay Guest House is one of only two fishing lodges located in Sandy Point. Pete and Gays is owned and operated by Bahamas native Stanley White. Stanley is an excellent owner/manager and provides accountability and follow through on guest services like few other Bahamian bonefishing lodges we’ve dealt with. Stanley also has an excellent relationship with many of the areas top bonefishing guides, including Patrick Roberts, Nick, Tony, Derick Kendall, Val and other professional Bahamas bonefishing guides.
The fishing lodge itself is not fancy, but it is a clean, modern facility, completely renovated in 2000, and offers air conditioning and private baths in each of it’s guest rooms. The fishing lodge is a two story building with a wrap around deck on the second floor located a short walk from the water. Of the 14 rooms, 4 (located on the second floor) are larger “mini-suites”, available at an extra cost. A maximum of ten anglers can be accommodated. Bonefishing packages include airport transfers, meals, lodging and guided fishing. Pete & Gay is flexible as to the arrival days, length of your stay, and departure days.
Seasonal Bonefishing at Pete & Gay’s
Autumn Bonefishing: October, November, Early December. Excellent time for large bonefish and permit; other species also available. Conditions are generally quite pleasant, although there is a chance for a late hurricane or some early cold fronts. The average temperature during these months is 80 degrees (F), and the nighttime lows average about 70. Precipitation declines from an average of 6.5 inches in October to 1.3 inches in December.
Winter Bonefishing: Mid-late December, January, February, March. These are the best months for big bonefish. Good time for permit fishing, and perhaps best overall for barracuda. Daytime temperatures range around 77, and night time is a pleasant 64. These are the dry months; average precipitation is about 1.5 inches or less. Of course, the weather can be variable: cool, cloudy, windy, and rainy conditions are possible.
Spring Bonefishing: April, May and June. Warming water and calming winds stimulate bonefish to school together. You may see and cast to hundreds of fish. There are good opportunities to sight cast to larger single fish on the flats, as well. Late spring can bring afternoon showers, and the warmer, calmer weather seems to bring out the insects. Expect daytime temperatures around 85 degrees, and nights about 72. Rainfall increases during this period to about 6 inches in June.
Summer Bonefishing: July, August, and September. Classic “tailing” time for bonefish on the flats, especially early and late in the day, when it’s a little cooler. Early in the season, expect to find lots of permit on the flats. Some rain or a tropical storm possible, but temperatures are a warm 88 degrees during the day, and nights are a balmy 75. Rainfall is at it’s highest during this period: expect about 5.5 inches average each month.
Dining and Travel
Breakfast and dinner are served in the Pete & Gay Guest House restaurant. Dinners are served family style with two main courses. The food has an authentic Bahamian flare and portions are generous. Lunches are taken aboard the boat. Every effort will be made to accommodate any particular likes or dislikes or dietary needs.
There are several ways to get to Pete & Gays Guest House. The most common routing is to fly to Marsh Harbour where you’ll be met and transferred by car to Sandy Point. This option is included in the package price. Other means of getting to Pete & Gays are: schedule a private charter from Nassau, or charter flight direct from Florida into Sandy Point, with a stop in Marsh Harbour or Nassau to clear customs. We will be happy to make recommendations for the best option for your group.
Get Your Custom Quote for Pete & Gay’s Guest House
Angler Adventures arranges completely customizable packages at Pete & Gay’s Guest House to meet your fishing preferences.
Our services are free! We’ll work with you to create the perfect Bahamas fishing vacation package.
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Experience world-class bonefishing at Sandy Point, Abaco. Our team will help you create the perfect custom package for your Bahamas fishing vacation.
Blackfly Lodge, located on a picturesque harbor on the east side of Abaco, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, opened March 1, 2012. The new lodge features an open kitchen, bar, dining room floor plan, a full service fly shop, and accommodates 8 anglers in 8 single bedrooms, each with their own bath.
The two story, classic Bahamian lodge has two levels of wrap around verandas, offering outside dining overlooking the 14 acre harbor/marina all within the 220-acre residential development project called Schooner Bay. Blackfly Lodge employs 4 boats and guides to fish the southern half of Great Abaco Island.
Blackfly Lodge employs 4 boats and guides to fish the southern half of Great Abaco Island. The 18-foot custom East Cape skiffs, powered by 90-hp E-tec outboards have padded seats / backrests and custom padded leaning bars with a fold away seat on the bow. The skiffs are trailered to various boat ramps, the closest being Crossing Rocks, less than one mile away.
Blackfly fishes the Marls from Crossing Rocks, Mores Island, Gorda Cay, Sandy Point, Cross Harbour and Cherokee Sound. To get an idea how vast and varied this fishery is, Blackfly has divided this bonefish real estate into 6 zones. The fishing grounds that surround Schooner Bay form six distinct zones each rich in a variety of species and large enough to support the entire lodge fleet if weather were to force all boats to fish in one zone. Only the most severe weather would cause a cancellation.
Zone 1 – Crossing Rocks Ramp Northward to the Marls
Fishing can begin as soon as the boat is launched from the ramp at Crossing Rocks. The shallow water inlet is home to resident fish, from mudding schools to large single fish in double-digit sizes. A run though the mangrove creek from the inlet is exhilarating and builds the anticipation of days fishing. Fishing can begin as soon as the boat clears the creek. Schools of fish can be seen feeding in the bay and working the edges of the numerous islands.
The wade fishing is exceptional in zone one with miles of firm bottom flats that drop off into deeper mud and grass flats. It would take weeks if not months to explore all that zone one has to offer in the extensive creek system that forms the southern reaches of the world famous Marls. To the West lies Big Mangrove Cay. This is a series of small cays surrounded by deep water and turtle grass flats. As the tide comes in typically feeding fish work the flats and numerous schools feed along the shore. Sharks and Barracuda are abundant and Permit can be seen in good numbers during the warmer months.
Zone 2 – Crossing Rocks to Sandy Point
Zone 2 is an 18-mile shoreline extending from Crossing Rocks to Sandy Point. Numerous islands, creeks and flats create an unlimited habitat for many species. Small to large bays form the shoreline providing cover in the wind to huge numbers of fish, including large schools of mudding or tailing fish along the shore and sometimes bonefish, jacks, and snappers all feeding together.
Zone 3 – Cross Harbour Flats
Cross Harbour Flats System comes directly out of the blue waters of Hole in the Wall making it one of the best flats in the Bahamas for really big fish. Large numbers of Permit and double digit bones can be seen regularly on this flat. This flat system would be accessed by trailoring 20-minutes from Schooner to Sandy Point, plus 20-minutes by boat.
Zone 4 – Blue Water and Ocean Flats
Blue water and ocean flats. The blue water fly fishing opportunities at Schooner are unprecedented. The legendary blue water of Southern Abaco is only minutes from the mouth of the Schooner Bay Harbor. Dorado, Tuna, Billfish and many other species abound in this rich offshore environment. This blue water zone is virgin territory for anglers seeking the thrill of connecting with large ocean fish on the fly. When weather permits the run to Hole in the Wall can produce amazing opportunity to connect with some of the toughest fighting fish in the world as well as exploring ocean flats that hold very large bones and permit.
Zone 5 – Cherokee Sound
A 20-minute trailoring to Cherokee Sound will put our anglers in one of the best ocean flats on the planet. Lush turtle grass flats that intersect gin clear white sand flats have produced some Bonefish up to 14 lbs. This area will be the zone that receives the most pressure making the fish a bit more challenging to catch, however the numbers and size of these fish are legendary.
Zone 6 – Mores Island
Mores Island is the largest of some 10 -12 cays that sit on the edge of the northwest providence channel and comprises about a 20 sq. mile area of gorgeous bonefish habitat. Eighteen miles from the Crossing Rocks ramp, a 30-minute (weather dependent) run across relatively shallow water brings you to the edge of this fishing fantasy. The incoming tide brings large schools of bones onto the flats, including double-digit fish. Mores Island is also noted as a Permit destination and with a summer run of Tarpon.
Lodge Accommodations and Amenities
The new lodge features an open kitchen, bar, dining room floor plan, a full service fly shop, and accommodates 8 anglers in 8 single bedrooms, each with their own bath. The two story, classic Bahamian lodge has two levels of wrap around verandas, offering outside dining overlooking the 14 acre harbor/marina all within the 220-acre residential development project called Schooner Bay.
Tackle and Equipment
Blackfly Lodge has partnered with Thomas & Thomas rods, Hatch reels and Airflo lines, and has a 9-weight setup for every boat, as well as 10 or 12-weights as needed at no additional cost. They also sell flies, leaders, Costa Sunglasses and other flats fishing accessories. Some of the favored local patterns they sell are King of Abaco, Queen of Abaco, Clint’s Secret Fly, Vaughn’s Peel & Eat for bonefish, as well as the Key’s Velcro Crab in olive, EP Crabs in two tone and the standard Merkin patterns. They sell Umpqua and Scientific Anglers tapered fluorocarbon leaders and tippet.
Non-Anglers
Blackfly is first and foremost a fishing destination, however there’s a beautiful beach a short walk from the lodge and Marsh Harbour, the second largest city in the Bahamas is only 30-minutes away by car. Marsh Harbour has a good amount of shopping and there are a number of tourist activities to occupy non-fishing companions.
Get Your Custom Quote for Blackfly Lodge
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Our services are free! We’ll work with you to create the perfect Bahamas fishing vacation package.
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Experience six distinct fishing zones on southern Abaco. Our team will help you create the perfect custom package for your Bahamas fishing vacation.
Water Cay Bonefish Lodge is ideally located just east of the Horn off Grand Bahamas North Shore. The lodge is situated on the southern shore of Water Cay, a small island 3-miles north of mainland Grand Bahama. Water Cay is a remote island with only 3-full time residents and despite the glow of Freeport (the second largest city in the Bahamas), the experience at Water Cay is similar to the more remote out-island lodges in the Bahamas.
This north central habitat is rarely visited because the other lodges on Grand Bahama (all located on the southern shore) do not need to travel to Water Cay to find good fishing of their own. As a result, there are very few boats fishing these waters near Water Cay and by taking only 6 anglers at any one time, Water Cay Bonefish Lodge ensures that the north shore’s vast bonefish habitat remains virtually untouched.
Species: Bonefish (big fish and school-sized), Permit, Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Jacks
Location: Water Cay, 3 miles north of Grand Bahama, North Shore
Vast wilderness bonefish flats with deep cuts, perfect flats and rocky bottomed bays
Fleet: 18′ Beavertail Bonefish skiffs with 40-hp Evinrude E-tec engines
Get a custom quote for your Water Cay Bonefish Lodge fishing adventure!
Untouched Bonefish Habitat on Grand Bahama’s North Shore
Many anglers opt for more “remote” areas, like Andros or Abaco, believing Freeport is too developed. But as the second largest island in the Bahamas chain, there is more to Grand Bahama than the hustle and bustle of Freeport, and the North Shore offers countless miles of wilderness bonefish flats. In many ways, the fishery is similar to the Marls of Abaco or the west side of Andros, with deep cuts, perfect flats and rocky bottomed bays that allow for a fair mix of fishing from the skiff and wading.
It is not unusual to spend a few hours poling an area (while casting to many schools of fish) and then pop out around a corner and see the lodge! The complexity of the bays, creeks and flats that surround the lodge can be quite deceiving.
The winter months are the times for big fish, but as the water temps stabilize in late March, the school fish show up in massive numbers and the big trophy fish mix with the schools. This integration lasts until late fall when the big fish once again go out on their own as they are able to better tolerate the cooler water temps. For the angler, this means Water Cay has it all, both big fish and school-sized fish. Permit show up consistently near the northern cays as soon as the winter winds calm and the water temps climb.
Master Guide Sidney Thomas and Team
Water Cay Bonefish Lodge’s fishing program is run by master Bahamian guide Sidney Thomas. Sidney has a tremendous bonefish pedigree. At 44 years of age, he has worked for all the best lodges on Grand Bahama either as their head guide or as a key bonefish guide. Devoted and hard working, Sidney is the “real deal” when it comes to guiding.
Sydney and his team of guides (Ezra Thomas and Greg Rolle) have adapted a unique style of catching big bonefish: “Bonefish got to eat. And to eat, bonefish got to get up onto their flats and find food. It’s nice to see those big tails waving in the sunlight on the incoming water. We see them and we fish ’em directly. What I mean is that I like to have my guys go straight for the fish. No leading or putting that fly where you think them fish are gonna be. Just try to hit them on the head. The fish at Water Cay haven’t seen many flies and so when they are hungry, they ain’t shy. You might think that your cast spooked them because they take flight twenty or thirty feet. But more times than not, the fish spin in a circle looking for what made the fuss. If they think it’s a ‘cuda or shark or maybe a bird, they’ll keep moving. But if the coast is clear, those big fish will come right back to the spot. If you are there, then they are gonna eat every time. We hook a bunch of BIG bonefish this way.”
Lodge Accommodations
The lodge building consists of a common area, 3-guest rooms and 6-staff rooms. The common area contains the kitchen, dining area, lounge, bar, and fly tying area. The 3-guest rooms are located to the left of the common area, and each air-conditioned room contains two twin beds, full bathroom and shower, a closet, a chest of drawer and a ceiling fan. The rooms are decorated in traditional Bahamian colors and native décor.
All the water for the lodge is produced and filtered by an extensive reverse osmosis system allowing guests to have purified water right from their bathroom taps. The lodge also has small deck in front of the lodge, a guest favorite for swapping fishing stories and sipping a cold Kalik as the sun sets over Bahaman flats.
Fleet and Equipment
The guides at Water Cay Bonefish Lodge use 18′ Beavertail Bonefish skiffs with 40-hp Evinrude E-tec engines on jack plates. Each boat has steering console, two seats for anglers in front of this console, automatic trim & tilt engines. A cooler for lunches and cold drinks doubles as a seat for the guide behind the console. All boats are double hulled, self-bailing and each has a cell phone and a VHF radio for communication with the lodge and with one another at all times. Each boat is also equipped with 2 spinning rods for anglers to use if they choose. One rod is a med-action rod for bonefish and the other is a med-heavy action rod for barracuda or permit.
Get Your Custom Quote for Water Cay Bonefish Lodge
Angler Adventures arranges completely customizable packages at Water Cay Bonefish Lodge to meet your fishing preferences.
Our services are free! We’ll work with you to create the perfect Bahamas fishing vacation package.
Ready to Plan Your Adventure?
Experience untouched bonefish habitat on Grand Bahama’s North Shore. Our team will help you create the perfect custom package for your Bahamas fishing vacation.
Rickmon Bonefish Lodge offers fantastic bonefishing on the southern tip of Abaco. Lodge owner Ricardo Burrows has put together an attractive, well situated fishing lodge with access to the expansive flats around Sandy Point, the flats running North and South of Sandy Point, plus Gorda Cay and Mores Island. Ricardo is considered to be one of the best fishing guides in Abaco.
Rickmon Bonefish Lodge sits directly on a beach overlooking a fishable flat. The lodge was built in 1999 with 11 air conditioned guest rooms, which have been converted to single occupancy rooms. Guests can access a small bonefishing flat immediately in front of the lodge. Beyond the flat is a creek and another very productive bonefish flat, known as Town Flat, which offers world class bonefishing.
Vast areas to the North, West and South of Rickmon are comprised of hard sand, with areas of turtle grass. In total, about 75% percent of the flats are wadeable. The bonefish flats around Sandy Point are home to large numbers of bonefish in the 3-5 pound range, though Rickmon Lodge guests have seen fish in the 14 pound range.
Also within a short boat ride is Mores Island. This is one of the best places in the Bahamas to target permit on the fly. This is also the place to go to fly fish for large bonefish, mutton snapper, jacks and big barracuda. To the west is Gorda Cay, another spot renowned for large bonefish and permit that will take flies. Boat rides to these destinations can range from 20 – 50 minutes, depending, of course on the unpredictable Bahamian weather.
Sandy Point is one of the few places in the Bahamas with a predictable Permit fishery and Rickmon’s is an excellent place to target Permit in the Bahamas from May – November.
Lodge Accommodations
Rickmon Bonefish Lodge sits directly on a beach overlooking a fishable flat. The lodge was built in 1999 with 11 air conditioned guest rooms, which have been converted to single occupancy rooms. Guests can access a small bonefishing flat immediately in front of the lodge. Beyond the flat is a creek and another very productive bonefish flat, known as Town Flat, which offers world class bonefishing. For a tip, you can ask your fishing guide drop you off there for after hours fishing.
After a hard days fishing, you will return to the fishing lodge to relax in your room or perhaps sit and enjoy the expansive 50 ft. deck over looking the water.
Dining and Daily Schedule
Dinner, consisting of Bahamian dishes such as conch chowder, lobster, grouper, chicken and vegetable dishes is served between 6:30 – 8:00PM. Coffee will be available in the dinning room at 6:00 AM. Breakfast begins at 7:00 AM. The fishing day normally runs from 8:00AM – 4:00PM. Under proper weather conditions the guides may be able to make the crossing to Mores Island or Gorda Cay. Lunch is usually packed in a cooler and taken aboard.
Tackle and Equipment
Rickmon Bonefish Lodge does not sell or rent tackle or lures. Rickmon sells some flies but supplies are limited. Some of the fishing guides carry back-up tackle should you break a rod. It is imperative that each angler bring his own tackle, flies, and lures. We recommend that you bring tackle suitable for bonefish, permit, mutton snapper, barracuda and shark. There may also be opportunities to cast to tarpon at the lodge, although tarpon are not very common.
Get Your Custom Quote for Rickmon Bonefish Lodge
Angler Adventures arranges completely customizable packages at Rickmon Bonefish Lodge to meet your fishing preferences.
Our services are free! We’ll work with you to create the perfect Bahamas fishing vacation package.
Ready to Plan Your Adventure?
Experience world-class bonefishing at Sandy Point, Abaco. Our team will help you create the perfect custom package for your Bahamas fishing vacation.
The “Marls of Abaco” is a vast expanse of prime, wilderness bonefish habitat, situated along the western shore of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. This little fished area spans some 300 square miles: 30 miles north – south and about 10 miles off the west coast of Abaco. The Marls have long been known by well-traveled bonefishermen as one of the most unique and productive fisheries in the Bahamas.
Abaco Island is one of the larger and more developed Islands in the 700 mile long Bahamian chain, but its development is principally along the eastern shore with white sand beaches and easy access to deep water. Much of the land mass along the western shore drops off to swampy wetlands, referred to as “The Marls”. Comprised of hundreds of square miles of mangroves, creeks, cuts and flats, navigable only by shallow draft flats skiffs, the Marls remain an undeveloped wilderness and ideal bonefish habitat.
The greatest advantage of Abaco Lodge is its location, literally on the flats. Anglers walk a short distance from their rooms to the dock, hop in a skiff, and can be fishing prime flats within 5 – 10 minutes.
Unlike some of the less developed islands in the Bahamas, Abaco has the third largest airport in the Bahamas (Marsh Harbour). Good numbers of direct flights from the U.S. makes traveling relatively easy and the lodge is an easy 15-minute drive from the airport.
Another attractive feature is that Abaco Lodge provides single rooms for the majority of their guests at no additional cost. Each room is spacious and well appointed with a private bath. The lodge has 7 rooms to accommodate 8 anglers per week. There are 6 single rooms set up for single occupancy and 1 room set up for double occupancy. The single occupancy rooms are available on a first come first serve basis.
The lodge owns a fleet of state of the art Hells Bay Flats Skiffs that get you to the fish quickly and efficiently. They are also stealthy boats and navigate the shallow waters of the Marls beautifully. Experienced guides are not in short supply on Abaco and Abaco Lodge has developed loyalty from some of the best on the island.
There is one additional ingredient that contributes greatly to the success of Abaco Lodge … management. Nervous Waters has always taken pride in finding the right managers for each of their destinations. Marsh Harbour has a good supply chain, so if anything is needed, it’s generally there by the end of the day.
Despite all these other accolades, it is the fishing that really sets Abaco Lodge apart. The marls offers some of the most productive bonefishing in the Bahamas for 2 – 7 pound bonefish. The lodge compliments its “home” waters (the marls) with trailering options on the east side of Abaco, where the fish are larger and the wading more prevalent. With drives of 15 – 40 minutes guests can be fishing the east side of Abaco from Cherokee Sound to Treasure Cay. Here anglers will find 5 – 10 pound bonefish in good numbers, whether fishing from a skiff or wading hard sand flats a couple of hours either side of low tide.
The bonefish move into the Marls on the rising tide looking for food, and the drill is to follow them in, and when the tide starts to drop, follow them back out. Some of these interior flats are wadable, but as the term “marl” implies, many of the interior flats are too soft for comfortable wading, so are fished from the skiff. The outer edges of the Marls are typically firm, and the guides may target tailing fish on these wadable flats during the lower stages of the tide. From time to time, tarpon may be encountered on some of the deeper flats.
Abaco Lodge has been best publicized by an ESPN series entitled, Pirates of the Flats, which first aired in January 2010. Angler celebrities Lefty Kreh, Yvon Chouinard, Michael Keaton, Tom Brokaw, Thomas McGuane and Bill Kline were invited to Abaco Lodge to film the series and ESPN captured on film the beauty and productivity of this unique fishery. Viewers may recall many scenes with these celebrities seated at the outdoor dining area or sitting around the fire pit at night, recounting the events of the day. These images solidified what those in the industry already knew. Abaco Lodge is an alluring location to immerse yourself in the sport of bonefishing with a fly.
Abaco Lodge 2025-2026 Rates
Packages of any duration are available. Rates are based on single occupancy accommodations and fishing 2 anglers per boat and guide. Single fishing rates are available on request.
LOW SEASON 2025 (October – December)
Length of Stay
Shared room and boat
Single room and shared boat
7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing
$7,550
$7,550
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing
$6,995
$6,995
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing
$6,450
$6,450
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing
$5,350
$5,350
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing
$4,050
$4,050
HIGH SEASON 2026 (January – June)
Length of Stay
Shared room and boat
Single room and shared boat
7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing
$7,950
$7,950
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing
$7,350
$7,350
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing
$6,750
$6,750
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing
$5,650
$5,650
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing
$4,750
$4,750
Rates are per person in USD$ and subject to change. Contact us for seasonal promos.
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Included in the rate: Transportation from Marsh Harbour airport to the lodge, round-trip; single or double occupancy room (first come first serve); all meals; refreshments onboard the boat; beer and soft drinks and liquor at the lodge; wine with dinner and a boat and guide for each two anglers, daily; Bahamas Fishing License.
What’s Not Included
Not included and/or additional charges would include: Air travel to Marsh Harbour; Bahamas Value Added Tax (Effective January 1, 2015); tackle, lures, and flies; personal items; gratuities; single angler surcharge.
Reservations and Deposit: A 50% deposit is necessary to confirm a reservation. Final payment is due 95 days prior to arrival.
Book now, get a quote, or chat with us about Bahamas bonefishing!
NOTICE: Abaco Lodge reopened in April 2023 after sustaining severe damage during Hurricane Dorian in September 2019. We’re excited to have this wonderful property back in operation after more than 3 years! We’ll continue to update this page as we continue to get great reports.
The “Marls of Abaco” is a vast expanse of prime, wilderness bonefish habitat, situated along the western shore of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. This little fished area spans some 300 square miles: 30 miles north – south and about 10 miles off the west coast of Abaco. The Marls have long been known by well-traveled bonefishermen as one of the most unique and productive fisheries in the Bahamas.
Abaco Island is one of the larger and more developed Islands in the 700 mile long Bahamian chain, but its development is principally along the eastern shore with white sand beaches and easy access to deep water. Much of the land mass along the western shore drops off to swampy wetlands, referred to as the “The Marls”. Comprised of hundreds of square miles of mangroves, creeks, cuts and flats, navigable only by shallow draft flats skiffs, the Marls remain an undeveloped wilderness and ideal Bonefish habitat.
Unlike some of the less developed islands in the Bahamas, Abaco has the third largest airport in the Bahamas (Marsh Harbour). Good numbers of direct flights from the U.S. makes traveling relatively easy and the lodge is an easy 15-minute drive from the airport.
The greatest advantage of Abaco Lodge is its location, literally on the flats. Anglers walk a short distance from their rooms to the dock, hop in a skiff, and can be fishing prime flats within 5 – 10 minutes.
Another attractive feature is that Abaco Lodge provides single rooms for the majority of their guests at no additional cost. Each room is spacious and well appointed with a private bath.
The lodge has 7 rooms to accommodate 8 anglers per week. There are 6 single rooms set up for single occupancy and 1 rooms set up for double occupancy. The single occupancy rooms are available on a first come first serve basis.
The lodge owns a fleet of state of the art Hells Bay Flats Skiffs that get you to the fish quickly and efficiently. They are also stealthy boats and navigate the shallow waters of the Marls beautifully.
Experienced guides are not in short supply on Abaco and Abaco Lodge has developed loyalty from some of the best on the island.
There is one additional ingredient that contributes greatly to the success of Abaco Lodge … management. Nervous Waters has always taken pride in finding the right managers for each of their destinations.
Marsh Harbour has a good supply chain, so if anything is needed, it’s generally there by the end of the day.
Despite all these other accolades, it is the fishing that really sets Abaco Lodge apart. The marls offers some of the most productive bonefishing in the Bahamas for 2 – 7 pound bonefish. The lodge compliments its “home” waters (the marls) with trailering options on the east side of Abaco, where the fish are larger and the wading more prevalent. With drives of 15 – 40 minutes guests can be fishing the east side of Abaco from Cherokee Sound to Treasure Cay. Here anglers will find 5 – 10 pound bonefish in good numbers, whether fishing from a skiff or wading hard sand flats a couple of hours either side of low tide.
The bonefish move into the Marls on the rising tide looking for food, and the drill is to follow them in, and when the tide starts to drop, follow them back out. Some of these interior flats are wadable, but as the term “marl” implies, many of the interior flats are too soft for comfortable wading, so are fished from the skiff. The outer edges of the Marls are typically firm, and the guides may target tailing fish on these wadable flats during the lower stages of the tide. From time to time, Tarpon may be encountered on some of the deeper flats.
Abaco Lodge has been best publicized by an ESPN series entitled, Pirates of the Flats, which first aired in January 2010. Angler celebrities Lefty Kreh, Yvon Chouinard, Michael Keaton, Tom Brokaw, Thomas McGuane and Bill Kline were invited to Abaco Lodge to film the series and ESPN captured on film the beauty and productivity of this unique fishery. Viewers may recall many scenes with these celebrities seated at the outdoor dining area or sitting around the fire pit at night, recounting the events of the day. These images solidified what those in the industry already knew. Abaco Lodge is an alluring location to immerse yourself in the sport of bonefishing with a fly.
Packages of any duration are available. Below rates are based on single occupancy accommodations and fishing 2 anglers per boat and guide. Single fishing rates are available on request.
Our Services are Free! Contact us for Seasonal Discounts, Special Offers or Promotional Pricing
Abaco Lodge 2023-2024 Rates
(subject to change)
October – December 2023
January – June 2024
7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing
$7,550 per person
$7,950 per person
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing
$6,995 per person
$7,350 per person
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing
$6,450 per person
$6,750 per person
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing
$5,350 per person
$5,650 per person
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing
$4,050 per person
$4,750 per person
Included in the rate: transportation from Marsh Harbour airport to the lodge, round-trip; single or double occupancy room (first come first serve); all meals; refreshments onboard the boat; beer and soft drinks and liquor at the lodge; wine with dinner and a boat and guide for each two anglers, daily; Bahamas Fishing License.
Not included and/or additional charges would include: air travel to Marsh Harbour; Bahamas Value Added Tax (Effective January 1, 2015); tackle, lures, and flies; personal items; gratuities; single angler surcharge.
A 50% deposit is necessary to confirm a reservation. Final payment is due 95 days prior to arrival.
