Abaco Lodge

Lodging Details
Yellow Dog ranks 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? The recently-remodeled Lodge and rooms were very well constructed and designed. The Main Lodge features an all-inclusive, well-stocked bar, dining area, DirecTV, huge sofas, and large picture windows that overlook the beauty of the Marls and the main dock. Most of the furniture was imported from Argentina.

The unique outdoor patio features a bar and plenty of couches arranged in various sitting areas for socializing. This spot is perfect for post-fishing to relax, sip a cold Kalik, and sample delicious appetizers. Adjacent to the Main Lodge and patio is a small freshwater pool and a fire pit.

Located nearby is a separate accommodations building. All guest rooms are single occupancy with private bathrooms and large decks overlooking the flats. Single occupancy rooms are a nice touch: something that prevents your snoring fishing buddy from keeping you awake all night. All 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 screen door connecting to the common deck area. The beds also have mosquito netting if needed (The bedrooms are sealed tightly, and the screening is excellent, so we figure the netting is for more aesthetic purposes. It does look nice!).

Food and Beverages
Abaco Lodge imports a trained executive chef to oversee all meals. Breakfast is made-to-order each morning. The chef bakes bread, pastries, and cookies daily. Coffee is brewed from freshly ground beans and will be waiting for guests as a part of the breakfast buffet. Breakfast will always feature a variety of cereals, coffee and a selection of teas, as well as fresh fruits. Eggs will be cooked to your preference, with bacon, sausages, and grits or hash brown potatoes. Hot cereals are also available.

Guides will provide a cooler with a picnic lunch of your choosing in the boat each day.  A lunch menu card allows you to choose next day’s lunch and the content of your boat cooler. With an open bar policy, you will find waiting at the Lodge upon your return from fishing cold beers, spirits, and a blender for cocktails, as well as stacks of soft drinks. Cracked conch, grouper fingers, conch salad, and fresh tuna sashimi are served as appetizers so that you can sample local specialties.

The nightly cuisine incorporates Bahamian specialties with an emphasis on locally-caught seafood. Each evening, Abaco Lodge takes pride in serving delicious entrees that include local produce, fresh fish (ahi tuna, grouper, and hog snapper), conch and lobster.

If you have a preferred brand of liquor, please be sure to inform Yellow Dog in advance so the lodge can have it ready for you upon arrival (payable upon arrival to the lodge). Otherwise, you can bring your bottle. Please note that local spirits are free of charge at the lodge.

Typical Length of Stay
You can arrange trips and packages of any length. All trips are entirely customized. Call Yellow Dog for details.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
Abaco Lodge is primarily a fishing-focused destination. That said, this lodge is much nicer than the average fishing lodge, and the grounds offer a very relaxing setting with a small pool and comfortable sitting areas. There is no beach, but there are beautiful beaches nearby, and a taxi can be arranged to drive non-anglers 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 one half of a couple, or have their own room.

Internet / Communications
The Lodge does offer complimentary Wi-Fi to guests. Most U.S. cell phones will work on Abaco depending on your service plan.

How To Get There
Direct daily flights to Marsh Harbour International Airport (MHH) and Sandy Point Airstrip are available from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Some major commercial flights also fly directly to Marsh Harbour from Nassau International Airport (NAS), including Bahamas Air and Western Air. There are also charter flights from Nassau, including a charter float plane service that will deliver you directly to the Lodge. Please contact Yellow Dog for more information.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
At the airport, you will be met by a Lodge representative and driven directly to Abaco Lodge, a trip of about 10 minutes. When you arrive, the staff will greet you and show you to your room, where you will find your luggage waiting for you. On arrival day, there is no organized fishing, but you can wade in front of the lodge, walk the beach, or relax in the pool with a cold drink.

Documents Required
All U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport that does not expire within six (6) months of trips dates. Please be sure that your passport has at least two blanks, unstamped pages remaining in the back, and that it is not torn, delaminated, or damaged in any way.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes. 

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership

General Information
If you like the idea of stepping outside your room directly into a flats boat and you’re looking for a fishing program in which long daily runs are unnecessary, then this bonefish destination on Abaco Island is a great option!

The primary fishery is an area known as the “Marls of Abaco,” which consists of over 250 square miles of marshy flats on the eastern shores of Abaco Island. The Lodge perches over this expansive bonefish haven. When fishing the Marls, you can expect to run less than 20 minutes on a daily basis; productive flats are within five minutes of the Lodge. The Marls provide anglers with solid numbers of medium-sized bonefish that see little pressure. It is well-suited for beginner and experienced saltwater anglers alike and those seeking to fish primarily from a boat.

The flats of the Marls, located 15 miles inland from the open ocean, have a softer bottom, which makes wading near the Lodge difficult. The flats firm up running twenty-five minutes east, closer to deeper water, making wade fishing easier. These classic white sand outer flats hold larger bonefish than the marshy areas near the Lodge. The guides intimately know the oceanside flats on Abaco’s west coast, where large ocean bones cruise shorelines and the smaller bays adjacent to deeper water.

The Marls are not as tide dependent as other destinations in the Bahamas, but the wind can influence water flow and act much like tidal influences. Since this area is so shallow and vast, the wind pushes the water more than the tides do. Fortunately, the guides know the area and where to fish under all conditions. There are enough islands to fish in the lee or out of the wind all day. Interestingly, these cays (or islands) are taller than similar islands in the Bahamas, thus providing more protection from the wind.

If you are after a trophy bonefish or want to see something other than the Marls, the guides will trailer boats to Cherokee Sound on the west side of the Abaco. It is a half-hour drive to the boat launch from the Lodge. This bay’s hard white sand flats are great for wade fishing or poling. Due to its adjacency to the ocean, this area is also more tide-dependent than The Marls. When conditions are right, you can expect quality shots at larger bones in the seven-plus-pound range. Bring your “A-Game” for these fish, as they can be picky and spooky.

Boats and Equipment
Anglers fish from Hell’s Bay Waterman skiffs with 50 HP Yamaha outboard engines, which are a pleasure to fish from. The decks are clean and spacious, and all the boats have removable lean bars, plenty of rod storage, dry storage areas, and comfortable backrest seats. These are great skiffs and poles in the remarkably shallow water. All the boats have well-stocked coolers for lunch and refreshments. As with all lodges in the Bahamas, we recommend that anglers bring their gear and equipment, including rods, reels, wading boots, flies, and all terminal tackle. Yellow Dog will be happy to provide a Gear and Equipment Checklist before your departure.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. All prices are double occupancy per person and are listed in U.S. Dollars.

October 2024 – December 2024 (Double Occupancy)
7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing $7,750 per person
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing $7,200 per person
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing $6,650 per person
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing $5,550 per person
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing $4,200 per person

October 2024 – December 2024 (Single Room/Shared Guide)
7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing $7,950 per person
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing $7,400 per person
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing $6,850 per person
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing $5,750 per person
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing $4,375 per person

January 1 2025 – July 1 2025 (Double Occupancy)
7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing $8,250 per person
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing $7,550 per person
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing $6,950 per person
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing $5,800 per person
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing $4,475 per person

January 1 2025 – July 1 2025 (Single Room/Shared Guide)
7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing $8,450 per person
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing $7,750 per person
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing $7,125 per person
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing $5,950 per person
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing $4,600 per person

— Single angler packages available for 75% surcharge

What’s Included:

• Round trip ground transfers between Marsh Harbour airport and the lodge
• Accommodations while at the lodge as specified
• Daily guided fishing as specified
• All meals at the lodge
• All beverages at the lodge, including soft drinks, beer, local spirits and wine
• Loaner rods and reels if needed (must be requested in advance)
• Bahamas fishing license
• Wi-Fi service
  
  

What’s Not Included:

• Airfare to and from Abaco Island, Bahamas
• Ground transfers from Treasure Cay to the lodge
• In-house laundry service
• All flies and terminal tackle
• Gratuities for fishing guides and lodge staff
• Bahamian VAT Tax on package
  
  

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT.