Fishing in the Bahamas with Roxtons

Abaco has more than 400 square miles of flats, none better known than the Marls on the Western side of the Island.  Abaco offers some incredible fishing and for some 20 miles the average depth of the flats is four feet.  Cherokee Sound, the Bight of Robinson and Snake Cay are minutes from the lodge and offer opportunities at challenging bonefish.  With so many options at Abaco it is very rare to miss a day of fishing due to weather. 

The majority of the fishing is from the flats boats but there are places to wade should you prefer.  The guides are all local and know the area incredibly well.  The flats boats are extremely comfortable with padded seats, a back rest and leaning bar on the front.  The bonefish on the Marls average 2 to 4 pounds with the occasional shot at bigger fish.  The ocean side flats, which require a short drive to a launch point, offer chances of some of the largest bonefish in The Bahamas but they are incredibly wary.  Abaco is primarily a bonefishery but occasional shots as permit, tarpon and jacks may arise.

The Abacos are a string of Islands located about 175 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida.  Abaco Lodge is located on the western side of Great Abaco Island, the third largest island in The Bahamas.

The lodge sits on a rocky shoreline of the Marls just north of Marsh Harbour, the principal town of Abaco.

The lodge has eight air-conditioned guest rooms with private en-suite bathrooms, all beautifully furnished.  The main lodge has a fully stocked bar, dining and indoor seating area, comfy sofas on the veranda, outside fire pit and also a small pool.  The food hers is fantastic and

You can fish all day and not miss out on what is going on at home, if you choose, as the lodge has a computer with high speed internet connection as well as Wi-Fi for guests use.

You can tie flies at Abaco Lodge as all of the equipment is in the bar area.  If you forget anything there is a fully stocked shop with rods and reels a selection of flies and clothing.

Rod and Reel
The ideal rod for bonefishing in The Bahamas is a 9ft 8 weight with a robust reel constructed from a non-corrosive metal such as aluminum with good smooth drag control. The reel should hold at least 200 yards of backing. You should ensure that you have a spare rod in case of breakage as well as a spare reel and spools in case of accidents.

Lines
High visibility weight forward lines compensate for the ever-present trade winds and can be seen in the air or on the water in bright light. Take an extra fly line just in case the first suffers damage.

Nylon
Leaders should be 10 to 12ft, tapered clear nylon with tippet between 10 and 15 lbs. Ensure that you carry plenty with you. Most tackle stores stock excellent pre-tied bonefish leaders.

Flies
Tan and pink Fly patterns work best, below is a list of some of the flies we recommend.

• Gotchas
• Pink Puff
• Clousers
• Crab patterns
• Gregs flat's fly
• Snapping shrimps
• Crazy Charlie’s

The list is endless and will depend to a large extent on the kind of flat you are fishing, its background colour and depth.

In addition to wonderful flats fishing Abaco has incredible blue water fishing.  You can book this at the Lodge or prior to your arrival to ensure you secure one of the best captains.  Depending on the season you can fish for marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo and tuna. 

If you are travelling with a non-fishing guest who is happy to relax and read a book by the pool and take a visit to the local town of Marsh Harbour then this is a great place to stay. 

BA – London to Nassau direct flight

Short flight from Nassau to Marsh Harbour and then taxi ride to Abaco Lodge.