GPS Coordinates: 26°12’17.62″N 77°10’44.56″W
Trip Questionnaire: Please click on the link below. This will take you an electronic questionnaire form that we ask you to complete and submit to The Fly Shop®. Please be sure to click the “Submit” button at the end of the form. The information provided will help us — and the outfitter best coordinate your trip.
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Getting to The Delphi Club
Arrival Day:
Unlike the majority of other islands in the Bahamas it is possible to fly directly to Marsh Harbour from the U.S. mainland. While it is also possible to fly via Nassau, a direct flight from Florida is by far the easiest.
Major commercial carriers fly directly to Marsh Harbour, from several Florida airports:
Commercial Flights:
American Airlines from Miami
(800) 433-7300 | www.aa.com
United flies to Marsh Harbour from Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando:
(800) 864-8331 | www.united.com
Bahamas Air flies to Marsh Harbour from Ft. Lauderdale:
(800) 222-4262 | www.bahamasair.com
Air Gate flies to Marsh Harbour from Daytona Beach and Smyrna:
www.flyairgate.com
Sky Bahamas flies to Marsh Harbour from Ft. Lauderdale:
http://www.skybahamas.net
For larger groups, a private or shared charter can be an easy and cost efficient option:
Cherokee Air flies to Marsh Harbour from the West Palm Beach Exec. Terminal:
(866) 920-9971 | www.cherokeeair.com
Air Flight Charters flies to Marsh Harbour from Ft. Lauderdate Jet Center:
www.airflightcharters.com
There are several local carriers that fly between Nassau and Marsh Harbour, including:
Bahamas Air:
(800) 222-4262 | www.bahamasair.com
Western Air:
(242) 377-2222 | www.westernairbahamas.com
Sky Bahamas:
(242) 377-8993 | www.skybahamas.net
For more information about flights from Nassau to Marsh Harbour, please visit this website: http://flights.bahamago.com/
On arrival at Marsh Harbour you will be met by a lodge representative, who will transfer you to the lodge. It is a short 10-minute drive and the cost is included in the package.
When you arrive at the lodge, the welcoming staff will greet you and show you to your room.
There is no organized fishing scheduled for your arrival day, but this can be arranged prior to arrival. If not you may spend the day either wade fishing in front of the lodge, or relaxing in the pool with a refreshing drink. Our staff would be happy to help you assemble your gear if you do choose to fish.
On your departure day, you will be taken back to Marsh Harbour with plenty of time to catch your flight. The Delphi Club manager will assist you with timing your departure from the lodge the night before.
Travel Documents:
You will need a valid passport, 2 pages and copy of your return ticket to enter the Bahamas. No Visa is required for US or UK passengers, but other nationalities should check with their local consulate.
Contact Numbers
The Delphi Club at Rolling Harbour
PO Box AB-20006
Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas
Club: +1-242-577-1698 | delphi.bahamas@gmail.com | reservations@delphiclubabaco.com
The Fly Shop®
(800) 669-3474 | (530) 222-3555 | travel@theflyshop.com
U.S. Embassy Nassau
Queen Street #19
Telephone: (242) 322-1181
Emergency after-hours phone: (242) 357-7004 | Fax: (242) 356-7174
Other Activities & Day Trips
Unlike some other bone-fishing destinations, Abaco has a very good tourism infrastructure and offers a wealth of attractive options for day trips, many of them involving boat rides. The outer cays, with their charming colonial settlements such as Hope Town and Green Turtle Cay, are easily reached by ferries from Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay respectively and make for pleasant day trips.
Big game fishing charters are available in Marsh Harbour and golf is available at Treasure Cay and sometimes, by special arrangement, at the superb Winding Bay course. The Club has close links with excellent scuba diving instructors and snorkeling guides. Abaco has some wonderful reefs.
There is an excellent guide for birding and nature tours who is a mine of information about Abaco’s bird life, flora and fauna. Advanced booking is recommended. For more information on the local wildlife, see our fascinating sister website http://rollingharbour.wordpress.com.
A Day at The Delphi Club:
The typical trip does not fish on arrival or departure, but if time allows and guides are available, half-day trips can be arranged prior to getting here. Typically, you’ll be shuttled from the airport to the lodge where you can check into your room, prepare gear, and spend an afternoon relaxing on the lodge grounds.
- 6:30 am Coffee ready on the buffet table
- 7:15 am Breakfast
- 8:00 am Depart with your guide for a full day of fishing
- 4:00 – 4.30 pm return to lodge
- 6:15 pm Cocktail hour with appetizers
- 7:30 pm Dinner is served
Staying in Nassau:
There are many options for your stay in Nassau, ranging from small family-owned inns situated in quieter areas to full-scale resorts. There is an array of restaurants and clubs, day cruises and other activities available. Below are some of our recommendations, and we encourage you to do some research of your own. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions.
Hotels:
Orange Hill Beach Inn
West Bay Street
(242) 327-7157 | https://orangehill.com/
Orange Hill is a quaint family-owned inn 5 minutes from the airport. It is a convenient, economical choice for our traveling anglers. It sits across the street from a nice quiet beach and has a small bar/restaurant and a refreshing outdoor pool. Several good restaurants are just a short taxi ride away.
Sandy Port Hotel and Resort
West Bay Street
(242) 327-4279 | https://www.sandyportresort.com/
Sandy Port Hotel is part of the greater Sandy Port Development. It is located 10 minutes from the airport and can be a great choice for your over-night in Nassau. You will find a variety of dining options, stores and even a health club within walking distance of your accommodations. It has a relaxing atmosphere and a very professional staff.
British Colonial Hilton
No. 1 Bay Street
(242) 322-3301 | https://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/bahamas/british-colonial-hilton-nassau-NASHIHH/index.html
The British Colonial is a beautiful, well-appointed, luxury hotel situated right in the heart of the action on famous Bay Street. The grounds are amazingly quiet considering where it is situated. It is everything you expect from an International Hilton property and places you within walking distance of all the shops and restaurants of downtown.
Atlantis Resort and Casino
Paradise Island
(242) 363-2000 x 65401 | https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/
The grandeur of “The Atlantis” is hard to describe. It truly is a “mega” resort in the spirit of Las Vegas. It houses one of the largest aquariums in the world, a Vegas-style casino and numerous shops and restaurants. It hums with energy and activity 24 hours a day. If you are staying elsewhere in Nassau, it is worth taking a taxi to Paradise Island and wandering through.
Restaurants:
The Poop Deck West
SandyPort on the Beach/West Bay Street
(242) 327-3325
An island favorite, the Poop Deck features a full bar, great steak, seafood and traditional Bahamian dishes.
Twin Brothers
Arowak Cay
(242) 328-5033
Located at the Arowak Cay Fish Fry Grounds, Twin Brothers is a fun, relaxing place to enjoy great local Bahamian cuisine. It is a favorite among the locals.
Green Parrot
Harbour Front / East Bay, Nassau
(242) 322-6900
A well-known, very popular outdoor bar and grill that sits on the Hurricane Hole Marina. This is a fun place to hang out day and night watching the boat traffic in and out of Nassau Harbor.
General Information
Insects on Abaco:
Mosquitoes and “doctor flies” in the Bahamas are always a possibility. Wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts is your best protection, and insect repellent (with DEET) will deter these bugs. Pesky “No See’ums” may come out at dawn and dusk, especially when the winds are calm. A light pair of socks with your pants tucked in will eliminate any bites.
Clothing & Sun Protection:
Abaco may be the most informal place on the planet Earth. Comfortable, casual wear is accepted and encouraged. Flip-flops, sandals, shorts, T-shirts…casual is king. Expect air temperatures in the mid-80s during the days and high 60s to low 70s in the evening and early mornings. We recommend long-sleeved shirts and long pants while on the flats. Apply a waterproof sunblock of at least 30 SPF to all exposed skin including your ears and lips each morning. Re-apply occasionally throughout the day and consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat and/or Buff. After applying sunscreen, scrub your hands with a scoop of sand and water as bonefish can smell lotion on your fly resulting in refusals. Applying sunscreen with the back of your hands minimizes transferring sunscreen to your fly and leader.
Personal Gear:
You’ll need an assortment of personal gear for your days on the flats, and a boat bag to keep them in.
Boat Bags:
Your boat bag will contain all your gear for the day in the boat and in transfer to and from the dock. Anglers often prefer some organizing dividers inside, and quick access pouches on the outside. It needs to be large enough to hold your rain jacket, fly boxes, sunscreen, extra leaders and tippet, camera, and back up glasses and fly lines. Fishpond, Patagonia and Simms offer quality boat bags.
Wading Pack:
You may be wading for hours and the boat will be just a spec on the horizon. Be sure to bring a wading pack to carry your flies, leaders, tippet, clippers, a water bottle, snack bars, camera, etc. The design is your choice, with sling, fanny and backpack the most common. Fishpond, Patagonia, and Simms offer proven models in these designs.
Tools:
Pliers, hemostats, leader snips, hook sharpener, and release tool.
Rain Gear:
Lightweight and breathable is the best for warm climates. Bring your rain gear with you on the boat everyday no matter how clear it looks. Squalls pop up quickly and the boat ride can be wet.
Sunglasses:
Polarized glasses with amber or copper lenses are the most popular for flats fishing, and having an extra pair in your boat bag is a darn good idea.
Health Concerns:
As always, check with your personal doctor about any health concerns you may have. You do not need any inoculations to travel to the Bahamas. If you have a health condition, please make sure to bring ALL the medication you will require for your stay. Please notify us of any health conditions or concerns we should be aware of. You can do this with the Pre-Trip Questionnaire. The lodge has a basic first aid supply but do bring any item you think you might need. As with all destination travel, you should be covered by a Health and Travel insurance plan. There is an efficient Air Ambulance service available for serious emergencies. The service evacuates to Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach, and it is very costly. We recommend you always buy private travel insurance before any trip to cover you in case of an emergency.
Important:
Please make your flight accommodations as soon as possible to secure seats and the best fare and let us know your air and hotel travel plans enroute to the lodge.
Communications:
The Club has cell phone coverage, but not all foreign networks have reciprocal agreements with the Bahamas telephone company, so yours might not work. If in doubt, check with your service provider. They do have Wi-Fi at the lodge.
Currency:
The local currency is the Bahamian dollar, but US dollars are readily accepted everywhere on a 1-for-1 basis.
Electricity:
The electrical outlets are AC 110 volts (same as the U.S.) and most appliances will work fine. Make sure that you have plenty of spare batteries for cameras and other small appliances, as the cost for replacements in the Bahamas is high.
Visas:
Visas are not required for citizens of the EU, USA or most Commonwealth countries. For others countries, refer to the official website www.thebahamasguide.com/travel/visa.htm
Gratuities:
All tipping is entirely discretionary. For guidance, it is usual to pay $25 per guest per night for household staff and $100 per boat per day for guides, shared by those in the skiff.
Payments on Site:
Guests are actively encouraged to settle their accounts at the end of their stay using cash dollars (to avoid the exorbitant charges levied by Bahamian banks for credit card payments). The Club does, however, accept Visa & MasterCard, but not American Express.
Weather:
Cooled by the prevailing south-easterly trade winds in the summer and warmed by the surrounding waters and the Gulf Stream in the cooler months, Grand Bahama is rarely uncomfortably hot or cold…..Although similar in latitude to Palm Beach, Florida, the winter temperatures average 10° (F) warmer than Florida and the summer highs are generally somewhat lower than those found on similar Florida latitudes due to the moderating effects of the surrounding waters. The average daily highs and lows rarely differ by more than 12 degrees (F), with monthly rainfall averaging about 2 inches in the winter and 6 inches in the summer, primarily in the ‘20-minutes-and-they’re-gone’ afternoon showers. The Bahamas weather is generally most benign. The summer months can be hot and humid, with occasional heavy tropical rains that, in general, pass over rapidly. Breezy weather in other months can affect fishing quality, as can the occasional cool or cloudy front in the winter. As with any fishing, one can be unlucky with conditions. But bad weather rarely lasts for more than a few days. Hurricanes in Abaco are rare but possible. The official hurricane season is from June to November, but August and September are generally seen as the months of highest risk and the Club is generally closed at that time.
Tackle & Equipment
They have rental gear – mostly Hardy saltwater rods & reels – available at $25 per day.
Tackle & Equipment Lists by Species (click on links below):