May 2024 – Fly Odyssey

The Delphi Club is a wildlife haven in the Bahamas on the beautiful South Abaco Island, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean pristine bonefish flats and woodlands. Elegant and informal this luxury boutique hotel is suitable for couples or small groups, with wide-sweeping verandahs and impeccable views. Also available as a fully-staffed luxury rental property, the Delphi Club is like a country retreat or family home, with excellent service provided by Peter and his staff which extends to the range of fine activities they offer. Including world-class fly fishing, fantastic birding, scuba diving, deserted beaches and island tours, this charming residence has a lovely pool garden with a cliff-top position, fine food, and an impressive wine cellar. Designed in the style of an 18th-century colonial plantation house, with large wrap-around verandas, the 8-bedroom lodge stands on a small hill to catch the sea breezes and panoramic ocean views. The club captures the style of a classical house party, where the characters change from time to time. Everyone generally eats together at one big table from a set menu. There are no bellhops or room service – it’s just a relaxed gathering of kindred spirits. Quite apart from its beautiful sandy beach and turquoise seas, the club has a lovely infinity pool and a gazebo for massage and other therapies. There are an eclectic library, a great wine cellar and a well-stocked honesty bar. Whether dozing in a hammock or quietly reading with a glass of chilled Meursault on one of the club’s large verandas, guests may relax thoroughly and enjoy one of the world’s most pleasant climates and beautiful seascapes. The Delphi Club provides top quality accommodation, food and its beautiful unspoiled location attracts nature lovers from all over the world in search of the perfect tropical hideaway. Like a country house party, guests socialise and dine together at the end of each day, relax by the infinity pool and enjoy the serenity. Designed in the style of an 18th-century colonial plantation house, it has large wrap-around verandas, perched on a small hill to catch the sea breezes and panoramic ocean views. With beautiful gardens and a tranquil setting, it is a romantic getaway, a luxury bonefish resort and a bird-watching paradise all rolled into one. The lodge accommodation offers eight guest rooms, all twin-occupation with en-suite facilities and all with the usual refinements expected from a luxury lodge. The two rooms on the third floor have their own hot-tub and all rooms have stunning views. The residence is the initiative of Peter Mantle, who created the renowned and multi-award-winning Delphi Lodge in Ireland – a glorious country house and of a fishing lodge which is listed in A Thousand Places To See Before You Die. The Delphi Club at Rolling Harbour is designed to bring the same standards of comfort, atmosphere, dazzling location and culinary excellence as its Irish counterpart, elegant yet informal—and very relaxed. In the lodge, the Great Room is the centre of activity where guests dine and gather to discuss the day’s activities. Filled with antiques and fishing memorabilia, there are soft couches and quiet corners to relax, creating a very special atmosphere. In addition, there is a bar and library well stocked with fishing literature. A short walk from the lodge and down a set of new England style steps is a wilderness beach where you can relax on loungers or simply stroll the beach. For the more adventurous, you can kayak, snorkel and swim in the beautiful untouched waters in addition to the fabulous fly fishing on offer. Dining in the Delphi Lodge is formal but informal. The chef and kitchen staff provide a mix of local fresh seafood from Tuna to Lobster and a variety of meats from around the world along with fresh vegetables, Bahamian style with some Irish influence. The fly fishing at the Delphi Club is mostly on the flats to the west of Abacos, accessed by a short fifteen-minute drive with the guide to Netttie’s Cut where you launch the skiff daily. The run to the flats is then only a few minutes away depending on conditions and tides. The Marls of Abaco offer over two hundred square miles of fine Bonefishing along with the occasional shot at a big Permit and juvenile Tarpon in the summer. There are literally hundreds of creeks cays and channels to walk and wade. Whether wading alone on the flats, paddling a kayak or poling gently through the mangroves in a guided skiff, fly-fishermen will enjoy many opportunities to cast at Bonefish which average two to three pounds in weight. The ocean-side flats offer the best opportunity of seeing the larger Bones and the elusive Permit whilst the inner lagoons and mangrove islands are populated with smaller Bones but in greater numbers. These areas are great for beginners and also offer shelter, should the wind pick up and make conditions on the ocean-side uncomfortable or visibility challenging. For those seeking Trophy Bones, the place to head to is Cherokee Sound on the eastern side of the island or Cross Harbor to the south. All the guides are very knowledgeable and great to fish with, while the Dolphin skiffs are well maintained, with polling platforms and lean bars. As per all Fly Odyssey bookings, we will provide a comprehensive and detailed pre-trip fly fishing guide and advise of travel requirements prior to your departure. Passport with minimum six months validity. Nationals of the European Union and Australia do not require a visa to enter the Bahamas. There are various international flight options, either direct or via the US or Canada to Nassau. From there, take a flight to Abaco Island’s Marsh Harbor Airport, followed by a short drive to the lodge. There is a Bahamian departure tax of $15. Let us do the groundwork for you. Our tailored fly fishing and accommodation itineraries are designed with you in mind to suit your preferences. They are also quoted in your local currency with very favourable exchange rates. This includes flight bookings, transit accommodation, transfers and a host of non-angling activities and experiences. We specialise in family, couples and group stays to the region, and our long involvement with our partners on the ground in the Bahamas will ensure you are well looked after both on and off the water. This includes extended coastal stays in Florida, Cuba and Mexico. CONTACT OUR INTERNATIONAL OFFICE M: +61 (0)499 900816 E: CONTACT OUR UK OFFICE M: +44 (0)7936 708305 E: Creating and sharing memorable travel experiences with our clients and friends provides us with genuine satisfaction. All of our trips are bespoke, tailored to your needs, and we always love hearing all about the adventure on your return. Our knowledge of travel logistics saves you time, and our highly experienced team is here to ensure it’s spent on the water and not at the desk or on a long flight connection that you didn’t require. Since 2006 we have developed a valued client-base that has travelled to all corners of the globe. We are a fully-accredited travel agency, where all of our flights, accommodation and associated travel bookings are made in-house, which means that you pay less. We have access to a huge range of specials, deals, great volume pricing and excellent currency exchange rates which allows us to pass these benefits directly onto you. On the fishing front, our extensive expertise and experience around prime seasons, species, moon-phases, tides and personalised customer service is centred around one principal – preparation. This includes detailed gear and equipment lists, the fly patterns, transfer details, up-to-date fishing reports and some of the finer aspects that can often be overlooked. We travel extensively and understand that your free-time is important. Just as we all understand from experience, that the key to a successful trip is pre-trip preparation. Our highly experienced team has fly fished the world for the last 25 years, and we understand the considerations and gear needed to turn a good fly fishing trip into a great one. Fly fishing and travel is our passion. It’s all we do.