‘Tis the season for fishing tournaments in the Abacos! This is the best time of year for the local fishermen and those who travel far and wide to compete in some of the best tournaments in the Caribbean. Luckily, Air Unlimited can take you on a direct flight to the Abaco Islands and safely transport you and your fishing gear* so you can get there quickly and enjoy the season stress-free.

The next fishing tournament in the Abacos is the Sea Spray Abaco Challenge on February 7^th. This tournament includes four days of fun and is hosted out of the Sea Spray Resort & Marina. Unlike most fishing tournaments, the Sea Spray Abaco challenge is all about friends, family and fish instead of harsh competition. Each day begins with breakfast for the competitors and concludes with dinner and entertainment at the resort. If you’re new to the competitive fishing world and just want to get your feet wet, this is the tournament for you.

The Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina is the hub for many fishing tournaments this year. This is home base for many competitors because it’s so convenient to stay in a beautiful resort and head out for the tournament at the marina right outside the window. The Abaco Beach White Marlin Tournament is taking place at the Boat Harbour Marina from April 18^th through the 21^st. This is the first leg of the Abaco Diamond Series, and it’s the perfect transition from sailfish to blue marlin season. You won’t want to miss the ultimate tournament to kick off the season.

The Custom Boat Shootout is an invite-only competition, and all proceeds go to charity. The competition kicks off in the first week of May and is one of the most prestigious tournaments, as competitors are chosen from the cream of the crop. Charities that benefit from this tournament include the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, IGFA and Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital.

The second leg of the Abaco Diamond Series is The Shootout: Production vs. Custom on May 16^th through the 19^th. This tournament is all about the boat, a fisherman’s most prized possession. The tournament will judge production boats versus custom boats and try to settle the age-old debate of which is best.

The final leg of the Abaco Diamond Series is The Abaco Beach Blue Marlin Tournament. This is where the best of the best will compete to win the big kahuna. This tournament takes place in the height of marlin season from May 30^th to June 2^nd, and it’s your chance make your dreams come true and catch big blue.

There’s nothing more exhilarating than hitting the open waters for a chance to bring home the prize! For a complete list of 2018 fishing tournaments, head over to Bahamas.com. If you see a tournament that catches your eye, visit Flyairunlimited.com to book your flight to the Abaco Islands today.

* Air Unlimited can stow most fishing poles up to 70”. Soft sided coolers and tackle boxes are also welcome but will be included in the total weight of your luggage. Anything over 40 pounds will have an additional fee. 

Parrots and grouper and conch, oh my! These are just a few of the animals that make the Abaco Islands such a unique place to visit. After your flight to the Bahamas, you might be so focused on the resorts and restaurants, that you may miss some amazing wildlife that could be right in front of you.

Some wildlife is hard to miss, like the spotted dolphins that like to swim in shallow water off the shore. Others, like the Nassau grouper could be overlooked if they’re still juveniles. If you’re snorkeling in the Abacos, you’ll see hundreds of colorful fish of all shapes and sizes. The Nassau grouper is not the most beautiful fish, but it is endangered and protected. These brown and tan fish frequent the waters around the Abacos, where juveniles are only about a foot long. Adults, however, can grow up to 55 pounds and more than 3 feet long. These gentle giants like to swim in both shallow and deep water, which makes it even easier for greedy fisherman to overfish the species. There is a strict closed fishing season for the groupers from December to February, due to their decline.

The Abaco Parrot is one animal that you will hear before you see. You can spot them in trees, but you’ll have a better chance of seeing these bright green birds on the ground, which is where they nest. They find limestone holes in forest floors to lay their eggs away from predators. Their wings are speckled with blue, their faces are white, and they have deep pink feather plumes on their necks. Their coloring makes them easy to recognize, but locating them is the hard part. These birds are concentrated in South Abaco, so if you want to see these beauties, you’ll have to head to Marsh Harbour or Abaco National Park.

You’ve probably seen a conch shell, or at least a fake conch shell, at your local home décor store, but have you seen the animal that lives inside of those beautiful shells? Conchs are sea snails with stalk-based eyeballs that protrude from under the shells that they call home. The sea snail is often overfished for tropical delicacies like conch fritters and conch salad. Many tourists may be tempted to take a conch shell home with them, but beware, that may be an animal’s home!

These are just a handful of the incredible animals that make up the diverse ecosystem in the Abacos. Book your flight to the Bahamas with Air Unlimited, and discover what other amazing animals the Abaco Islands are home to.

In 2018, Air Unlimited is bringing you another incredible, tropical destination within the Bahamas Out-Islands. Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay have already become beloved favorites to those who have flown with Air Unlimited, but a flight to North Eleuthera might bring you to your new favorite destination. North Eleuthera is just south-west of the Abaco Islands, and it’s a destination full of the adventure and charm that is so often sought after in the Bahamas. We start flying here on April 1, 2018, but for now we’ve put together a list of things to do, places to stay, and where to eat, to help get you even more excited about this new location.

Stay in Paradise

At The Cove, you will discover a well-hidden slice of paradise in the Bahamas-Out Islands. This 57-room resort offers guests their choice of seaside villas or cottages, a gourmet restaurant, spa, and plenty of water activities.

Valentine’s Residences Resort & Marina is the perfect place to stay with family and friends. The resort not only offers guests their choice of villas, townhouses or suites, but each room is inspired by historic Caribbean architecture with modern appliances. Located on Harbour Island, just a short ferry ride from the North Eleuthera Airport, Valentine’s has everything from a spa to a state-of-the-art dive center.

Discover Adventure

See all there is to see following your flight to North Eleuthera by booking with Eleuthera Adventure Tours Ltd. Jump on a dune buggy heritage tour, grab a bite on the food tour, and hold on tight on the powerboat adventure – there truly is something for the whole family.

Looking for a scenic adventure that operates at a calmer pace? Immerse yourself in the beauty of North Eleuthera at the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve. This 25-acre nature preserve is designed as a research center for traditional bush medicine, a propagation area for indigenous plants, and an educational center focusing on the importance of native vegetation to the biodiversity of The Bahamas.

Dine Exquisitely

Located in Spanish Wells, just northwest of the North Eleuthera Airport, sits Wreckers, a Bahamian and Mediterranean fusion restaurant. The unique dining destination offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a bar that’s perfect to grab a drink at sunset.

The Rock House restaurant is located in the British Colonial-style main house of the hotel. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers many surf and turf options. Hotel guests are also treated to complimentary continental breakfast by the poolside each day from 8 to 10 am.

North Eleuthera and the surrounding islands are just waiting to be discovered by you as you explore their unique and interesting Caribbean charm. We start flying to North Eleuthera on April 1, 2018 – book your flight now by heading to www.FlyAirUnlimited.com!