The “list” below is reproduced from the T&T (Trawlers and Trawlering) list with the permission of Wayne & Lynne Flatt. I have done some editing, due to the length of this list.

Here is the list of favorite Abacos locations as promised and secondary info that came with the responses. There were twice as many requests for info than responses to the question. Enough I think to justify printing the results here once for those who have requested a copy of the list. This is it cut and paste from here:

If the weather is settled, you may want to spend a night behind Mangrove Cay instead of going up to Great Sail. One can usually find a lee on one side or the other. The holding is good, but be aware of the current that runs around the key. Going to Mangrove shortens the run to Green Turtle as one doesn’t have to go around Great Sale. If you go to GS take your dink into the shallows up in the anchorage on the West side. You can usually find nurse sharks and other interesting sea life as you pole around. Clearing at Marsh is another option if the Whale Cay passage is doable.

ALL of Abaco is delightful and each harbor offers something different. The beauty of it is that you can really get from one end to the other in a day at 7 knots. The only difficulty is getting from
Manjack and Green Turtle across “The Whale” to the southern Abaco or vice versa in bad weather. Listen to the forecasts carefully. Staying right where you are is also a great alternative.

With only one spot I would suggest Manjack. I normally anchor in the bight between Manjack and Crab Cays, just west of Rat Cay. Great holding but open to west wind. Good snorkeling along the north shore of Crab, found an old barge wrecked along the shore that held good fish. Uninhabited and only one other time did we have another boat in the same area.

I think I would have to select Tahiti beach (south end of Elbow Cay) as my favorite. Easy access to a number of resturants (Elbow Cay and Lubbers Quarter) and Tahiti beach for afternoon cocktails. Close enough to Marsh Harbor that I can go over in the dingy, if supplies needed. A long but do-able dingy ride to the reef at Sandy Cay, and on to Little Harbor. This anchorage provides adequate holding, protection from most wind directions. Anchor south of the entrance to White Sound (Elbow Cay).

MK has mostly headed from FL to Great Sale Cay day one, then cruised all the way to Marsh Harbour before clearing customs at the Jib Room. Customs and Immigration both come to you in MH, kinda nice. No one has questioned why we did not check in earlier. Our paperwork always accurately showed that we entered Bahamas waters the day before…and we had not set foot on terra firma
before clearing.

Populated: Little Harbor…you need to play the tides, but MK (5 ft draft) could go in two hours either side of high.
Unpopulated: Double-Breasted Cay…only there once in not so great weather…it beckons me back.
Green Turtle Cay is a delight. Anchor off the government dock, dinghy into the small cove that is adjacent to it, and everything is within walking distance.
New Plymouth, the settlement that you are in when you anchor off the government dock, is a clean, friendly place with enough to keep your interest for several days as you walk around the town. There are two coves (aka: sounds) that you can go into. White Sound is the better to anchor in as it is sand, but quite a bike trip, and even more of a walk to New Plymouth. The other sound, Black Sound, is closer to New Plymouth, but is mostly grassy bottom and thus moorings, but there is a marina and boatyard in this sound.

Fishers Bay:
http://tinyurl.com/yz3uyym

Reasons:
– Great protection from the north
– Easy walking to Nippers and the incredible Great Guana Beach (miles
long)
– Excellent internet access from OII
– Easy Abaco beach access for landing a dinghy
– Sunset Bar & Grill (now Grabbers): http://www.grabbersatsunset.com
– Walking distance to other restaurants, grocery, etc.

If you go there, you’ll find out what a Guana Grabber is. You might not come back.

Manjack Key – ( Nunjack)
Go ashore and enjoy the beach graciously offered by the residents on the bluff. Walk 1/2 mile on marked path through jungle to the incredible beach on
ocean side.

You need to state drafts for each anchorage.. We draw 6 feet which limits us in places.
DICK RYAN