Located on Elbow Cay in the Abacos. You can take a boat from Marsh Harbor and stay at Elbow Cay. There's ferries that run back and forth from Marsh Harbor to Elbow Cay. Cheap Bungalows, houses, a few hotels near the break.
This spot is very consistent and fun. The reef can be very hairy at low tide when you walk out to the break. You don't have to worry too much about getting bounced off the coral because it breaks pretty deep. The real problem is getting in and out of the water. You have to do some serious dancing. There's urchins and fire coral that can hurt. I've stepped on both.
Overview
Atmosphere
Garbonzo is the farthest break west on Elbow Cay. When the swell gets really large, Rush Reef breaks in front of the Abaco Inn. One of the best waves on the east coast. There's a few breaks near the hotel. A fun left called the pool. Breaks right in front of the hotel bar and pool. The paddle out to both these is easy. you start from sand and flat rock before you hit the reefs.
General
A great trip for Florida Surfers in the winter. When it's small, you can spearfish and catch some serious mackers off the reefs. This place is very consistent in the winter. Don't expect 10-15ft, but you'll probably score 3-7ft fun surf. There are also several channnels and passages near the Island that hold epic surf as well. Get a boat and explore!
Garbonzo- GET IT RIGHT
This spot is called Garbonzo not Garbanzo (local speaking). Garbonzo is both a right and left and can hold anything from 2-25 feet. Entry and exit are sketchy if you don't know what your doing. Garbonzo gets crowded since it's pretty well known, but there is MUCH better waves in Elbow cay, although Garbonzo can be absolutely classic (much like trestles). Rippable to scary, but it's the most consistent spot in HT so watch out for the locals!- Sharks? yes, theres sharks but there well fed. It's not like it's more then anywhere else in the world, so if you see one, just get out of the water.
comment by Anonymous, 2007-08-06 23:15:08
Guys lets be honest
sharks are everywhere, but look at the reports and dont listen to the scare mongers: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/gattack/Caribbean.htm
comment by east side ride, 2007-02-14 16:01:59
surfed here
I stayed here for a week last year around late November. I thought the waves were "ok". We caught the tail end of a pretty decent swell 5-8ft faces. It was a bit irritating because they were very shoulder-y and didnt wall up unless it was for a few seconds to close out. I found this to be the case at all the spots on the island the entire time I was there. I would say the swell was 2-5+ feet while I was there. The entry and exits really are sketchy too. Much too sketchy for the type of waves you are risking it for. As far as the sharks I didn't buy what I read and have surfed for 15+ years and seen plenty of sharks. Honestly this place is very sharky compared to most any other places I have surfed and I've surfed a lot out of the country. The fact that there is hardly anyone else around also makes it a bit eerie at sunrise and sunset. You definately don't want to try and find your way in on the reef at sunset either. All in all its a cool place to go but I think with a bit more travel time you can get a much better chance at quality waves that might actually barrell. I would think much more consistency too. ie Barbados, Costa, Mex...Just my 2 cents.
comment by Anonymous, 2008-02-25 22:52:00