The
Islands of the Bahamas offer a fishing and diving paradise. The Abacos, in
particular, offer something for almost everyone.
Whether you’re after a world record bill fish or just looking for
dinner, there is sufficient variety in these waters to make you come back year
after year. The
shallow reefs offer a particularly great opportunity dive with a snorkel.
There are ample opportunities for deeper dives with SCUBA, but you can
only look and take pictures!
Don’t spear fish or take conch if you’re using SCUBA.
It
is illegal to even bring spear guns into the country, let alone use them!
I finally threw mine away, afraid I’d leave them on the boat for a
Bahamas trip (they’re legal in Florida). If that’s not an option, you might
try declaring them at customs like a firearm and see if they will let you just
lock them up! Pole
spears and Hawaiian Slings are the only legal means to spear fish.
SCUBA GEAR FOR FISHING IS ILLEGAL
It
is illegal to use SCUBA gear to capture fish or any marine product.
You may, of course, use a snorkel and the use of “a power snorkel”,
or air compressors has become quite common. You must have a special permit to
fish with this device.
It
is illegal to use bleach or any noxious substance for fishing purposes.
This practice is particularly damaging to the reef and ecosystem.
The use of any explosive device for fishing purposes is illegal.
It
is illegal to take coral.
SHELLFISH RULES
Crawfish
(Spiny Lobster) season is from Aug 1-March 31. Minimum size is a 5 1⁄2
inches tail length
or 3 1/4
inch carapace length (measured from the base of the horns to the
end of the jacket).
Unlike Florida, lobster may be taken by spear.
It is illegal to
take or possess “berried” female lobster.
The vessel bag limit is six per person at any one time.
There
is no closed season on conch, but it is illegal to take or possess immature
conch. In order
to be legal, conch must have a well formed lip (or flared-lip).
The vessel bag limit is ten per person at any one time.
The
vessel bag limit for scale fish is 20 pounds per person. The minimum size for
any member of the grouper family is three pounds.
Stone
Crabs may be taken if the claw length is four inches or greater.
The season is closed from June 1 through October 15.
It is illegal to harvest female stone crabs.
This
summary of the rules should serve you well, but the complete rules are printed
on the back of your permit.
SPORT FISHING
If
you’re an “old timer” in Abaco, or if you have an abundance of time, you
may enjoy your trip just fine without hiring a guide.
After all, there are plenty of good spots out there.
If you have plenty of time, and the patience to find them by trial and
error-go for it, the exploring can be half the fun!
If you’re a little short on time, you may find that you will enjoy your
cruise more if you hire a fishing guide for a day or two.
They can get you started in the right direction and give you some
valuable pointers which will serve you well for many return trips.
Look at it as an investment. If you see the best Abaco has to offer, from
the beginning, you’ll be back for more.
One
particular guide deserves specific mention, because of the unique nature of the
“picnic” he offers.
Lincoln Jones in Green Turtle Cay takes up to eight people out on his
boat for a “beach picnic”.
The charge is $45 for the full day.
He’ll take you out, show you how to find and spear lobster, get some
conch and then he’ll cook it up for you, right there on the beach!
It a real value for the money, and offers something for everyone in your
group. It
doesn’t come any more fresh than this.
He does stay booked up, so you might want to make reservations in
advance. His
number is (242) 365-4223.
In
Table 6-1 below I’ve listed the best known guides, by settlement.
Many of them have “specialties”, sometimes dictated by the kind
of equipment they have, but most are quite capable of introducing you to
all types of fishing in the Bahamas.
Some are not available during crawfish season.
Ask at the local marina regarding how to contact them.
