The days are longer, the sun is bright and the waters are clear. This is our favorite time of year to go boating! Bahamian waters represent an important part of our culture, way of life, and identity. Not everyone is familiar with our fishing regulations and best practices, so we ask you all to become marine ambassadors to share that knowledge and help protect the health of our marine environment for future generations!
A few reminders:
- Spiny lobster (crawfish) fishing season closed on March 31st and will not reopen until August 1st. After that time, any crawfish harvested must have a minimum tail length of 5.5 inches. Visitors are limited to 10 crawfish per vessel at any time.
- Stone crab season is closed from June 1st through October 15th.
- Queen conch must be mature and have a fully-formed flared lip before they are collected (a mature lip would be 15mm thick, about the diameter of a Bahamian penny). Also, queen conch mate in the summer time, so if you see two conchs end to end, please leave them to do their business! Visitors are limited to six (6) conch per vessel at any time.
- The minimum size limit for grouper and rockfish is three pounds.
- Harvest, sale, or trade of both shark and turtle products is prohibited.
- If you are observing live shells, sand dollars or sea stars, please do so quickly and place them back in the water.
- Visitors intending to fish from a boat that was registered outside of The Bahamas must acquire a fishing permit (usually done at the same time a cruising permit is obtained). Note, if you wish to use a spear that must be requested at the time you apply for your permit. Otherwise, visitors are limited to rod and reel or hand-line fishing. Visitors using a Bahamian registered boat (e.g. a rental boat) are not required to obtain a fishing permit.
For a more complete list of fishing regulations, please download our guide to Bahamas Marine Regulations and Best Practices: http://tinyurl.com/BahamasMarineRegulations.
Happy Boating!
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