Bahamas Fishing Regs

[neilinov]

Has anyone fished the Bahamas since the new regs were implemented. What is the enforcement like? Is there any or is it just like it always is? Is this just feel good legislation or are they really dead set against Americans bringing home a few filets?

[footballnfish]

what exactly is the new regulation? is it only six fish total ? PLEASE EXPLAIN

[neilinov]

The main part of it that I am worried about is the part that says the fish has to have its head on. Can you imagine walking through the airport with a 40# bull fully intact! Are they only enforcing this with the guys going through on a boat? I go to the Bahamas a lot, and I know that they have selective enforcement of their rules. I want to know if anyone has been snagged at the airport for a cooler full of fresh filets or if they will allow this to go on unchecked? Is this only in effect on Nassau, like most rules? The out islands tend to be a little more lax on the rules. Anyone have any experience yet?

[neilinov]

I just re read the regs and it specifies a limit of 6 fish with their heads and tails intact. They also are weirdly written as it applies to what you are fishing from. Our boat is registered in the Bahamas, but we are not Bahamian citizens. So I don't know exactly who the rules apply to. I guess I really only want to know are they stopping you at the airport with filet fish?

[captadamr]

from what I gather from the other forums, you can fly out with the original per person limits. The New Limits are only while on the vessel. Dont quote me. Why not contact the Bahamas Dep. Fisheries to answer your questions??

[Nimrod]

...Their government is getting hammered by calls/emails from angry sportfishermen cancelling this years trips, don't be surprised if we see another set of regs when they are back in session. I think the way around is to have a freezer on the dock. More government BS...

I emailed the Bahamas Fisheries department to get a clarification on the subject of flying out with your catch and just as I thought and stated earlier the new regulations DO NOT effect those that will be fishing in the Bahamas and flying out with their catch. So if you are doing a Multi-day trip and staying overnight at a marina and or house ,as long as your catch(that are within the new regulation guidelines) is unloaded EVERY day and stored ashore when it is time to fly out, just don't exceed your Personal Export Limits and you will be fine.

Personal Export Limits

The part of the Fisheries Regulations, 70 (2),dealing with the quantity of fish a person may take when leaving The Bahamas was not affected by the recent changes. A person leaving The Bahamas may take the following resources as a part of their personal baggage.

· not more than 6 dolphin, 6 kingfish, 6 wahoo and 6 Tuna;

· 10 pounds of conch or crawfish;

· not more than 20 pounds of dermersal fishery resource.

The above amounts are personal limits.

Unless under the terms of an export license shipping of marine resources as unaccompanied baggage or freight is not allowed.

P. O. Box N 3028
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel 242-393-1777
Fax 242-393-0238

And in regards to Head and Tail intact this was the response.

"As it is written the head and tail requirement applies only while on board the Vessel"

Michael T. Braynen
Director of Marine Resources
Department of Fisheries
P. O. Box N 3028
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel 242-393-1777
Fax 242-393-0238

Email that I just revived regarding leaving the country with fillets on your boat.
I asked him about "Personal Export Limit" when leaving by a vessel and that was his response.

I am aware of the apparent contradiction. I would encourage you not to have fillets on the vessel until actually leaving.

Michael T. Braynen
Director of marie Resources
Department of Fisheries
P. O. Box N 3028
Nassau, Bahamas

[Nimrod]

Also:

The new regs apply to the boat only. Yes you can unload your catch and clean them if you are flying out. If you are returning to the US via boat then you are screwed. I have spoke with the fisheries office several times and made them aware of the problems this will cause for "liveaboards".

[Deep C]

Trust me, with a month full of people comming to play with me I have been on this very close...
ABOARD THE BOAT: There will be intact fish only. No more than SIX pelagics (Wahoo, king, dolphin, tuna) and no more than 20lbs WHOLE demersal fish (Snapper, grouper) .
If you are flying out the limits are per man of six pelagics and 20lbs of demersal FILLET...
There will be no conch aboard and a limit of six lobster aboard only in their season. Fly out I believe its ten pounds of conch per person but don't know the lobster limit.
The fly out limits have not changed its only the ON BOARD limits that have.

Yes this means you will not have any more 20lb+ grouper to play with. Yes if you are on a boat your limit is tight and in tact. Yes they have set up boats on the west edge near west end, gun cay and cay sal. Yes they mean business. If you put that freezer aboard you will be in violation. Once stateside, fillets aboard are against Florida law.

I'm not tickled pink but respect their laws. Its not my water. Their water is not our grocery store. Yes there is uproar over here about it but I wouldn't want those guys comming over here depleting our resources. So thats a quick way you should look at it.

[Logan9581]

Originally Posted by Deep C

Once stateside, fillets aboard are against Florida law.

Just have to eat it all before we come home!

[neilinov]

Paul:

Thanks for your input on this. It is quite the merry go round when talking to the Bahamian officials. When I called down to the fisheries I got the same vague description as you got. Basically it was DON'T GET CAUGHT WITH FILET FISH ABOARD YOUR BOAT. We are going to one of the out islands, where my dad lives and I had him stop and ask the immigration officer about the limits and he had no idea what my father was talking about. So I guess for me it is going to be a crap shoot when I get to the airport for the flight home. It shore would be nice to bring back some fresh grouper and mahi to the frozen north though. At least if we can't leave with it he can keep it there and share it with our friends there.

Also there is the no spearfishing rule that is absurd. It is also written crazily and doesn't make much sense. We have always gone out with hawaiian slings and speared fish. Again as with the exporting rules I don't know how well this is enforced. From what my Dad says there is no enforcement going on, which just leads me to believe that someone in the Bahamian Gov't is just trying to slide some feel good legislation by without thinking of the consequences. Anyway I'm leaving on Thursday and when I get back I will let you know how things are when leaving via the airport.