I've been trying to get a clear answer from the Bahamian government about the legality of keeping Strawberry Grouper (Red Hind) under 3 Lbs. for years.

Suddenly to my great delight, they have begun promptly responding to emails. I thought I'd share what they had to say. The following are excepts from my emails with the Department of Marine Resources in Nassau over the past weeks:


I asked:
Does the Bahamas 3 Pound minimum weight apply to strawberry groupers? Most of them weigh less than 3 pounds and they are actually a Hind and not a Grouper.

I want to be certain to follow your laws while I am there next month, so I am making certain I have the answers.

They replied:
Please be advised that the fish I know as strawberry grouper, scientific name, Mycteroperca venenosa, common name, yellowfin grouper is commonly seen in The Bahamas weighing more than three pounds. It is rare that I find a yellowfin grouper weighing less than three pounds.

You are permitted to capture either sixty pounds of demersal fish or twenty demersal fish. You must not exceed the weight of sixty pounds at any one time. Please note that demersal fish are groupers and snappers.

I Responded:
Thank you for your reply.

The fish commonly known as Strawberry Grouper is not the same as a yellowfin grouper. My question is about the fish commonly called Strawberry Grouper or Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus).

They are rarely over three pounds and I would like to know if it is legal to keep them?

They Replied:
Please be advised that it is rare to meet a Red Hind weighing more than three pounds and the fish is not subject to the three pound legal weight of grouper.

2. You must not exceed the twenty fish at any one time quota whether the sum weight is less than sixty pounds.


A few things jump out at me after reading it:
1. There is no name on any of the e-mails

2. Whoever is responding thinks Yellowfin and Strawbberry Grouper are the same fish.

3. They made a point of referring to the 60Lb and 20 fish maximum limit in both emails. This would seem to be very important to them and we should all be aware of it.

4. It's very heartening to see someone in Nassau is at least reading their email and working with the boating public to make sure we understand the rules.

5. Thank God Strawberry's are exempt from the 3 Lb thing as they are my favorite. I'm also glad they are not exempt from the 20 fish limit as I would like to keep catching them the rest of my life.