New Bahamas Fishing Reg's 2007

[islandshark633]

I have to admit, the part about catching a 21# grouper and you lose your boat is a bit drastic.

As for the pelagics, I have never left port, caught 6 pelagics and felt like I needed more for the day.

When I have the chance I will stop in at the Min. of Silly Ideas, ooops, sorry, I mean Ministry of Fisheries and see whats up with the 20# grouper thing.

[captadamr]

I said in a previous post, that certain parts of the new limits were a bit far fetched. The 20 pounds od grouper/snapper is a bit harsh, perhaps 20 pounds per person is more reasonable.
As far as the large lobsters go, i dive around Nassau, and i have no problem gettin 10-12 lobsters per trip in 15-30 ft of water.... so diving shrimps is no excuse for having a higher limit. Shouldnt the local fisherman have first choice over the product of the seas? It is unfortuante that it costs so much to come here, blame the US oil companies for that..

[flcapt]

[quote=captadamr;34847]

Originally Posted by billspilingup

24 lobster is not excessive for 4 people. Some will get eaten the next day and two or three will get eaten that night by each person. I've wolfed down 7 or 8 after a long day of diving, 6 per boat is too little.


If you can eat 7 or 8 tails that we dive up then you are gifted... the average size we get is a 8-10" tail, not the 6 in shrimps.... 24 lobster per day is excessive. If you dive for 3 or 4 days, then well over 70 if you limit out.... Another thing that makes it worse is if those are taken from habitats placed by local fisherman. Dont say it doesnt happen, because there was an article in Florida Sportsman that encourged boaters to raid the condos, and just stopped short of giving GPS #s to some. But I guess to some cleaning a condo that some fisherman spent his money to build and set is acceptable because it is on the seafloor and public property.


You may not spend more than a few days a month here, but there are boats that spend the entire season, catching the limit everyday. I just found a post in a thread down a few, with someone talking about filling the freezers in a Viking and haveing no room for anymore "YFT's". Its unfortunate that the once a month boaters will suffer, but you cant have limits for seasonal boats or stream jumpers.

One thing you fail to address is the fact that when a private boat spends thousands traveling to the bahamas for a few days of fishing he is not able to hold more then a days limit! We are not able to drop the fish off every day because at some point we will need to put them back for the trip home. It doesnt sound like the new rules have any trip limits and even if they let you have 2 days limit on board it is still way over regulated. The far majority of US boats go there to mainly deep drop, which makes a 20lb limit is just crazy! So a boat that is there for the usual long weekend is limited to one days catch, not 3 or 4 days fishing.

Just all the more reason the Bahamas will be done for when Cuba is opened! I cant wait to see what the limits will be then!

[captadamr]

When Cuba opens if it ever will (not likely in any of our lifetimes), who says the Regs there wont be tougher than anywhere else?
I just read a post that talked about the new tilefish limits in the US, so the Bahamian Goverment isnt alone.

Im sure there will be a review of the snapper/grouper limits, but all the other limits are fine IMO.

PS Nassau Grouper Season Closed on Dec 1, AND as fate would have it a beautful 35 pound Nassau was staring at me from out of a hole in the reef, perfect shot, but I cannot preach about following the limits if as a Bahamian I do not. So mr 35# grouper I'll see you in a few months

[miamiangler1]

well everyone i have talked too in my area .. are shocked with the new regs . alot will not be going across it is not worth it .. way to expensive for a few fish ... looks like it will be onlytourists who will be spending money there now !

[The BEAST]

This reminds me of spring break in Ft. Lauderdale. The Ft. Lauderdale commision made it impossible to have a good time for those making the trek in search of fun. NOW, they are crying in their beer because the people and the money have found new destinations and Ft Lauderdale lost a gold mine.

Remember when the Bahamas raised their "cruising/fishing" permit so ridiculously high that the majority of us stopped making the trip across the pond. It wasn't long after that they reduced this fee to a somewhat more realistic charge again. They will once again feel the financial hit with the new, rediculous, fishing regulations. It will be the death nell to their US fishing dollars, again. Most on my dock, have said "No mas!" There is no way they are going to pay the already high expenses for a weekend of fishing over there to keep less fish than if they stay in our home waters at a fraction of the costs. This will be a good thing for S. FLorida/Keys keeping our US dollars in the US.

There is an old saying about "biting the hand that feeds you". You guys over in the Islands should give the Ft. Lauderdale chamber of commerce a call and ask them how well it worked out for them. New Orleans never makes a big stink about Mardi Gras. Yeah, its a tough time for them and they have to loosen up some during that time but they are smart enough to realize that they rake in the MEGA bucks because of it.

The Bahamas should've had some semblance of a biological impact study to help them tighten up their fishing laws to a reasonable level. Instead, the only thing they really tightened was the noose around their tourism neck. Once they finally realize this they will get a more realistic set of regulations just like they did with the permit fees. Some only learn the hard way.

Most of us at my Marina are going to let them keep their fish because our boats and our money are staying home.

Catch 'em up Bahamas!

[captadamr]

Wasnt the trek across the stream made because there are fish to be caught over here? Wasnt the run across to escape the thousands of other boats fishing the cays? So the only reason the bahamas was a choice destination was to keep more fish than you could in the US? I find this highly unlikely.

[The BEAST]

Originally Posted by captadamr

Wasnt the trek across the stream made because there are fish to be caught over here? Wasnt the run across to escape the thousands of other boats fishing the cays? So the only reason the bahamas was a choice destination was to keep more fish than you could in the US? I find this highly unlikely.

YES, NO, YES! We surely didn't spend thousands of dollars for catch and release and the Bahamian hospitality. We won't bring up the $4-$5 per gallon of fuel/water mixture. If that is what we wanted we could spend less money doing Marlin and Tuna fishing in the Northeast or the Panhandle/Gulf states of the US, Sailfish, & Dolphin in the S. Florida/Keys and bottom fishing in the Miami/Keys or the west coast of Florida. Not to mention Swordfish in any of the above mentioned places.

Yeah, let me see, I'm going to pay $150 cruise/fishing permit to catch 1 grouper of than 20# and 6 "chicken" Dolphin then go home. I would rather buy it at the local fish market. The guys who go over there to deep drop are going to make 2 drops on a good spot and that is the end of their trip. Much cheaper to stay home.

I doubt seriously if many will make return trips to catch less than the legal limits here. I, personally, could care less about your lobster or conch but only 20# of bottom fish, 6 pelagics, per boat. Get real, that is a joke!!!!

Catch 'em up, brother, they're all yours!

[captadamr]

Again I will say the 20lb limit is a bit harsh, and should be revisited. 95% of dolphin caught From Berrys East are over 15 pounds. This year i have only caught a handful of dolphin under 15#.

[edk]

Originally Posted by Beer Bones

I I as a bahamian cannot go to florida and catch a single conch or crawfish why should americans be able to come here and do what they cannot do in america.

You appear to be misinformed. All you need to do if you want to catch a lobster in Florida is purchase the appropriate fishing license and a lobster stamp ($2 for the stamp. $31.50 for a 12 month non-resident license). Once you have the license you are entitled to catch and keep exactly the same limits as a resident Florida recreational fisherman. You will pay a little more for the license as a non-resident, but it's still cheap.You cant take conch, but it's nothing personal - Florida conch were almost wiped out in the 70s and 80s by disease.

If you want to come in your own boat you will have to buy a cruising permit. That will cost you $25 and I believe it is good for 12 months. That's not such a bad deal is it?



Ed

[The BEAST]

Originally Posted by captadamr

Again I will say the 20lb limit is a bit harsh, and should be revisited. 95% of dolphin caught From Berrys East are over 15 pounds. This year i have only caught a handful of dolphin under 15#.

Great example! A short hop for 6 fish, huh!?! 4 of us come over to your islands and pay mucho buckos to keep 1 1/2 dolphin each even if they are 20# average. What is that, like 12-15 # of filets? You can come over here and for about the same money in licenses and cruise permit, for a full year (not 3 months), you're allowed to keep 10 Dolphin per person per day over 20". That's 40 per day or 80 max for a 2 day max bag limit for 4 people. Over in your country it is now 6, PERIOD.

Trust me, unless your ministry is brain dead, it won't take long before the regulations will be changed. I agree that you should have limits but don't try to convince me that these are the best you could do. It seems that the Bahamian Ministry wants to see once again, how much the US citizen will bear before we say, SEE YA!

Tell you what... Instead of trying to convince me/us that your new regulations are realistic, I have a better idea. You stay over there and fish and I'll stay over here and fish. As far as I'm concerned you guys can keep every dang one of your 6 fish and I will keep my US dollars at home where it helps my economy.

Catch 'em up Bahamas! Enjoy your fish!

[quack quack]

Well said Jim great post's

[The BEAST]

Thanks Eric! You know me, I have the right to remain silent, I just don't have the ability!

I quit going over there after the last cruise/permit extortion attempt. I hope the guys on this forum don't take it personally but I don't go places where the people really don't like me and the lack of hospitality shows through.

It won't be long before Castro takes his big dirt nap and the US gov't quite possibly will open up the Cuban embargo. I'd bet a dollar to a donut that the Cuban people will be very hospitable and happy to accept the US fisherman with his US dollars, once again. That's a short hop to some great pelagic fishing, compared to a run to the East side of the Bahama Islands. Remember, Havana WAS the Carribean "Hot Spot" before Castro for the night life, fishing, etc, and no one even bothered with the Bahamas unless they were pirates or smugglers. The old question was "Bahamas, what's in the Bahamas?"

[captadamr]

Well Guys,

Goodluck with your fishing ventures wherever they take you. Perhaps those islands that werent that hospitable (bimini) will get there act together and make their particular islands more hospitable. I know I try to make all tourists, boaters or hotel guests feel welcome when they come to Nassau. I Guess no Tourist destination is perfect
Good Luck
Adam R.

[Disco Lady]

:cuba........cono!!!!!!!!!

[quack quack]

I have to agree with Jim 100% on this.Some times you need a wake up call.I have been talking with my buds for a couple days about this and we all agreed the keys are our new destination.Reasons the keys are better is a non ending list.Fishing is 99% of the islands most of the time.No customs,passport,clearing either side,no fees,cheap gas compared to islands,If it is blowing a little no getting beat up for 4hrs on the way over or home,hotel is about the same,food is better here,The sand bar and the best thing is we can go anytime and not have to worry as much about the weather last year got stuck on south Bimini for 4 days nothing at all to do.If I am in the keys I will have plenty to do or go home early and come back following week.We are planning a trip in Jan or Feb no more waiting till June for flat crossing seas.Any one else that wants to go let me know.So I will miss my friends in the islands but you will not see me again till your Govt comes to there senses.

[bahamafisha]

it seems to me that you guys are only coming here to catch tonns of fish.The Bahamas will still be open to those sportfisherman who enjoy the sport of fishing

[quack quack]

What ever you say you know me so well.

I have been going over for 25yrs and now that will stop.Are you a local and from which island?You know who does more damage to the local fishing there.I have fished with dozens of locals over the years and can say each time they kept more fish [little ones]conch,lobster and even tropicals then any one else I ever fished with.Why can you buy fresh lobster[summer crab] from locals during the closed season. Do not bash me or other fisherman when you guy's really need to bash your Dept of fishery's If I had the cash back that I spent going over and cash spent there,Not to mention all the cloths,foodstuffs and even pots and pans I brought over to give away I could buy a new boat and have enough cash left over to take that new boat to the key's for a month or 2.

You guy's should be protesting your Govt right now because the west islands are going to be hurting.Wait I forgot Bimini has that great new environmentally disastrous development on the North side now to support them.That is until it gets developed all the way to Chalks Good bye Red lion.The Angler is already gone to boot.Do not forget about the new project on GB that Ginsumar place.I am sure you all will have nice jobs working for those people.Get me a drink now I paid a million dollars for this place and now I own your islands I forgot they will not need you to work there because they will bring in cheaper help from Haiti and DR to work there. They already brought in Mexican construction workers to build these places.

Hemingway will be rolling in his grave if he saw your islands now.

[Predator Freeport]

Originally Posted by quack quack

What ever you say you know me so well.

I have been going over for 25yrs and now that will stop.Are you a local and from which island?You know who does more damage to the local fishing there.I have fished with dozens of locals over the years and can say each time they kept more fish [little ones]conch,lobster and even tropicals then any one else I ever fished with.Why can you buy fresh lobster[summer crab] from locals during the closed season. Do not bash me or other fisherman when you guy's really need to bash your Dept of fishery's If I had the cash back that I spent going over and cash spent there,Not to mention all the cloths,foodstuffs and even pots and pans I brought over to give away I could buy a new boat and have enough cash left over to take that new boat to the key's for a month or 2.

You guy's should be protesting your Govt right now because the west islands are going to be hurting.Wait I forgot Bimini has that great new environmentally disastrous development on the North side now to support them.That is until it gets developed all the way to Chalks Good bye Red lion.The Angler is already gone to boot.Do not forget about the new project on GB that Ginsumar place.I am sure you all will have nice jobs working for those people.Get me a drink now I paid a million dollars for this place and now I own your islands I forgot they will not need you to work there because they will bring in cheaper help from Haiti and DR to work there. They already brought in Mexican construction workers to build these places.

Hemingway will be rolling in his grave if he saw your islands now.

YOU OWN A BOAT???