Electric Reels - Bahamas regulations - form and use

[RiskTaker]

Need help from Deep drop enthusiasts fishing in the Bahamas:

Recently my interst in doing deep drop fishing has climbed to a higher priority falling second seat only to swordfishing.....

I am brand new to this form of fishing and basically know very little about how to do it and what is required... but with a little help from my deep drop angling acquaintences and the facility of SFC... I hope the learning curve to be shallow and come up to full speed to be an accomplished "deep dropper" within a year.

Hopefully, I may even hook up with some fishing buddies of similar interests. (Even in Jamaica or elsewhere in the Carribbean)

Main topic for this post: I have heard from an angler or two that there are Bahamian regulations on the use of Electric reels in the "Islands of the Bahamas". From hear-say, it appears that there are restrictions such that you are not deemed as a commercial fisherman. So far I have heard that electric reels should not be of the boom type, or box type. Or even that they need to consist of a traditional reel mounted to a rod. Now I have my eyes on a newly developed Electical reel developed by Lindgren-Pitman. It looks very capable and has the right stuff, and operates on a 12VDC supply. I will assume that it has the muscle and can work all day long since it is advertised for COMMERCIAL use. The only thing that may knock the wind out of your sails is the suggested retail price: 3,100 $US. This was the price told to me by a local authorized dealer since it is not yet updated on the LP web-site. Since there is currently a waiting list is would imagine that this is also the street price for this "Next generation electric reel" http://www.lindgren-pitman.com/S-1200/index.htm . I would also guess that they are just hitting the market since a few were reported to be pre-sold at the Miami boat show a few weeks back and there is a 10 week wait list for this product.

That being said, this unit probably has ZERO track record, other than perhaps some people testing out prototypes, nobody that I know however. I am pleasantly surprised with such an innovation but still a little bit sceptical about it meeting or exceeding its 24-36 VDC cousin's lifting/endurance/longevity capabilities. Everyone cross your fingers and hope LP has mastered it, with a 12VDC supply. (Buffet sings - " Only time will tell")!

Back to this post topic: I would like to ensure that such a reel, if acquired, would be acceptable for use in the Bahamas. This is a very important condition for resident Floridian recreational anglers fishing in the Bahamas.

After scouting around a little bit on Bahamian fishing regulations, I have found very little so far on regulations. (Except for that article excerpt pasted below - Electric reels OK but maximum of 5 hooks)

Please help me out on this if you know better and can also provide a valid web location that clearly states any/all applicable regulations in "lawful" writing.

Here is what I have found so far: http://www.breef.org/fish_regulations.pdf Note that it is dated 1986 so there could be some possibility that it is obsolete in some ways.

10 Sportsfishing
3
3
(a) Sportsfishing tournament directors must have the written approval of the Minister
to organize or hold a tournament;
(b) A permit is required for foreign vessels to engage in sportsfishing. Under this
permit the following rules apply:
(i) Fishing gear, unless otherwise authorized, shall be restricted to hook and
line. The number of lines in the water at any time, unless otherwise
authorized shall be restricted to six.
(ii) The bag limit for kingfish, dolphin and wahoo is a maximum combined total
of six fish per person on the vessel, comprising any combination of these
species. All other migratory fish caught, unless it is to be used, should not
be injured unnecessarily but returned to the sea alive.
(iii) Vessel bag limits for other fishery resources are 20 lbs of scalefish, 10 conch
and 6 crawfish per person at any time. The possession of turtle is prohibited.
The above amounts may also be exported by the vessel upon leaving The
Bahamas.
11

The basic rules are pretty straight forward just to fish:

Permits are obtained from Customs officials at ports of entry. Fishing gear is restricted to hook and line and you may not fish with more than six rods at a time.
http://www.bahamas.com/bahamas/exper...ectionid=41194

Now as far as using electric reels is concerned, I found a statement in the Abaconian Journal: Non-Bahamian fishermen in a boat are "restricted to hook and line" with a maximum limit of six lines in the water. Anyone may use an electric reel but only five hooks per line are allowed. Six or more hooks on a line is considered long-lining which is illegal. dated August 1, 2000. http://www.go-abacos.com/news/conian...aws_abaco.html

Let's see if we can wake up the Deep Drop forum at SFC: there is plenty of things to learn on this subject. Thanks in advance for any and all help that you may offer. RT irat:

[cogzwell]

RT:

I just purchased a Kristal 655. Have yet to use it. Do you know if they are allowed in the B. Islands?

Conway

[RiskTaker]

Hey CC:

I have embellished about as much as I know on that last post.

Your the man! I want to go deep drop fishing with you. I will volunteer to do the cranking!

Update: I spoke with Eric Brooks of LP (Lindgren Pittman) and he mentioned that there may be some future considerations for Electric reels in the Bahamas.

Your Kristal should be fine (for use inthe Bahamas) since you will mount it to a fishing rod. Again, I did see an Abacos new article state the you cannot fish more than 5 hooks on en electric reel, otherwise you would be considered a longliner and a new set of rules applies at that point.
(But I have seen nothing so far in the Bahamas "Statutes" that explicitely states this.) You would think that if there was a regulation it would be easy to read from the fishing regulations.

But remember, a maximum of 6 rods, (that regulation is commonly stated) and I woould assume tht this means in the water and not simply on the boat. RT

[cogzwell]

Thanks RT.

Let's find some deep drop spots off shore and put it to the test.

I may be going out for swords wednesday or thursday -- i might need an extra hand -- interested?

[smegfish]

I was just reading the forums and web pages .. it mentions that somone is a debt collector and fisherman... is that you ... I actually live in Lonodn and need top speak to a debt collector .. would you mind talking to me ? Dave London

[islandshark633]

yes, RT, Cogz- electrics are fine, just limit it to 5 hooks max. Enjoy!

[savanna lynn]

risk taker had the 1200 almost 2 yrs ronnie shap helped them design talked to him before purchacing them they should last a life time mine are still going strong caught swords wrek and tiles no problem
btw the drags are incredibly smooth i even high speed with them well worth the money

[RiskTaker]

Originally Posted by savanna lynn

risk taker had the 1200 almost 2 yrs ronnie shap helped them design talked to him before purchacing them they should last a life time mine are still going strong caught swords wrek and tiles no problem
btw the drags are incredibly smooth i even high speed with them well worth the money

Yeah Mon, that is the way to put those electric reels to work! Use them for all they're worth! Afterall, they are depreciating assets.

Alan, you picked up on a thread that is over two years old by now. But still good stuff. You see, then I did not know much about the deep dropping gig: everyone has to start somewhere. Now, I am not half bad in the "galley" /bait board either, as I now know how to make a Caribbean Sandwich. You can learn a lot from a Jamaican, or at least an ex-Pat living in JA.

But after reading many posts on this forum, going to fishing club meetings AND getting out there and doing it, I am a deep dropping fishing FOOL, at least with the electric reels that is. I might be inclined to do it manually, but only as a last resort.

Cogzwell and I have hooked up and been fishing many times over the past 2 years or so. You might say that we hooked up on-line, Definitely a good value for the time spent with forum participation. But good friendships are priceless!

We have caught many nice snapper in the Bahamas with the electrics on the deep dropping scene. We have used one electric for night time swordfishing to patrol the deeper realms, but so far, unsuccessful at night. But persistence will pay off eventually, I predict.

And although we have not made it a part of the mainstay fishing plan as of yet, I am finding it very favorable to deploy the electric reel for high speed trolling for the "Shotgun position triad". Savanna Lynn, what is your spread? Don't tell me 3. As you know, it is a bear to crank in line at high speed, and it is difficult nonetheless even if you back off the speed a bit, and the lure is well out there in the back 40.

So I think that we can say the we are just fine and dandee with using electric reels for the appropriate applications of recreational fishing.

And if anyone has anyone objections to that style of fishing, then, you, just don't do it yourself. And leave us country boys alone.

Apparently, you can even get hooked up on a swordfish in the daytime too. Those that are good at it just make it look easy. But it is definitely not as easy as some people seem to portray. But if you happen to be offshore fishing in the daytime, or you have been a trainwreck at work the following day, by fishing all night, it is an excellent skill to have in your bag of fishing tricks.

Ya Mon! And may the good fishing reports be yours: you may have earned them.

[islandshark633]

sorry, RT I didnt check the date. It did appear to be an odd posing from you at this time