Bahamas New Regs!!!

[riskreward]

Just received a fax that the new regs are effective as of oct. 19 2007 and as follows; Migratory species such as wahoo,kingfish,tuna or dolphin shall not exceed (18) fish aboard at any one time. Billfish species (marlin,sailfish or swordfish) shall be released unharmed except where landed under the terms of an approved sportfishing event or tournament. Also NO vessel shall have on board at any time marine turtles, more than six (6) conch, more than ten (10) crawfish, more than sixty (60) pounds or twenty (20) fish whichever being the greater of scalefish per vessel (previously 20 lbs). Any body confirm this?

[quack quack]

Thats what they are saying.

[weekendbender]

Thats it. Sounds like all of the empty slips in bimini finally got someones attention.

[billspilingup]

I reckon I'm happy enough with the new regulations and will hopefully head over sometime next week. 60lbs of bottom fish is a bit light and I would have preferred to see their regulations on snapper and grouper match Florida's but whatever at this point... I am happy about the bump to 18 for pelagics as I only target tuna or wahoo in the Islands. As far as billfish, I would like to give swordfishing a try in the islands and would have given the fish to the locals since it's so easy to catch one in the U.S. Not too many people kill marlin or sails unless it's a tournament but I would have preferred to have been able to keep them for the locals too in case one comes up dead or sharked.

[Yellowfinhunter1]

I am not a lawyer BUT 60#'s or 20 fish-which ever is greater-- I think I will go with 20--20#+ grouper...

[Disco Lady]

Alot better than it was. 18 Wahoos CONO!!!!!!!!!

[BLUELIGHT SPECIAL]

IT IS TRUE. I WAS REQUESTED TO POST THEM BY RICHARD FROM THE TOURISM OFFICE AND WILL DO SO TOMORROW. WE ALSO ARE ORGANIZING A YEAR ROUND SWORD TOURNEY THRU THE BIG GAME CLUB SO THAT ANYONE STAYING THERE WILL BE ABLE TO BOAT SWORDS.

[Disco Lady]

[riskreward]

[quote=Yellowfinhunter1;71032]I am not a lawyer BUT 60#'s or 20 fish-which ever is greater-- I think I will go with 20--20#+ grouper...[/QUOT

[savanna lynn]

Originally Posted by Disco Lady

Alot better than it was. 18 Wahoos CONO!!!!!!!!!

bring the big box

[RiskTaker]

Originally Posted by BLUELIGHT SPECIAL

IT IS TRUE. I WAS REQUESTED TO POST THEM BY RICHARD FROM THE TOURISM OFFICE AND WILL DO SO TOMORROW. WE ALSO ARE ORGANIZING A YEAR ROUND SWORD TOURNEY THRU THE BIG GAME CLUB SO THAT ANYONE STAYING THERE WILL BE ABLE TO BOAT SWORDS.

That sounds great: I knew that provisions were made to be taken advantage of. I'll stay there.

I can only imagine how hot it will get when you start organizing those Redlight Specials. Coño.

[Broadbill-Pro]

Steve Waters posted it yesterday. Makes the ride and expense more tolerable. Can we still catch wreckfish? What's the reg on a +60# wreck grouper?

[Cutler]

i can live with the new regs

[islandshark633]

Originally Posted by Broadbill-Pro

Steve Waters posted it yesterday. Makes the ride and expense more tolerable. Can we still catch wreckfish? What's the reg on a +60# wreck grouper?

I have been told verbally that if you get a single fish over the 60# limit you can keep it on the understanding that deep water fish are, for all practical purposes, unreleasable. Now if only I knew where to go to get one.......

[Disco Lady]

20...#25 pound groupers COÑO!!!! I like that! Or is it 60 Lbs total wieght of scale fish.

[islandshark633]

yes, 20 fish or 60 # which ever you hit first

[Disco Lady]

[Ed Walker]

Good for you guys! A great victory for everyone that wrote an angry letter and caused a ruckus. I dont even go there but wrote them a note due to the info I found on this site.
If only the NMFS service were so interesting in doing what right for fishermen......

[Broadbill-Pro]

Originally Posted by Ed Walker

If only the NMFS service were so interesting in doing what right for fishermen......

In all fairness, NMFS is in a no win situation. Someone is always going to be upset with the decisions. Just because the rules don't always favor our opinion, they always favor someones.

Food for thought, there are many groups who feel that killing fish is unethical or even that hooking them causes unnecessary trauma, yet NMFS protects your right to continue the harvest. The Recreational view towards Commercial is not much different than the PETA view towards Recreationals, someone always has an opinion that is rejected.

[Captain Juan]

Hi my friends. I have not been able to post for a while because we are in the middle of the Book Fair at the College and a bunch of other events.

Plus, the weather just has not cooperated except for that kid who went out last week during TS Noel in 18 footers and lost a 350 pounder at the boat. Yeah right.

Anyway, I had written the Bahamas Marine Resources divsision on the new regs and just got the official reply below.

__________________________________________________ ____________
Department of Marine Resources
P. O. Box N 3028
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel 242-393-1777
Fax 242-393-0238

Re: Sportsfishing Regulations

Thank you for your e-mail relative to the above captioned.

Please be advised that the sportsfishing regulations have changed. We are currently converting the language of the legal document to layman's terms.

The finished document will soon be available on the Ministry of Tourism's web-site at TourismBahamas.org or The Islands Of The Bahamas

Thank you.

Edison Deleveaux
for/Director of Marine Resources
__________________________________________________ ______________

So, things looks good. The details of the new regs have pretty much been posted in this thread. I will monitor for the final, new official regs and post those when they become available.

Tight lines!!

Juani