Bahamas Day Trip Video

[Beer Bones]

Snookbite,
I am sorry if i was wrong but from the way the thread read it gave the imppression that you where fishing Bahamian waters. I appoligise for hammering you but as Allan stated the catch limits and poaching in the Bahamas are prickly subjects to say the least. Once again i appologise and wish you tight lines.

[wahoomon]

Or just stay away from the islands until they change the regs..
I NORMALLY go 4-6 times a year.. Sorry not anymore.. They are starting to feel the pinch and will change..

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by wahoomon

Or just stay away from the islands until they change the regs..
I NORMALLY go 4-6 times a year.. Sorry not anymore.. They are starting to feel the pinch and will change..

I agree. Let them keep their fish (and their fuel and their dockage and their hotel rooms )and keep your money in the USA until they change the limits to something worth crossing for. I myself am going to be fishing the Keys for Labor Day weekend.

[Beer Bones]

Works for me!

[shadow]

tight video capt.
i did not watch your video thinking what water your in only wishing
that i was there.
cant wait to go on a trip with you.

[quack quack]

Originally Posted by Beer Bones

And who would be "wrong" for pointing out that some @$$ is breaking our laws. You better stop kissing @$$ to sell a couple lures!

Why don't you stop being an accusatory azz.Now that new development in the islands has slowed you watch how fast the islands push to have American fisherman come back.I should be on my 3rd trip know but not this year.I went with 10 guys or more on 3 to 5 boats at a time.Not one of those boats went this year and I know it hurt some of the locals.I feel bad because we always gave the locals as much fish as we took home.we would pack one boat with clothes and such and give it to the Church's and such to give out.I am in no way alone in this I know many guys that did the same thing with there fish and such.My Dad would go over for a month or more at a time on the boats he ran.Ask any one in Lucaya about Capt Chuck on the Bream Killer.He would give and give to any and all that needed it.We gave away so much fish that when they came in people would line up at the dock!!When he died 2 yrs ago they mourned him over there and we got cards from island people we had not ever heard of.So do not paint all American fisherman with the same brush.Beer bones when you say it is OK you do not have limits because it is your country is stupid and hypocritical.If you come here to fish you and I have to follow the same regs.But if I go to your country I can only have a few fish while you can keep all you want.That my friend is being a hypocrite.

[Cutler]

sick catch chris and nice video

[bajakian]

QQ, dont waste your time or breath on that guy. Just as we are not all out to rape and pillage the Bahamas fish, not all the Bahamians have a stick up their ass. Its clear that he doesnt make money from Tourism and fishing and doesnt care about the other fellow Bahamians that do. Luckily he is but one voice and is easily ignored.

Richard

[Certifiable]

The old saying applies "the only person who will argue with an idiot...is an idiot". This is a sore subject with everyone, Americans and Bahamians alike. The Bahamians have the right to make thier own laws, wether we like them or not. If they choose to economicaly wound thier own people for the sake of "feeling better" about thier fishing laws, have at it brother, it's your island.
It is easy to blame everyone else for a problem that you created yourself. There...I said it...thats right...the Bahamians created this problem on thier own. If they believe the fishery is over fished, look in the mirror my friends. When your own people set out fish traps large enough to hold my Mega cab truck, look in the mirror. When you pile the Conch on the dock so high that you need and aircraft warning light, look in the mirror. When the 14' Boston Whaler pulls up to the dock LOADED with lobster of ALL sizes, and the gunnels are about to go under water...look in the mirror.
Your own people are the ones that are raping your waters in the name of commerce...I call it greed.
If they could put half the effort into organizing the fishery as they do in finger pointing, they could actualy help their own future...instead of turning a blind eye to it while they continue to pillage thier own rescources. The fishery will continue to decline without the impact from the tourist, it will continue untill the Bahamian commercial fishermen are restricted to realistic limits.
The answer is "realistic" limits for EVERYONE, Bahamians included. Restricting tourist to 6 pelagics per boat and 20# of scale fish per boat will not cure your ill while the locals load up pick up trucks full of snappers and groupers and Conch.
Have they ever considered SIZE limits ? What about closed season during peak spawning times ? A little scientific thinking will go a long way to preserving thier future.
In the mean time, chase away the tourist who spend countless millions of dollars on dockage, hotels, resteraunts, fuel, food, etc.
Ignorance will not make their problem go away, it will only perpetuate it.

Until then, I will be a good tourist and heel strickly to your laws, it is "your island, your rules". I will be content to pay my $300 clearance fee, $5.50 a gallon for gas, $300 a night for a hotel room, $100/day/person for food....all to catch 6 precious fish per boat, and catch a grouper that must be released "dead" because it is over the 20# scale fish size (how idiotic is that rule !).

And when I don't feel like playing by those rules any more, I will take my boat and play somewhere else where thay want my money. And the Bahamian fishery will continue to decline because they are too blind to see the truth...or to proud to admit it.
Hopefully they wake up before it is too late.
Tight lines boys...see you at Billy Joe's...until you put a limit on my beer...then I am really leaving.

[bajakian]

You forgot to mention all the Bahamians that harvest lobster and turtle out of season. Other than that, very well said!!!

[Beer Bones]

I agree with everything certifiable has to say 100%, that is not the issue. My issue was the immpression of a Charter Capt. breaking the laws of the Bahamas, no matter how stupid they are. A law is a law, strait, plain, and simple. I look forward to some reasonable fishery laws we all can live with, but until then I will abide by what the law says. The Capt. explained that he was not fishing Bahamian water and was given an appollogy promptly. The statement "that works for me" is simple, if you choose to stay on your side of the stream due to our laws that is your choice, nothing more nothing less. Quack Quack, I am sure that you are a great friend to the Bahamas and understand your frustration. I trust that the Government of the Bahamas will do the right thing and give you guys a reasonable catch limit in the near future.