The waters of the Bahamas are home to diverse species of fish. Some of the common fish species include snapper, wahoo, grouper, bonefish, tuna and kingfish. Inshore fishing is different from deepwater fishing as it is done from the shore. Therefore, the regulations regarding fishing from the shore are different from the rules governing deep-sea fishing.
Anyone arriving by boat into Bahamian waters will need to clear Customs and Immigration before docking his or her boat in the harbor. A yellow flag must be flown from the mast to indicate a foreign vessel for quarantine, and customs and immigration must be notified by radio as soon as your boat enters the nearest port of entry. Before being allowed off the boat, immigration officials will check passports and have each occupant on the boat fill in an immigration card. If everything is satisfactory, the boater can start fishing.
When fishing from the shore, a person is not allowed more than six fishing rods. It is against Bahamian law for someone to use other fishing apparatuses such as a fish trap or a spear. The only net that can be used is a landing net that helps bring the fish onto shore. Some boaters are able to obtain a special permit for the use of more than six fishing rods.
Certain species such as the conch and turtle are protected marine resources, and foreigners are not allowed to catch these species either in the deep sea or from the shore. The Bahamas Government has placed a limit on the amount of certain species of other fish that can be taken. For example, foreigners are allowed to catch only six tuna or kingfish if they plan to freeze the fish to be transported home with them.
Other fish species caught inshore such as grouper cannot weigh more than 20 lbs., according to the fishing laws set out by the Bahamas Government for inshore fishing.
