charter fishing

[Saugatucktrader]

Visiting Elbow 4/16 for a week. Thinking about deep sea fishing for a new experience. Never did it before. This is our 9th trip to Abaco but never ventured outside the Sea of Abaco. We don't know a thing about fishing but love to eat fish. From the pictures we have seen on the net, it appears you are likely to catch 200 to 300 lbs. of fish. What do you do with it? Can you, would you, should you, ship it back to the States? There is only 2 of us, if anyone is interested in sharing the experience and the cost of the charter, pm us.

[southernhomes]

I have fished several times out of Elbow Cay, with Captain Lowe of Seagull charters. Usually the capt. will give you as much fish as you want, but dealing with all of the meat is a problem. We would give some away to friends, but the bulk of the meat stays with the boat to help defray costs. I have found the price of a charter from Capt. Lowe to be very reasonable @ about $600 for a half day. His website will give you more accurate info. than I.

[Silver Lining]

We have fished the Atlantic side of the Abacos several times and usually we catch tuna and wahoo. There is lots of good ocean fishing at the drop off and not too far offshore. We have never caught three hundred pounds of fish, but we are usually in the Abacos in June and July which are not particularly good fishing months. There are strict limits on how much fish you can take out of the Bahamas. So the rules are really set up so you can catch a lot of fish as long as it is consumed in the Bahamas. You can only take something like 20 lbs of fish out of the country.

[Abracadabra]

You are coming at a great (the best) time to fish for palegics (tuna, mahi, wahoo, marlin). There are absolutely great local guides with great boats on Elbow Cay. I know that Truman Major (242 366-0101), Ira (366-0245), Justin (366-0528) will all get you fish. There are more - those are just ones I know off the top of my head...

Great thing about Abaco is that the continental shelf is a mile or so away. Look at Google Maps - look at the continental shelf - amazing. Abaco is a unique and wonderful place. People come from all over the world to fish here.

Enjoy a great experience catching fish and eating the fresh fresh fresh fish you catch while you are here. Maybe bring a few pounds home for the memories. You will never have better Tuna or Wahoo sushi/sashimi than that you have harvested that day. Wasabi & soy & ginger are available here in the stores...

But please don't come just to take meat home.The fishing resource is very important to the people of Abaco - for our restaurants and the local folks that work so hard to keep all the visitors happy!

You will have a wonderful time - book one of those guides today so you know you have a spot!

[SouthAbaco]

If you have been to Elbow before and looking for a little something different to do while on Abaco, check out fishabaco

This is an operation based out of Sandy Point, which is about a 45-50 minute car ride south from Marsh Harbour.

The other posts are absolutely correct, fishing is great off of the northeast side of Abaco, if you are looking for an adventure somewhat off the beaten path of normal activities, you will not be disappointed with Captian Bain's services...a true Bahamain Experience.

[tmccaffery]

Although Will doesn't go offshore I highly recommend a morning fishing inside with Will. He is a real gentleman who really knows where the fish are. You may not catch a 200-300 pound fish but you will catch more than enough to have for dinner and a few meals after that. You can reach him at "Days Catch" on VHF or at 242-366-0059.

[Paul]

How Much fish can I take home when I leave The Bahamas?

Any person leaving the Bahamas is allowed to take with him, for non-commercial purposes, a certain quantity of fishery products as a part of his personal baggage. The limits are:

• 6 Pelagic fish (Dolphin, Wahoo, Kingfish or Tuna)
• 6 Lobsters
• 20 lbs of Demersal fish


I would never charter a boat where the catch belongs to the boat. It then becomes commercial fishing and the charter is just being used to defray the cost of commercial fishing. It is no longer sport fishing at that point. The option to catch and release is also not available.

And if you want to take your limit home please feel free to do so. You paid the shot and your legally entitled to do so. The limits are set to a level at which the gov't feels appropriate so don't let the misinformed mislead you.

Go catch some bonefish with one of the many great local guides. It's a lot cheaper and just as much if not more fun since you actually have to fish not just reel. Then go buy your fish to eat locally.