Fishing from the shore on NPS beaches

[STTlover]

I've witnessed someone fishing twice. Last year at Francis three guys were down on the far right hand side catching bait fish with a net. They let us see them in their bucket as they walked back, we were nosey of course:)

The other time was on the car ferry two years ago, a guy was fishing off the back of the boat and when he finally got his catch reeled in,only half a fish was on the hook, a barracuda had taken the other half! He was able to nab a second whole one before we disembarked!

[Muhaha]

Two weeks ago I saw a guy fishing from the right side of Francis, pretty far from the swimming area. He appeared to be quite considerate of the snorkelers moving down Mary's Point and was waiting for them to pass before casting. There were very few snorkelers as the swells were up on that day.

In fact, he was wading knee deep when a swell came up and knocked him down, literally rolling him over and over all the way up to the shoreline. That was a bit humorous for us.

I am an avid stream fisherman myself, and I wouldn't mind trying my hand at shore fishing someday. But, thinking of the logistics of getting a rod to STJ mute my enthusiasm.

[mahojim]

I'm kinda' hearin' ya, now that STJ Julie cleared my mind...
I'm actually thinking about putting another "must do" on our trip in May- Going on a fishing charter excursion. Can't eat fresher fish than the ones we catch the same day, right?
I'm not into the 'surf fishing' thing from the beach. Not sure why. Might have to do with the fact that that I'll have no idea how to do it, and I'm usually more into just limin' on the beach, and trying to find a place to be nude... .
I've never really been into fishing, - my bad.
Hope to try it again...
Smiles-
MJ

[stjohnjulie]

The swim areas are marked buoys... pretty much the same ones that keep boats out (because they are swim areas ) Most of the people you see shore fishing, especially locals, are bottom fishing. So unless you are swimming right along the bottom of the water in a non marked swimming area, their is little chance to get hooked.

And YES, you can fish in the National Park Just not in posted swimming areas, Trunk or Jumbie beaches. And there are restrictions on what you can keep. The VINOW website has a section of fishing for more information. Here is that link again: http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/more_ ... ations.php

If you want to go on a fishing charter, then I have a recommendation!!! Cleve, Local Flavor Charters, is your man. He is an avid fishermen and all around great guy. He is also one of the only people who has a permit to fish in BVI waters.And you are right mahojim...nothing like eating a fresh catch!

www.localflavorcharters.com

[mahojim]

I love the feeling of knowing that My Sweet Amy & I will watch how this upcoming trip unfolds.
Thanks for the help!
Smiles-
MJ

[hugo]

Most sandy shore fronts on NOrth Shore are within the buoyed swim areas. Most rocky headlands are not. You can generally tell the popular fishing areas when you are snorkeling by how much monofiliment line there is tangled around the coral...

[Pia]

I think I was too quick in my answer but I thought I knew what Becky was asking and my answer of "no" was referring to the fisherman (I assumed) she had witnessed fishing from the beach while people are swimming all around.

My problem if you will, are with the fishermen that stand on the*main* section of a beach (Maho, Francis etc), with people swimming all around them and they then walk out to knee/waist deep - still with people snorkeling, and proceed to fish - not cool and trust me I do say something (hard to believe I know )

Pia

[Muhaha]

I'm kinda' hearin' ya, now that STJ Julie cleared my mind...
I'm actually thinking about putting another "must do" on our trip in May- Going on a fishing charter excursion. Can't eat fresher fish than the ones we catch the same day, right?
I'm not into the 'surf fishing' thing from the beach. Not sure why. Might have to do with the fact that that I'll have no idea how to do it, and I'm usually more into just limin' on the beach, and trying to find a place to be nude... .
I've never really been into fishing, - my bad.
Hope to try it again...
Smiles-
MJ

MJ, we definitely need to get together sometime if our trips coincide. I was jonesing for a fishing charter last trip, but the cost was too high - definitely a split-the-cost kind of thing. I wonder if there is a charter that will take you fishing, a snorkel, AND to the SD for drinks. Hmmm.

[stjohnjulie]

Cleve will do all of that! I like to do a little of everything and he is cool with that. Kind of cool to just throw a line and catch dinner on your way over to the Soggy Dollar.