USVI-On-Line

Is this legal? Like fishing with a pole and a reel from the sands of an NPS beach. I am sure there is a regulation somewhere that says one way or the other. My internet is spotty so I rely on my forum friends to enlighten me rather than using the mighty google.

Hope you're having a great trip, Becky!

I found this on virgin.islands.national-park.com/

Fishing
Park waters are open to fishing with hand-held rods and is allowed outside of swim areas. Fishing is not allowed in Trunk Bay and in buoy-designated swimming areas. Possession of spearguns within the park is prohibited. For world class deep sea fishing, charter boats are available in Red Hook, St Thomas.

Coral is very fragile and easily damaged by anchors, human touch, feet, and flippers. Coral damaged by one person can take hundreds of years to regrow. Remember, "If it's not sand, don't stand." Coral and other sea life can also cause injury to people when touched.

Caribbean spiny lobster catch is limited to two per person per day and the carapace must be at least 3.5". Whelk season is October 1 - March 30. Whelk must be larger than 2.5" and take is limited to 1 gallon per person per day. Conch season is October 1 - June 30. Conch must be 9" long and take is limited to two per person per day.

More details here
http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/more_ ... ations.php

THANK YOU Pia! I knew it must have been wrong. I actually stayed awake tonight to see if you would respond. We were at Francis today and there were these three guys "fly fishing." A couple of days ago we were at Maho and guys were fishing there too! Sorry, but if you cannot even take a shell, or some sand, why would people think they can just haul out a fish?? I don't want a freaking hook in my back when I am just snorkeling along, and neither does mr. parrotfish (who probably has ciguatera anyway). All "fisherpeople" I see on NPS beaches are being immediately reported from this moment on.

Pia wrote:Quick answer - NO

I was walking the dogs past Maho yesterday and a guy was standing waist deep - fishing right there !!!! the beach was empty so I resisted saying anything and when I returned a few hours later he was gone or for sure I would have said something. Here is the # to the NPS to call in any violations 340-693-8201 I have it inmy phone and always call if I see dinghy's coming straight through the "no swim zones" dropping off people or people fishing or even cars parked in the sand on the beach - they are good about sending someone out.

Pia

That would have been my guess too, but when I searched I found that other information?? Sorry if I posted something wrong.

last winter there was someone doing catch and release with tarpon (i think) and he said that it was okay under the NPS regs (this was at salt pond....) was he lying?

I'm glad someone brought this up.
I hated witnessing this more than a time, or two, at several beaches over the years.
It's like hunting in a zoo.
Unconscionable.
Screw those guys,- just downright outta' line.
WAY UNGROOVY!!!
I obviously detest this behavior, thus, as far as this here thread is concerned, no
Smiles-

MJ

i found the same info that kygirl found on teh national park website---
http://www.virgin.islands.national-park ... e.htm#fish

seems as though there is some confusion in this regard?

Yes, there is some confusion for sure!!! Yes, you can fish in the National Park. BUT, you cannot fish in any buoyed swim zones and not at Trunk or Jumbie beaches. Most of the beaches have some area where you can fish and stay out of the swim zones. There are some fish you cannot keep (like a Nassau or Goliath grouper), and there are other things you can only catch/pick, in season like lobster, conch, and whelks.

I like to fish, love it actually! Haven't been in quite awhile (to big and pregnant...now a new baby). I've come across Park Rangers many times while fishing in the National Park and they will often check what we've caught to make sure we don't have anything we are not supposed to have, but as long as we are not fishing in a swim zone we are all good to go.

Fishing in the National park is nothing like hunting in a zoo It's not that easy to catch them!! I guess because my husband is West Indian, I can see a different side of things. He's been here his whole life, and his family has been here for many many generations.... In his years, he has seen many changes in what can and cannot be done. The places where he can fish have shrunk considerably due to the National Park swim zones and private property/construction. I understand the restrictions... the restrictions on what you catch protect the species, the restrictions on where you can fish protect the tourists but I also can see why many locals feel that their home is less and less for them. It just stinks to have someone tell you that you can't live the life you are used to living.

Ok, now I step down from my soapbox....

That is really interesting, because we saw a guy fishing off Maho a lot during our trip last week. Probably the same guy you saw Pia. We actually chatted with him a little bit and asked him what he was fishing for.

While I was snorkeling, he was fly fishing off the rocks on the right side of Maho. My husband thought that might be fun, and said he wanted to bring a fishing pole next time, but I just read him this... Now he won't!

As long as they aren't in the posted swim zone there isn't anything wrong with it just there way of using the resource.

So how is the "posted swim zone" defined? I have never seen chain connected bouyed off swim areas like you see at a lake for instance. I have only seen the white bouys that are marked "no boats" that go along the length of the beaches. Is the area from the shore to those buoys the posted swim zone? Because if so I don't see how you can fish from the shore and not be in violation. I am confused!

Didn't realize how hard it might be to actually catch something off of those fish filled waters, just assumed, sorry.
Now that I'm thinking about it, my last memory of someone fishing from the beach was, indeed, at Maho. Down towards the right, away from swimmers only because the beach was relatively empty. Any other time of day there would've been too many people around for anyone (ok, assuming again ) to catch anything, and it would've most definately disrupted swimmers/snorkelers. Those sharp shiny hooks would also probably wreak havoc on anyone trying to swim nude, too. Not me though, per se...I never do that sort of thing .
(Sheesh! talk about scaring off the fish...! )
Thanks again for the local insight, Julie.
Smiles-
MJ

I think that the areas that the boats can come to shore isn't a swim area