USVI-On-Line

My boyfriend and I are renting a villa in Coral Bay February 10-20 and will be bringing our fishing gear (spinning rods/bait casters, not fly rods). We plan on doing most of our fishing from shore and would really appreciate any advice on good spots to cast from, what fish to target (catch and release), and what lures to bring...and anything else you can think of!

Thanks in advance.

DELETED

Don't know about local laws, but he will also need to be careful because most of St. John is National Park - it is illegal to fish in National Park waters. Make sure that where he is fishing is outside of the NP.

I think you may want to leave your gear at home, the National Park regultions look pretty strict, since you can not fish in any simming areas that pretty much says no shore fishing:
Regulations:
It is illegal to take, kill, molest, harass or remove turtles or turtle eggs. All species are protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.

It is illegal to remove, injure, break or destroy any living coral.

It is illegal to spear fish for lobsters in all Territorial waters.

It is illegal to to possess or harvest Goliath Grouper, also called Jewfish.

It is illegal to possess or harvest Nassau Grouper.

It is illegal to possess or harvest Foureye, Banded, Longsnout Butterflyfishes in Federal waters.

It is illegal to possess or harvest seahorses in Federal waters.

In National Park waters; fishing is allowed outside of swim areas, but not in Trunk Bay and Jumbie Bay on St. John. It is illegal to use or possess spear fishing equipment anywhere within National Park boundaries. Fishing is prohibited at the following locations/times: A. Between 8am and 5pm at NPS Red Hook Dock and NPS Cruz Bay Finger Pier and bulkhead. B. Within all designated boat exclusion areas.

Species Size & Landing Restrictions Territorial Waters Federal Waters National Park Closed Season
Whelk
shell must be greater than 2-7/16" in diameter. Must land whole in shell.

1 gal. per fisher per day
April 1-September 30

Conch
Minimum size 9" shell length from spire to distal end, or 3/8" lip thickness. Must land whole in shell.
6 per day per fisher, not to exceed 24 per boat per day.
3 per day per fisher, not to exceed 12 per boat. No use of hookah gear.
2 per fisher per day

July 1 - Sept. 30

Spiny Lobster
3.5 carapace. Must land whole. No harvest of females with eggs. No spear fishing, hooks or gigs.

2 per fisher per day

Yellowtail Snapper
12" total length.




Blue Marlin
99" Lower Jaw Fork Length. Rod and reel only.
No Commercial Harvest; no sale.

White Marlin
66" Lower Jaw Fork Length. Rod and reel only.
No Commercial Harvest, no sale.

Sailfish
63" Lower Jaw Fork Length. Rod and reel only.
No Commercial Harvest, no sale.

Territorial Waters extend from shore to 3 miles offshore.
Federal Waters extend from 3-200 nautical miles offshore.


Additional Remarks
Lobster is to be captured only by hand, snare or trap.

There is no sale of undersized conch or conch shells.

No person is permitted to retain, remove, possess, or injure any conch that is less than nine inches in length or less than 3/8 inch lip thickness, in any location.

All conch landed in the Regulatory Area or coastal waters must be alive and intact (in shell) when brought to island on which conch is first sold or consumed (taking conch to off shore cays and islands for purpose of removing from shell is prohibited). No disposal of shell at sea before landing.

There are various Marine Reserves around the Virgin Islands in which fishing is prohibited. Contact the Division of Environmental Enforcement for an up-to-date list.

A major effort has recently been formed toward tag and release. Don' t take more fish than you can use. Respect and appreciate the ocean.

it isn't legal to fish in the park you just can't keep anything and you can't fish in marked swimming areas go to the usvi parks web site and it will tell you all you need to know

There are several places to fish from shore. My hubby and brother-in-laws fished in Hurricane Hole and the inlet on the way to Francis Beach. We asked the locals where to go and checked the laws. They did catch and release and had no problems at all!

Have fun

the swiming areas have to be marked as such just because people are swiming on a beach if they aren't bouy as swiming areas you are ok

When we were in St. John last week we saw some local chaps at Hansen Bay on the East End who had caught a couple of barracuda using squid for bait. I'm not sure exactly where they were fishing, but there is a trail going south from the parking and picnic area there and that's where they were coming from. We also saw a couple local ladies at Waterlemon Bay who were starting to fish, also using squid for bait. Don't know any of the local laws though. Hansen Bay is not in the park, but Waterlemon is.

Shoreline fishing is legal. Trunk Bay is off limits and certain areas within the monument such as Hurricane Hole require special permits. You can get the permits at the NPS visitor center and I believe they are free. Some species have seasons and size limitations, however you can keep some fish for personal consumption. Bring long pliers to remove the hooks from the BARRACUDA's!

Call the NPS visitor center to ask specifics and definately visit them when you are on island. They can give you a map to mark where you can fish.

Keep your tips up!
Budman

Thanks everyone..this is all great info. Keep it coming! - Tracy