Fishing & Island Seasons | Catching Gapseed

Fishing seasons

Crawfish (spiny lobster)

Open

Until Mar 31

Size: Carapace at least 3⅜" or tail at least 6"
Limit: 10 per vessel

Closed April 1 – July 31. Egg-bearing (berried) females must be released.

Nassau grouper

Open

Until Nov 30

Size: At least 3 lb
Limit: Counts toward 20 fish / 60 lb demersal limit per vessel

Closed December 1 – end of February to protect spawning fish.

Stone crab

Closed

Opens Oct 16 · 22 days

Size: Claw at least 4"

Closed June 1 – October 15.

Conch

Open

Year-round

Size: Must have a well-formed, flared lip
Limit: 6 per vessel

Open year-round, but taking juvenile conch (no lip) is illegal.

Mahi, wahoo, tuna & kingfish

Open

Year-round

Limit: 18 combined per vessel

Open year-round. Best mahi fishing is usually spring.

Bonefish, permit & tarpon

Open

Year-round

Size: Catch and release only

Anglers fishing the flats need a Bahamas flats fishing licence.

Good to know before you fish

Visiting boats need a Bahamas sport fishing permit on board, and a maximum of 6 rods per vessel.
Reef fish (groupers, snappers and similar): up to 20 fish or 60 lb per vessel, whichever comes first.
Spearfishing is by Hawaiian sling or pole spear only. No spearguns, no scuba or compressor, and no spearing within 200 yards of an Out Island shore.
No-take parks: no fishing, spearing or collecting in Fowl Cay Preserve, Pelican Cays Land & Sea Park or other national marine parks.
Protected: sea turtles can't be taken or kept on board. Sharks must be released unharmed.

This is a friendly summary, not legal advice. Rules change, so check with the Department of Marine Resources before you go.

Island calendar

Hurricane season

In season

Until Nov 30

Peak is usually mid-August to October. Keep an eye on the forecast.

Regatta Time in Abaco

Early July

Opens Jul 1

Week of sailing races and parties hopping between the cays. Dates vary each year.

Junkanoo

Dec 26 & Jan 1

Opens Dec 26

Boxing Day and New Year's Day rush-outs with costumes, cowbells and goatskin drums.

Caught something you can't name?

Our fish ID chart covers the reef, offshore and flats fish you're most likely to see around Abaco.

Open the Fish ID chart