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The Bahamas has everything an angler could want for a true fishing vacation. Whether you’re a fly, deep sea, or reef fisher, you’ll find opportunities galore for fishing in The Bahamas.
Who knows, you may even fall in love with The Bahamas on your fishing vacation and decide to stay! Whether you want to rent accommodations for vacation or buy a home of your own, MCR Bahamas can help. Our Bahamas-born real estate agents and team all know the islands inside and out, so we can help you not only find a home but also learn the lay of the land, apply for citizenship, and much more.
Check out our comprehensive guide on the best places and times to fish, how to plan your fishing excursions, and why you should choose The Bahamas for your perfect fishing vacation.
Table of Contents
Does The Bahamas Have Good Fishing?
The Bahamas has amazing fishing, and many fishers, both pro and amateur, consider The Bahamas a favorite location. Fishers have set over 50 world records among the islands, where bountiful fish provide plenty of opportunity to catch something amazing.
When is the Best Time to Go Fishing in The Bahamas?
Fishing in The Bahamas can be a year-round pastime, but each season and each island offers different kinds of opportunities. In the winter, you can fish for wahoo on Cat Island, Great Harbour, and San Salvador, while the fall offers fewer crowds for spearfishing, reef fishing, and bonefishing on Bimini island.
Spring offers amazing opportunities for fishing both in the flats and the deep, with Chub Cay fishers often reaching double-digit marlin bites. Summertime visitors can visit Clarence Town Long Island for pelagics and bonefish, combine fishing and other amazing watersports in the Exumas, or escape the tourists on Andros.
Another consideration for the timing of your visit might be hurricane season. If you’d prefer to avoid potential interruptions to your fishing, avoid the June 1 to November 30 hurricane season.
Top Reasons to Fish in The Bahamas
We’re quite partial to The Bahamas, but don’t just take our word for it – there are some great reasons to plan for some Bahamas fishing.
Year-Round Fishing
The Bahamas are a great option for fishing 365 days a year, and if you plan multiple trips during different seasons, you’ll end up with a wide variety of catches. The official Islands of the Bahamas fishing guide offers a calendar of when each type of fish is most abundant, so check it out if you’re looking for a specific type of fishing experience!
Fishing World Records
The Bahamas is particularly known for its deep sea fishing and record-breaking catches. Bimini alone is the home of more than 50 record-setting catches! Jerry Lavenstein broke a bonefish record in 1971 when he caught a 16-pound, 33.5-inch-long bonefish off Bimini, earning him the All-Tackle World Record Atlantic Bonefish.
The Bahamas has also provided fishers with some of the greatest wahoo ever caught, including John Pirovano’s 155-pound wahoo caught off Cat Cay. The Bimini white marlin record – a 122-pound marlin caught by Dorothy Ann Curtice in 1953 – is still unbeaten after six and a half decades. The Bahamas still consistently offers opportunities for record-breaking catches – don’t miss your own opportunity!
Variety of Islands
The Bahamas boasts a wide variety of fishing spots across the chain of islands. There are over 300 islands, 30 of which are inhabited, and 16 of which are considered primary islands. Those primary island destinations include:
- The Abacos
- Acklins & Crooked Island
- Andros
- The Berry Islands
- Bimini
- Cat Island
- Eleuthera & Harbour Island
- The Exumas
- Freeport Grand Bahama Island
- Inagua
- Long Island
- Mayaguana
- Nassau & Paradise Island
- Ragged Island
- Rum Cay
- San Salvador
No matter where you go, you’ll find amazing fishing, good food, water sports, sailing, and so much more.
Tropical Vacation Spot
You may come to The Bahamas for fishing, but you’ll get an amazing tropical vacation, as well. Whether you’re looking for some rest and relaxation, an opportunity for exciting water sports, or a true Caribbean cultural experience, you’ll find the vacation you want in The Bahamas.
Where to Go Fishing in The Bahamas
We know you want to make the most of your Bahamas fishing trip – here are just some of the best fishing destinations in The Bahamas. Some of the best fishing spots include:
- New Providence Island (Nassau): New Providence Island boasts fish aplenty, with wahoo, blue marlin, oceanic bonito, and blackfin tuna appearing in abundance at different times of the year. If you’re hoping to set up a home base on this ideal island for sportfishing, check out MCR Bahamas’ current Nassau listings!
- Grand Bahama Island: Home to some of the biggest game fish on earth, Grand Bahama Island offers snapper, grouper, yellowtail, wahoo, barracuda, and kingfish. If you’re looking for a Grand Bahama home to spend your evenings in between fishing outings, check out MCR Bahamas’ Freeport and Grand Bahama listings.
- Treasure Cay (Abacos): Fishers from all over the world flock to Treasure Cay Marina and hire experienced skippers to help them find barracuda, grouper, yellowtail, snapper, tuna, marlin, dolphinfish, bonefish, and wahoo. Find a Treasure Cay property to call your own!
- Green Turtle Cay (Abacos): This cay offers great deep-sea fishing as well as an abundance of giant game fish and tropical fish, along with some of the best fishing guides in The Bahamas. Check out MCR Bahamas’ Green Turtle Cay listings to find an ideal home for all your fishing adventures!
- The Exumas: The Exumas islands are popular for deep-sea and bottom fishing, and fishers often find kingfish, wahoo, dolphinfish, tuna, and bonito in the deep waters. Find the perfect MCR Exumas property to enjoy the Exumas’ easy access to Bahamian wildlife.
Types of Fishing in The Bahamas
No matter how you like to fish, you’ll find a perfect spot in The Bahamas. Here are some of the most popular types of fishing available on the islands.
Deep Sea Fishing
If you like being out on the open water without land in sight, deep sea fishing is for you. Anglers looking for deep sea fishing generally go out where the water is at least 100 feet deep, and since the prime catches often weigh five times more than the average fisher, they have to be ready to put in some work for a successful day. The Bahamas offers plenty of opportunities to seek the exhilarating challenge of deep sea fishing.
Fly Fishing
Fly fishing is a popular pastime in many parts of the world, whether fishers practice in the open ocean or on secluded lakes and rivers. Named for the lures that look like flies or other insects fish may want to eat, fly fishing involves a lot of patience and skill. The Bahamas offers miles and miles of shallows along the islands’ coastlines and among the mangroves, and you can find many licensed fly fishing guides to help you find the best spots for your trip.
Reef Fishing
A kind of bottom fishing, reef fishing offers abundant types of fish for your trip. Reefs provide large congregations of food sources and shelter for fish and other species, which make them a useful gathering spot for fish – and for anglers looking for fish. The Bahamas offers plenty of professional guides to show you the best reefs and to tell you what the fish are most likely to bite.
How to Go Fishing in The Bahamas
You’ll need a little planning to ensure you have the best possible Bahamas fishing trip. Here are the steps you should follow to set yourself up for success.
1. Choose Your Destination
First, you should choose where you want to fish. If you have limited time, you may have to focus on one particular location, but if you plan to stay in The Bahamas for a while, consider some island hopping to try out all the best fishing spots.
2. Book Your Accommodation
Perhaps the most important part of planning any trip is determining where you’ll sleep, enjoy meals, and relax after a long day on the water. The Bahamas offers plenty of options for accommodation, whether you want to stay in a traditional hotel or at a luxurious Bahamas resort.
If you want a private space that feels like home, you might consider renting. And if you plan to return to The Bahamas, it may be worth your while to consider buying your own property. If renting or buying appeals to you, MCR Bahamas can help you find the right fit for your needs.
3. Plan Your Travel
Once you figure out which island(s) you’re visiting, you can determine how to actually get to The Bahamas! There are several airports on the islands, so you can book a commercial flight or even charter a private plane. To travel between islands, you might consider taking a seaplane.
4. Arrange Your Fishing Experience
Once you determine your travel plans and accommodations, you’ll need to plan your fishing experience more specifically. The first step is obtaining a fishing permit. The preferred method is to submit an electronic declaration prior to your trip or to apply for a permit through an official cruising permit vendor. If you arrive by boat, you’ll still have to see Bahamas Customs and Immigration at your port of entry. You can also obtain your permit in person at Bahamas Customs and Immigration.
For an amazing Bahamas fishing experience, you should check out fishing lodges or consider a fishing charter. Fishing lodges can help you with equipment, finding a guide, or even accommodations where you can meet other fishers. Fishing charters are excursions run by boat owners and professional fishers. They take anglers out on the water to fish for a set period of time.
More About Fishing in The Bahamas
We have answers to all your questions so you can turn your Bahamas fishing trip into your best one yet.
Does The Bahamas have good fishing?
Yes, The Bahamas is a top destination for professional and amateur anglers alike. You can find plenty of opportunities for fly fishing, deep sea fishing, and reef fishing. Depending on the kind of fish you want to catch, you can find excellent fishing in The Bahamas year round.
Can tourists fish in The Bahamas?
Tourists can absolutely fish in The Bahamas. All you have to do is obtain a fishing permit by submitting an electronic declaration online before your trip or by visiting Bahamas Customs and Immigration upon arrival. And if you’re hoping for a guide to make the most of your trip, check out the many fishing lodges and charters throughout the islands.
How much does it cost to fish in The Bahamas?
The cost of your fishing vacation in The Bahamas will depend on how long you want to fish and whether or not you book a fishing charter or private guide. Bonefishing licenses, for example, vary from $15 per day to $60 per year. Many fishing charters, however, range from $200 to over $1,000.
What is the best time to go fishing in The Bahamas?
The Bahamas offers year-round opportunities for fishing! If you have a preference for the type of fish you catch, you can choose your vacation time to align with those fishes’ optimal seasons (see The Bahamas official website for a breakdown of fishing seasons). If you prefer to avoid hurricane season, avoid booking your trip from June 1 to November 30.
Plan Your Bahamas Fishing Trip
If you’re looking for the fishing trip of a lifetime, The Bahamas is the place for you. Try out fly fishing along the coast or tackle massive catches while deep sea fishing, all while you enjoy the tropical atmosphere of The Bahamas. No matter when you come, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to practice your angling skills.
But don’t forget to find a place to lay your head every night after long days in the sun! Whether you want oceanfront accommodations or a place in town, MCR Bahamas can help you find the rental property of your dreams for your Bahamas vacation. And if you fall in love with the island lifestyle, we can show you the best places to live in the Bahamas and help you buy a home or a plot of land to make your own. Let us help you make your luxury Bahamas dreams come true.
Find your perfect Bahamas fishing retreat with MCR today.