Spearfishing Tips For The Bahamas

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Spearfishing Tips For The Bahamas, Where the Sport Remains Primal and Pure

Spearfishing tips for the Bahamas can help you enjoy your Bahamas spearfishing vacation safely. The Bahamas provides excellent spearfishing grounds.

The clear water and prolific gamefish were actually some of the deciding factors when we chose these islands as our second home. You can enjoy the great spearfishing there if know how to prepare. Spearfishing on scuba is against the law in the Bahamas, so you'll need to be a good freediver.

You'll need to pack a mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit. In the winter, bring a three to five mm suit for maximum comfort. In the summer, you may be comfortable in a 1 mm suit or just a swimsuit.

Spearfishing gear to pack would include: either a pole spear or a hawaiian sling with more than one spear shaft, in case one gets bent or lost. If you do not have any experience with a hawaiian sling, a pole spear would be your best bet, as it is easier to get the hang of. Most islands have shops that sell spear shafts and hawaiian slings, but not pole spears. Spear guns are against the law in the Bahamas. Here is a picture of Brian with a hawaiian sling.

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You must get a permit to spearfish in the Bahamas. Just ask the customs agent when you clear in. It was free the last time we got one, but we had to fill out some paperwork. There's Brian with a good sized mutton snapper and hawaiian sling.

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You should also make it your business to know which fish are out of season during your visit, so you don't kill any protected species. The Nassau grouper is off season from December 1 through February 28. The Caribbean spiny lobster is off season from April 1 through July 31.

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Once you're in the Bahamas, you've got your gear, your permit, and know what fish are off limits, you're ready to get in the water.

You can hire a guide to take you out in a boat and give you additional spearfishing tips, or you can go right off the beach. There are usually scattered coral reefs and limestone ledges near the shore where fish love to hang out.

Keep in mind that medical facilities on many of the Bahamas islands are sparse, so be alert, get a fresh kill out of water ASAP to avoid sharks, and use the buddy system.

Some fish you might target are margate, hogfish, mutton snapper, yellowtail snapper, and various grouper. All are good eating fish. There's Brian with a grouper and a beautiful margate.

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Only kill what you eat. The universal ethics course for spearfishing. We like to bring a knife and all the fixins to cook our catch on a beach fire. Nothing like fresh seafood!

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If you don't have a grill, bring some tin foil to wrap the fish up in and place it on the fire. Do research on ciguatera, a tropical toxin that infects reef fish, and in turn can infect you.

We've stayed ciguatera free by avoiding eating barracuda and large jacks altogether, because they have a bad reputation for carrying the disease, and also by not killing or eating especially large snapper or grouper. This is because the toxin accumulates in the fish over time, so a larger and older fish is more likely to have poisonous amounts in its flesh. It is a nasty illness and cooking doesn't kill it, so stay clear! Hope you enjoyed our Spearfishing Tips for the Bahamas! Happy Spearfishing!

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