The Bahamas is one of the world’s most beautiful and unique places. The beauty of the Bahamian underwater world is challenging to put into words. There are over 700 islands and 2,400 keys (or cays) with some of the most iconic ocean floor topographies for recreational, sport, tournament, Spearfishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Spearfishing popularly occurs near reefs between 30-60 feet of water. So, it is very accessible for private boats, spearfishing charters, and dive guides to experience abundant marine life across the Bahamas.
Before hopping off your boat to spearfish in the Bahamas, a few things to note is that Spearfishing or harvesting any marine life while diving with any type of air supply, such as scuba gear or air compressors, is illegal by Bahamian law. In addition, it is unlawful to use a speargun, and your options are the Hawaiian sling or a pole spear. Research and review resources with updated information regarding the regulations for Spearfishing in the Bahamas is always a recommendation. Visiting Bahams.com/spearfishingFAQ and BigGameClubBimini.com/fishingregulations are just a couple of resources to lean on for information. A key one to note, as put on the Big Game Club website, is, “Spearfishing is not allowed within one mile of the coast of New Providence, within one mile of the south coast of Freeport, Grand Bahama, and within 200 yards of the coast of all the Out-Islands, including Bimini. Spearing or taking marine animals is prohibited in national sea parks.”
The prevalence of Lobster’s impact in the Bahamas is proven by the $90 million Bahamian lobster industry, which employs about 9,000 fishers who cover a massive 45,000 square miles of ocean. The Marine Stewardship Council states that more than 4 million pounds of spiny lobster tails are exported yearly, primarily to the United States and Europe. That isn’t even considering the tourism revenue generated by people who seek to visit the Bahamas to dive for lobsters.
Some spearfishermen prefer using their hands to catch the Lobster since the Lobster’s meat can be easily damaged when spearing the Lobster or crawfish. On the flip side, the locals describe spearfishing lobster as ‘pure joy.’ You can wade or free dive to spot your Lobster and strike with a Hawaiin sling or pole spear. It has made lobstering very popular in the Bahamas. Lobsters are abundant throughout all the islands, although Spanish Wells has been considered the “Lobster Capital” among all the accessible shallow reefs throughout Eleuthera. Bahamas Lobster season opens on August 1 and lasts until March 31. The Bimini Game Club states that there should be no more than ten tails at any time. The annual closed season is April 1 to July 31. Minimum size limits are 3-3/8 inch carapace length or six inches tail length. Female egg-bearing lobsters are protected, and it is illegal to harvest them.
Grouper and Snapper are also popular fish during Bahamas spearfishing trips. Yellowtail, Queen, Red, and Lane Snapper will also be found here, along with Black, Gag, and the absolute superstar – Nassau Grouper.
Snappers are very popular targets when on spearfishing trips. Yellowtail, Mutton, Queen, Lane, and Red Snapper are found around all reef structures or in the open water. Depending on where your spearfishing trip occurs, rocky points with deep gutters and shallow reef areas should be the first place to look. Snappers hang out beside rocky structures and weeds, hiding from more giant predators.
Groupers also love structure. It’s common to go for groupers and snappers on the same trip. Look for wrecks, rocks, and drop-offs with shelves, holes, and underledges for a courageous grouper.
The Bahamas are full of shallow waters, ledges, reefs, and rocky bottoms, perfect spots to look for Hogfish. However, it’s hard to argue that Spearfishing for Hogfish is iconic throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Like Grouper, Snapper, and Lobster, Hogfish are abundant in the Bahamas. They are a perfect target for beginner spearfishermen and a prized fish that is easy to catch. With peak season in February and March and then from June through August, Hogfish are also available throughout the year.
The list of potential targets continues with many fish species to hunt for. You’ll have the opportunity to (carefully) target the invasive Lionfish, big Amberjack, and even Black Bream (Margate). While hunting for Lobster, you may also go for conch found on the seafloor.
The best spearfishing locations in the Bahamas are typically around coral reefs and wrecks. You can expect to find Nassau grouper, Hogfish, yellowtail Snapper, and many other types of fish. The water is typically shallow in these areas, making it easier to spearfish. Again, be sure to check the regulations before you go so that you know what size limit applies to the fish you are targeting.
All the islands of the Bahamas are a great place to go Spearfishing. The islands have many beautiful coves and bays perfect for your avid spearo or beginner. As mentioned, Grouper and Snapper are abundant offshore. In deeper waters, you will encounter big game fish such as tuna and wahoo. All the Bahamas’ islands, bays, and coves are perfect for Spearfishing. Keep a sharp eye out for wrecks and coral reefs with shallow water that’s easier to spearfish. Andros Island, Cat Island, Grand Bahama Island, Guana Cay, Walker’s Cay, Nassau, Shark Well, and Spanish Wells are all known for their incredible Spearfishing.
Andros is best known to scuba divers and snorkelers. Barrier Reef and Tongue of the Sea is the world’s third-largest barrier reef, measuring more than 140 miles long. Just off the shores of Andros, this reef teems with almost every variety of exotic fish species. Andros Island is the perfect place to dive for Margate, Yellowfin, Black Grouper, Nassau Grouper, and Hogfish in drop-offs, deeper reefs, and blue holes. Andros’ geography and porous limestone foundation mean various breathtaking dive sites: shallow coral colonies and the spectacular Andros Barrier Reef trail on the island’s east coast. A few minutes offshore, the Tongue of the Ocean plunges 6,000 feet into an underwater canyon. Add to those incredible cave systems carved by water over many years with a handful of shipwrecks to choose from and more than 200 blue holes.
Cat Island is quiet and unassuming, but it has its slices of heaven. The Bahamas’ highest point is anchored by Mt. Alvernia, which is perfect for diving and kiteboarding and has an eight-mile pink sand beach. Located in the eastern Bahamas with the Atlantic to the east and the Exuma Sound to the west, Cat Island has some of the most prominent hills, dropping to hundreds of fathoms. It’s a real diver’s paradise, especially considering all the sharks that patrol the local waters.
Grand Bahama is the northernmost island of the Bahamas archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s known for its beaches, reef-lined coves, mangrove swamps, and the number of diving locations to hit.
This 40-foot tugboat is balanced between two separate coral heads, allowing divers to swim under the hull. Lobsters and crabs can occasionally hide in the crevices between the wreck and the reef. In the winter, congregations of tiger groupers are in the vicinity.
Grand Bahama has some of the clearest and deepest waters in the Caribbean if not the whole world. It also has beautiful reefs with various Snappers, perfect for curious spearfishermen. A diving trip from Freeport, on Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas archipelago, allows you to explore the wreck of the Etheridge. This ferry (the wreck), already used in Carolina, was employed as a set for a Halloween movie. It was scuttled in 1992 near Peterson Cay National Park and lay on the sand, 75 feet deep, populated by turtles. Peterson Cay, this beautiful one-and-a-half-acre geological park, is the only cay on Grand Bahama’s leeward shore. Peterson Cay is a low-lying aeolian limestone cay of Pleistocene origin.
One of the Bahamas’ islets is Guana Cay, a long, narrow islet 7 miles long. It is located at the center of the Abaco Islands and near Gumelemi Cay. Approximately 150 people live on the island, mainly along the five-and-a-half-mile-long stretch of beach. It’s perfect for Spearfishing since you usually find less offshore and inshore fishing traffic here.
Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. It lies on New Providence, with neighboring Paradise Island accessible via Nassau Harbor bridges. A popular cruise ship port, the city has a hilly landscape. It is known for its beaches and offshore coral reefs, which are famous for diving and snorkeling.
The usual waters for free diving are 30–60 feet deep near the reefs (scuba gear and air compressors are not allowed). You’ll use Hawaiian slings to hunt down Hogfish, Grouper, Lobster, a variety of Snapper, and much more.
Since Spearfishing in the Bahamas is strictly regulated by the government. Fishing with a licensed Nassau charter is the best route to ensure you do not break any laws. Ask the guides; they will take you where spearing is allowed, show you the local way, and do everything possible to put you on the biggest catch.
Spearfishing in Eleuthera off of Spanish Wells and Harbour Island is an adventure that gives you an entirely different experience from other types of fishing. While wading or diving, you’ll use a Hawaiian sling and spear to strike the fish. You can dive freely in depths from 10 to 50 feet and experience the beauty while remaining on the lookout for your catch. You can also catch more than just fish when Spearfishing in Eleuthera and Harbour Island. Lobsters are abundant, and Spanish Wells is the lobster capital of the Bahamas. The lobster processing plant in Spanish Wells, Ronald’s Seafood, is even the US’s leading supplier of rock lobster for Red Lobster.
There are certain spots where you won’t be able to hunt underwater. Spearfishing – or any fishing – is forbidden in National Marine Parks. As well as that, no one can’t fish within 200 yards of any of the Out Islands, including the Berry Islands, Ragged Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Long Island, Andros, Bimini, the Abacos, Acklins & Crooked Island, Mayaguana, Inagua, the Exumas, and Eleuthera. Spearfishing is prohibited within one mile of the south coast of Grand Bahama Island and New Providence. When Spearfishing in Nassau, you must be at least a mile off the beach and 200 yards off any island with residents.
The hurricane season lasts from June to November.
Coincidentally, the best time to spearfish is in summer and September. Most species come to the warm waters around the islands, which you can use to your advantage if you’re flexible. Another essential thing to keep in mind is sizes and restrictions. For example, Lobster spearfishing is “off” season from April 1 to July 31. You can bag only ten tails of 3-3.8-inch carapace length (or 6 inches tail length) at any given time. Female Lobsters that are egg-bearing are forbidden to be harvested. Plus, you can keep up to six conchs per vessel.
There’s also a closed season for Nassau Grouper from December 1 through the last day of February. Bag limits also apply: you can keep up to two Nassau Grouper daily.
Hop on a commercial flight, private plane, cruise ship, or private yacht and get to the Bahamas. Grab your gear, load the boat, fire those engines, and hit the Spearfishing grounds!
A Complete Guide to Spearfishing the Bahamas – Hardcore Game Fishing. https://www.hardcoregamefishing.com/a-complete-guide-to-spearfishing-the-bahamas/
Spearfishing in Nassau – FishingBooker. https://fishingbooker.com/technique/spearfishing/bs/nassau/
Bimini Bahamas | BanditoSpearguns’s new blog. https://banditospearguns.com/2012/09/24/places-to-go/
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