{
  "destination": "bahamas",
  "name": "Bahamas",
  "question": "Do I need a fishing licence on a yacht charter in the Bahamas?",
  "answer": "It depends on the boat: a foreign-owned yacht needs a Bahamas sport fishing permit, while guests on a Bahamian-owned charter boat need no permit but must keep to the visitor bag limits (per vessel: 18 pelagic fish, 10 lobster in season, 6 conch, and 60 lb or 20 demersal fish). We do not quote a permit price, because official Bahamian pages give conflicting amounts and conflicting instructions on where to get the permit, so confirm the fee with Bahamas Customs or the Department of Marine Resources before you go.",
  "warning": "We do not give a price for the Bahamas sport fishing permit. Official Bahamian pages list different fees. The fishing FAQ on bahamas.com, the official tourism site, also says online pre-registration is preferred, but that the permit cannot be bought online and must be obtained at the port of entry. Confirm the fee and the process with Bahamas Customs or the Department of Marine Resources before you go.",
  "canonical_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/bahamas/",
  "markdown_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/bahamas.md",
  "destination_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/bahamas/",
  "best_time_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/bahamas/",
  "api_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/api/fishing/bahamas.json",
  "book_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=bahamas&pos=api",
  "checked": "2026-10-28",
  "licence": {
    "needed": "depends",
    "summary": "Only on a foreign-owned boat; flats need a personal licence",
    "cost_summary": "Not stated: official pages give conflicting amounts",
    "issuer": "Department of Marine Resources / Bahamas Customs at port of entry",
    "price": null,
    "price_conflict": "We do not give a price for the Bahamas sport fishing permit. Official Bahamian pages list different fees. The fishing FAQ on bahamas.com, the official tourism site, also says online pre-registration is preferred, but that the permit cannot be bought online and must be obtained at the port of entry. Confirm the fee and the process with Bahamas Customs or the Department of Marine Resources before you go.",
    "validity": {
      "text": "30 days or annual (see conflict)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "notes": [
      {
        "text": "Needed only for a foreign (non-Bahamian-owned) vessel.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "On a Bahamian-owned charter boat guests need no permit, but visitor bag limits still apply.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Contradiction on bahamas.com: online pre-registration (Click2Clear) is 'preferred', yet the same page says the permit cannot be obtained online and must be obtained at the port of entry.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Flats: every angler over 12 needs a licence; a Bahamian certified guide is required if 2+ anglers fish the flats from a vessel; only Bahamian-registered vessels may fish the flats.",
        "status": "official"
      }
    ],
    "source": {
      "id": "fish_bahamas_2",
      "name": "Government of The Bahamas",
      "title": "Gov – Sport Fishing Permit",
      "url": "https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/service/sport-fishing-permit",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    }
  },
  "catch_limits_summary": "Per vessel: 18 pelagics, 10 lobster, 6 conch, demersals 60 lb or 20 fish",
  "limits": [
    {
      "text": "Per licensed foreign vessel: 18 pelagics (dolphin, wahoo, kingfish, tuna); 10 lobster (in season); 6 conch (flared lip); demersals 60 lb or 20 fish",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Max 6 rods in use; more than 6 needs a $10,000/yr permit; electric reels allowed",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "No scuba or compressor for fishing",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Billfish must be released (except in approved tournaments); sharks protected since 2011 and must be released",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Bonefish: no limit, catch & release encouraged",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "spearfishing": [
    {
      "text": "Spear: Hawaiian sling or pole spear only, endorsed on the permit; spearguns banned; spearfishing banned within 1 mile of New Providence and the south coast of Grand Bahama, and within 200 yards of any Out Island",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "protected_areas": [
    {
      "text": "Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park (no-take) — not verified",
      "status": "not_verified"
    },
    {
      "text": "Bahamas National Trust marine parks — not verified",
      "status": "not_verified"
    }
  ],
  "species": [
    {
      "common_name": "Wahoo",
      "scientific_name": "Acanthocybium solandri",
      "method": "high-speed trolling",
      "best_months": "Nov–Feb (Bimini)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_bahamas_5",
        "name": "Visit Bimini",
        "title": "Visit Bimini month by month",
        "url": "https://visitbimini.org/journal/bimini-fishing-month-by-month/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "01 March 2022",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_acanthocybium_solandri",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Acanthocybium solandri species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Acanthocybium-solandri.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Mahi-mahi",
      "scientific_name": "Coryphaena hippurus",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": "Apr–Jun (Bimini)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_bahamas_8",
        "name": "Visit Bimini",
        "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
        "url": "https://visitbimini.org/fish/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "17 September 2010",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_coryphaena_hippurus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Coryphaena hippurus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Coryphaena-hippurus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Blue marlin",
      "scientific_name": "Makaira nigricans",
      "method": "trolling — release mandatory",
      "best_months": "Apr–Jul (Bimini)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_bahamas_8",
        "name": "Visit Bimini",
        "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
        "url": "https://visitbimini.org/fish/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "VU",
        "category": "Vulnerable",
        "assessed": "10 May 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_makaira_nigricans",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Makaira nigricans species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Makaira-nigricans.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Atlantic bluefin tuna",
      "scientific_name": "Thunnus thynnus",
      "method": "big game",
      "best_months": "May (Bimini)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_bahamas_8",
        "name": "Visit Bimini",
        "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
        "url": "https://visitbimini.org/fish/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "15 January 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_thunnus_thynnus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Thunnus thynnus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-thynnus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Bonefish",
      "scientific_name": "Albula vulpes",
      "method": "flats/fly, guide required",
      "best_months": "Oct–Jun best; year-round",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_bahamas_8",
        "name": "Visit Bimini",
        "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
        "url": "https://visitbimini.org/fish/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "NT",
        "category": "Near Threatened",
        "assessed": "29 March 2011",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_albula_vulpes",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Albula vulpes species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Albula-vulpes.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Nassau grouper",
      "scientific_name": "Epinephelus striatus",
      "method": "bottom fishing",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "CR",
        "category": "Critically Endangered",
        "assessed": "18 November 2016",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "IUCN CR. Seasonal closure not verified",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_striatus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Epinephelus striatus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-striatus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Tarpon",
      "scientific_name": "Megalops atlanticus",
      "method": "flats",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "VU",
        "category": "Vulnerable",
        "assessed": "12 June 2018",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_megalops_atlanticus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Megalops atlanticus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Megalops-atlanticus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Cobia",
      "scientific_name": "Rachycentron canadum",
      "method": "flats/sight casting",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "21 August 2012",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_rachycentron_canadum",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Rachycentron canadum species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Rachycentron-canadum.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    }
  ],
  "spots": [
    {
      "name": "Bimini",
      "why": "wahoo, marlin, bluefin, bonefish",
      "source": "visitbimini.org (secondary)",
      "status": "as named"
    },
    {
      "name": "Andros / Tongue of the Ocean",
      "why": "bonefish; marlin and wahoo",
      "source": "oneoutdoors.org, angleradventures.com (secondary)",
      "status": "as named"
    },
    {
      "name": "Abacos",
      "why": "wahoo and reef fish Nov–May",
      "source": "secondary",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Exumas",
      "why": "flats year-round (avoid the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park)",
      "source": "secondary",
      "status": "secondary"
    }
  ],
  "charter_guest_rules": "Guests on a Bahamian-owned charter boat need no permit, but per-vessel bag limits apply. A foreign-flagged or owned yacht needs the sport fishing permit. Flats fishing needs a personal licence and, for 2+ anglers from a vessel, a Bahamian guide. Avoid September–October offshore because of hurricane season (secondary source).",
  "not_verified": [
    "Sport fishing permit fee (official pages conflict)",
    "Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park (no-take) — not verified",
    "Bahamas National Trust marine parks — not verified",
    "Best months for Nassau grouper, Tarpon, Cobia"
  ],
  "status_legend": {
    "official": "Read in an official source (government, statutory body or the legal text).",
    "secondary": "From a non-government source (guide, club, operator or news); not official.",
    "unconfirmed": "An official rule we could only read in a search summary, because we could not open the official text.",
    "not_verified": "We could not confirm it.",
    "note": "status is our reading of the dataset's own wording: \"secondary\" = non-government source; \"unconfirmed\" = official rule read only in a search summary; \"not_verified\" = a gap."
  },
  "caveat": "Rules change. Check with the authority or the charter company before fishing. Our summaries (answer, summary, cost_summary, catch_limits_summary) are written from the labelled facts.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "fish_bahamas_1",
      "name": "Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (bahamas.com)",
      "title": "bahamas.com Fishing FAQ",
      "url": "https://www.bahamas.com/plan-your-trip/fishing/fishing-faq",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bahamas_2",
      "name": "Government of The Bahamas",
      "title": "Gov – Sport Fishing Permit",
      "url": "https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/service/sport-fishing-permit",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bahamas_3",
      "name": "Bahamas Customs",
      "title": "Bahamas Customs – Other taxes",
      "url": "https://www.bahamascustoms.gov.bs/tariffs-and-various-taxes-collected-by-customs/other-taxes/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bahamas_4",
      "name": "Resorts World Bimini (hosts the regulations PDF)",
      "title": "DMR Sportsfishing Regulations PDF (via rwbimini.com)",
      "url": "https://rwbimini.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SportsfishingRegulations.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official text hosted by a third party.",
      "tier": "official-copy"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bahamas_5",
      "name": "Visit Bimini",
      "title": "Visit Bimini month by month",
      "url": "https://visitbimini.org/journal/bimini-fishing-month-by-month/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_acanthocybium_solandri",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Acanthocybium solandri species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Acanthocybium-solandri.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_coryphaena_hippurus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Coryphaena hippurus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Coryphaena-hippurus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bahamas_8",
      "name": "Visit Bimini",
      "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
      "url": "https://visitbimini.org/fish/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_makaira_nigricans",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Makaira nigricans species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Makaira-nigricans.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_thunnus_thynnus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Thunnus thynnus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-thynnus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_albula_vulpes",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Albula vulpes species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Albula-vulpes.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_striatus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Epinephelus striatus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-striatus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_megalops_atlanticus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Megalops atlanticus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Megalops-atlanticus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_rachycentron_canadum",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Rachycentron canadum species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Rachycentron-canadum.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    }
  ],
  "attribution": "Cite \"Catamaran Index\" with a link to the canonical_url of the page the figure comes from, and name the original source listed with it.",
  "affiliate_note": "book_url links go through /go/samboat, an affiliate link: Catamaran Index may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to the traveller. It never changes the data."
}