Fishing in Bermuda

May to November sees many migratory species pass Bermuda and is the best time for fishing. The 3 main types of fishing in Bermuda are shore fishing, reef fishing, and deep sea fishing.

Shore Fishing

Fishing from Bermuda shores does not require any type of permit. Typical catch include bonefish, pompano, grey snapper and great barracuda.

Reef Fishing

Typical reef fish in Bermuda include great barracuda, little tunny, Bermuda chub, grey snapper, grey triggerfish, coney, yellowtail snapper and lane snapper.

Deep Sea Fishing

Deep sea fishing in Bermuda can result in the following catch: Atlantic blue marlin, white marlin, wahoo, great amberjack, almaco jack, rainbow runner, great barracuda, blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna and little tunny.

Bermuda encourages game fish conservation and encourages release of fish not likely to be eaten; particularly the billfish species. The average release rate in Bermuda for Atlantic blue marlin is 92% whilst that for white marlin is 97%.

Fishing Regulations

Lobsters may only be taken by licensed residents of Bermuda. Spear guns are not allowed; only pole spears. Spear fishing within 1 mile of the shoreline is illegal and an aqualung may not be used. No more than 2 fish of any 1 species can be caught by a spear fisher within any 24 hour period.

Fishing Charters

Chartering a boat is an excellent way to spend either a full or half-day of your vacation. A half-day charter typically costs from around $800 and a full day from $1200. Everything, with the exception of food and drink, is generally included in the price. Visitors should ask the skipper the policy regarding catch, i.e. whether they are allowed to keep all of it, a percentage, or none. Keeping it all may seem a good idea. But realistically, are you going to take a 100 pound wahoo back to your hotel room refrigerator?

By law all boats are skippered by licensed captains. The cruise ships that call at Bermuda generally offer a fishing trip on their shore excursion program.

Charter boats in Bermuda include: