Bahamas Marina Guide

Sailing to the Bahamas By Boat | Entry Fees For Boats

Bimini, Bahamas

Bimini Bay Marina, Resort & Casino
Bimini Bay Resort’s full-service marina has 136 floating boat slips. It also features its own Customs & Immigration office allowing guests to tie up and clear customs immediately. The Bahamian government recently completed an environmentally-friendly dredging of the Bimini Bay harbor, resulting in a new channel that can accommodate mega yachts.

West End, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas

Blue Marlin Cove
The private marina fulfills all of the fishermen’s needs with a commercial ice house, 2 professional fish cleaning stations, 15 amp power to the docks, lines at every piling, under-dock night lighting, commercial community kitchen, gas and charcoal grills, game room, wireless internet access, a lounge and a large patio area complete with pool and spa.

Ginn at Old Bahama Bay
Only 56 miles from Palm Beach, is a full-service marina destination with 72- slips featuring a controlling depth of 8 feet at mean low tide.

Harbour Island & Eleuthera, Bahamas

Romora Bay Marina (Harbour Island)
The view from Romora Bay Club & Resort could only be heightened by overlooking the deepwater marina that is the centerpiece of the development. The Romora Bay Marina has 40 slips up to 150' in length that accommodates a variety of sport and pleasure craft. The marina is fully illuminated at night and will offer water and electric connections.

Support BASRA

Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association
Since 1960 the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association of Grand Bahama made its mandate to save persons in distress on the sea. Solely manned and operated by volunteers, BASRA has saved many lives and been involved in thousands of rescues. With the assistance of both the Bahamas Defense Force and the U.S. Coast Guard, BASRA Grand Bahama maintains a watchful eye on the Northern Bahamas seas.

Entering the Bahamas By Boat

Visiting boaters must clear Customs and Immigration at the nearest designated Port of Entry. As you enter port, fly the yellow quarantine flag and notify Customs of your arrival. No one other than the captain is permitted to leave the boat until your vessel has been cleared. Customs and Immigration will come to your vessel. Everyone on board must have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card. U.S. citizens can present a passport or birth certificate (original or certified copy) and an official photo I.D., such as a driver's license or voter's card. Before leaving The Bahamas, be sure to surrender your copy of the immigration card at the last Bahamian port you visit. If you have a firearm on board, you must declare it with Customs. You must provide the serial number and manufacturer, plus an exact count of ammunition. Though you are allowed to have a firearm on your boat, you cannot take it off the boat unless you obtain a permit from the Bahamian police ahead of time. Weapons must be under lock and key at all times. Regular hours for Bahamas Customs and Immigration Officers are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Officers are on call during holidays and weekends. There is no overtime charge.

Entry Fees For Boats Have Increased to $150 and Up!
The fee for boaters for boats up to 35 feet is $150.00 and the fee for boats over 35 feet is $300. These fees are inclusive of a cruising permit, fishing permit and departure tax for up to four persons with no overtime charges for Customs or Immigration. Each additional person above four will be charged additional departure tax.

Bahamas Fishing Rules and Regulations

Fishing Permits: Permits are obtained from Customs officials at ports of entry.

Rod Limits: Fishing gear is restricted to hook and line and you may not fish with more than six rods at a time.

Fishing Limits: The below measure is a part of efforts being made to ensure that the fishery in The Bahamas will be sustained for the benefit of present and future generations of Bahamian fishermen and consumers.

Closure of Nassau Grouper Fishing Throughout The Bahamas
The Department of Fisheries wishes to advise the public that the taking, landing, processing, selling and offering for sale of fresh Nassau Grouper will be prohibited during the period from 16th December 2004 to 16th February 2005 throughout The Bahamas.

The Department of Fisheries wishes to advise the public that the taking, landing, processing, selling and offering for sale of fresh Nassau Grouper will be prohibited during the period from 16th December 2004 to 16th February 2005 throughout The Bahamas.

The above measure is a part of efforts being made to ensure that the commercial fishery for the Nassau Grouper in The Bahamas will be sustained for the benefit of present and future generations of Bahamian fishermen and consumers.

Lobster or Crawfish
Six tails per person, at any time. Annual closed season is April 1 to July 31. Minimum size limits are 3 3/8" carapace length or 6" tail length. Egg-bearing female crawfish are protected.

Conch
Harvesting and possession of conch without a well-formed lip is prohibited. Bag limit at any time is 10 per person.

Although conch has been the basis of local subsistence fisheries in the Bahamas islands, queen conch populations are in decline throughout their range, unable to keep pace with the growing pressure of commercial harvest. The conch matures slowly, taking three to four years to grow to harvest size in the wild.

The Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) is perhaps the favorite marine creatures. In Florida and it is now illegal to take a single conch.

Though showing signs of overharvest, queen conch populations in the Bahamas and some Caribbean countries are in somewhat better shape, partly due to restrictions, which prohibit the use of scuba gear by conch fishermen. This allows the survival of small, deepwater "refuge" populations, ensuring some reproduction to replenish the regional stocks.

Wahoo/Dolphin/Kingfish
Six fish per person, any combination.

Vessel Bag
Limit 20 pounds of scalefish, 10 conch and 6 crawfish per person may be exported from The Islands Of The Bahamas.

Stone Crabs
Closed season is June 1 to October 15. Minimum harvestable claw is 4". Harvesting of females is prohibited.

Turtle
Illegal to import although legal to eat in The Islands Of The Bahamas.

Spearfishing
Hawaiian sling is the only approved spearfishing device. Use of scuba gear or an air compressor to harvest fish, conch, crawfish and other marine animals is prohibited. Spearfishing is not allowed within one mile off the coast of New Providence, within one mile off the south coast of Freeport, Grand Bahama and within 200 yards of the coast of all Out Islands. Spearing or taking marine animals by any means is prohibited within national sea parks.

Marine Reserves
Marine Reserves are an important way to protect Bahamas marine animal stocks. Marine Reserves are protected areas where marine animals can reproduce. The young of marine animals inside a marine reserve will repopulate areas outside the reserve.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPORTING SEAFOOD FROM THE BAHAMAS AS A PART OF PERSONAL BAGGAGE

The Bahamas Fisheries regulations allow travelers to export a limited amount of marine resources as part of their personal baggage. Listed below are the maximum allowable limits for all travelers traveling both by air and sea.

Seafood Export Limits carried as part of personal baggage:

• Six Dolphin, Wahoo or Kingfish
• Ten (10 lbs.) pounds of Conch* or Crawfish
• Twenty (20 lbs.) pounds of Demersal fish

Additional Requirements for Conch Exports

The Convention on the Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), which The Bahamas is a party to, has listed the Queen Conch as an endangered species. Therefore, any conch export from The Bahamas requires the issuance of a CITES Export Permit. Persons traveling with up to ten (10 lbs.) pounds of conch may apply directly to the Department of Agriculture's Permits Section for the CITES Export Permit. This section is located at the Levy Building on East Bay Street. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. The fee for the CITES Export Permit is ten ($10.00) dollars.

Islands of the Baamas

Visit the main Bahama islands like beautiful Grand Bahama Island (Freeport and Lucaya) and bustling New Providence (Nassau and Paradise Island).

Or, if you really want to get away from the crowds, visit one of the many out islands like Abaco, Andros, Acklins and Crooked Island, Biminis, Berry Islands, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Exumas, Inaguas, Mayaguana, and San Salvador.

Closure of Nassau Grouper Fshing Throughout The Bahamas

The Department of Fisheries wishes to advise the public that the taking, landing, processing, selling and offering for sale of fresh Nassau Grouper will be prohibited from the first of December to the end of February throughout The Islands of The Bahamas.

Bahamas Fishing Tournaments

Coming here soon.

Updated Sport Fishing Regulations

AMENDMENT OF THE SPORTS FISHING REGULATIONS

The Department of Marine Resources wishes to advise the general public that several additional amendments to the Regulations governing sports fishing have been made. These changes came into force on 19th October, 2007. The amendments address regulations 46, 47, 48 and 70 of the Fisheries Regulation (Ch. 244 – Subsidiary Legislation of The Bahamas – 2000) and have the effect of curtailing the amount of marine resources which can legally be harvested by foreign boaters visiting The Islands Of The Bahamas.

Sport Fishing and Tournament Rules and Regulations for The Islands Of The Bahamas :

a) A person shall fish by the traditional method of angling with a hook or lure attached to a line held in the hand or attached to a pole, rod or reel.

b) A person, unless otherwise authorized by the respective permit, shall not use a spear, a fish trap, or a net other than a landing net.

c) Each vessel shall use not more than six (6) rods or reels unless the operator is in possession of a permit authorizing the use of more rods or reels.

d) Any person or organization wishing to organize or hold a sports fishing tournament in The Islands Of The Bahamas must apply for a permit. Application for a permit can be made by completing Form 17, paying the $500 fee and attaching to the application, the proposed rules for the tournament/sports fishing event.

e) Once the tournament/sports fishing event is approved, a permit (Form 18) will be issued outlining the terms and conditions of approval for the event. The required tournament decals for each participant in the tournament/sports fishing event will also be issued at this time. This decal is to be attached to the bottom of the copy of the sports fishing permit provided to each participant.

f) All foreign vessels engaged in a sports fishing event must be in possession of a valid permit.

g) Attempting to sell fishery products derived from sports fishing under the terms and conditions of the permit granted is illegal.

h) Any migratory fishery resource that is caught shall not in total exceed more than eighteen (18) Kingfish, Dolphin, Tuna or Wahoo per vessel. Any resource not intended to be used shall not be injured unnecessarily but be returned to the sea alive.

i) Each vessel must adhere to the following catch limits: no turtle, a maximum of six (6) conch, ten (10) crawfish and a maximum of twenty (20) or sixty (60) pounds of any demersal fishery resources (groupers, snappers, etc.) per vessel at any time.

j) Any type of Billfish (such as Marlins, Sailfish or Swordfish, etc) must be returned to the sea unharmed except where landed under the terms of an approved sports fishing event or tournament.

k) A fishery inspector has the authority by law to enter and inspect any vessel that has engaged in sports fishing.

l) The limitations specified above also apply to a Bahamian vessel engaged in fishing for purposes other than commercial by persons who are not Bahamians. For the purposes of this regulation, residents will be treated the same as Bahamians.

m) Foreign vessels engaged in sports fishing in The Islands Of The Bahamas under a permit are able to, on leaving the country, export the amount of fishery products aboard that vessel in accordance with the catch limits outlined above.