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Old 04-04-2017, 10:50   #1
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Fishing around the BVI

Hello, we are sailing around Tortolla for a few days and will then make our way south, we are planning to fish on the trip but have no knowledge of the local fish- which are poisonous/ rare etc.
does anyone have a good PDF or book guide to recommend?
Thank you!
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Old 04-04-2017, 12:00   #2
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Re: Fishing around the BVI

Check into the fishing license requirements. BVI require a vessel license as well as individual licenses. The USVI and SVI/PR do not require licenses.

Fishing in the BVI is similar to, but but not as good as USVI. The North Drop, Kingfish Banks and South Drop have good mahi, wahoo, tuna and some sailfish and marlin. You'll see mackerel, kingfish, amberjack, snapper, grouper closer to shore. We stick with these fish. You will catch barrucuda, but we release those due to worries of ciguatera.

You're likely to see sailfish and marlin between St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix.

The residents generally do not eat fish caught around Vieques in the SVIs due to worries about ciguatera.

We generally fish with Williamson or Boone lures - surface and jets. Ballyhoo do well and frozen rigged ballyhoo are available.

Cheers, RickG
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Old 04-04-2017, 12:44   #3
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Re: Fishing around the BVI

I was told that in St. Thomas, while scuba diving by a local that they don't eat the fish around the islands because of the pesticide runoff into the local waters.



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Old 04-04-2017, 14:13   #4
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Re: Fishing around the BVI

Thank you Rick and meatservo,
I really appreciate your help!
Rick, is the concern about the ciguatera only in the virgin islands? how far from the islands is this still an issue?
Thank you,
Shai
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Old 05-04-2017, 05:02   #5
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Re: Fishing around the BVI

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Shai.
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Old 05-04-2017, 13:53   #6
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Re: Fishing around the BVI

Quote:
Originally Posted by shai erev View Post
Thank you Rick and meatservo,
I really appreciate your help!
Rick, is the concern about the ciguatera only in the virgin islands? how far from the islands is this still an issue?
Thank you,
Shai
You can run across Ciguatera infected fish in most any tropical locale, worldwide. Even the folks "down under" have noted the problem!

Also, the list of fish that have been found to potentially have Ciguatera in Florida has been seriously expanded.

While it's unlikely you will contract the nastiness, there is no way of telling the fish you are eating has Ciguatera. What's worse, they have discovered, besides all the other problems it causes, the junk is sexually transmitted.

What a revolting development!
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Old 05-04-2017, 13:56   #7
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Re: Fishing around the BVI

Quote:
Originally Posted by shai erev View Post
Thank you Rick and meatservo,

I really appreciate your help!

Rick, is the concern about the ciguatera only in the virgin islands? how far from the islands is this still an issue?

Thank you,

Shai


The fast movers are generally safe. It's the reef fish you need to watch.

Cheers, RixkG
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Old 05-04-2017, 14:07   #8
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Re: Fishing around the BVI

The locals will tell you anything to keep the fish for themselves. RickG is right about the BVI. I own a charter boat there. One fishing license for the boat and one for every person on it even if you are dragging only on line. Their theory is, "Hey. we don't know who all on the boat has handled that line."
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Old 05-04-2017, 14:17   #9
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Re: Fishing around the BVI

Quote:
Originally Posted by shai erev View Post
Hello, we are sailing around Tortolla for a few days and will then make our way south, we are planning to fish on the trip but have no knowledge of the local fish- which are poisonous/ rare etc.
does anyone have a good PDF or book guide to recommend?
Thank you!
Heading south to St. Croix? Or are you thinking east to Anguilla or St. Maarten? I ask because fishing off the south drop to St. Croix is excellent. You will find that locals on the islands eat every fish. Including Barracuda. I personally don't eat Barracuda big or small because of Ciguatera. I eat all of the other fish though. If you are just sailing around the islands in the Sir Francis Drake Channel, then don't worry too much about fishing cause it sucks. Now if you are headed towards Anagada, then I'd tow a line or two. Also, there is a pretty good reef off of Norman Island that produces a good number of Yellow Tail Snapper. I even got lucky once and bagged a Mutton Snapper there. Hope you have a great trip..

Oh.. Large Yellow feather jigs, large silver spoons, and Cedar Plugs (Blue and Yellow) work well dragging behind the boat.
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Old 07-04-2017, 05:44   #10
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Re: Fishing around the BVI

As others have said in their replies, ciguatera poisoning is a risk that should be taken seriously, and it's usually found in reef reef fish, or predators that feed on reef fish.
Offshore, dorado (mahe mahe), tuna and wahoo should be OK but be suspicious about any variety of mackerel.
You can find pretty much everything you need to know about fishing in tropical waters in the eBook 'Secrets of Sailboat Fishing'
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