Two links you should review

http://www.usvi.net/gamefishing/
http://www.caribbeanfmc.com/SL%20FMP.htm

The first one has the local game fish and the general seasons they are caught and the other link has a pdf file called USVI Fisher Info Booklet on the left that you should review for legal bag limits and size restrictions on specific species.

-Josh

Don't forget, catch and release only within the National Park waters.

Practicaly and beach will have fish but more so those with rocks and structure. Sunrise and sunset are good hours to try. Good luck!

Use Squid for your bait when fishing off shore!

Squid and fry and a bunch of lures are all good for offshore fishing depending on what you're looking to catch but, as Patrick said, only catch and release is allowed off-shore in the STJ National Park waters. Poster rocko indicates that he doesn't want to go on a charter but would like to fish off a STJ beach and maybe grab a fish big enough to take back to the villa for dinner.

You might get lucky, rocko, at a shore site on STJ NOT under the National Park guidelines but do familarize yourself with all the sites, rules and regulations so that you don't get hauled in and fined bigtime. Cheers!

From National Park rules: http://www.nps.gov/archive/viis/rules.htm;

Fishing is allowed outside of swim areas, but not in Trunk Bay and Jumbie Bay. Spear guns are prohibited anywhere in Park waters.

Caribbean spiny lobster catch is limited to two per person per day and the carapace (area between head and tail) must be at least 3.5". Whelk season is October 1-March 30. Whelk must be larger than 2.5" and take is limited to 1 gallon per person per day. Conch season is October 1- June 30. Conch must be 9" long and take is limited to two per person per day.

And Additional Rules at: http://www.nps.gov/archive/viis/VIISComp.pdf

Fishing is prohibited at the following locations/times: A. Between 8am and 5pm at NPS Red Hook Dock and NPS Cruz Bay Finger Pier and bulkhead. B. Within all designated boat exclusion areas.

There are different rules for the VI Coral Reef National Monument which mostly borders the NP waters. The booklet previously mentioned has drawings indicating the areas and mentions for the VI Coral Reef Monument that: all fishing is prohibited, except bait fishing in Hurricane Hole and fishing for blue runner. Both require a special permit from NPS.

Patrick, I had called the NP Visitor Center a while back (over a year) and was told that catch and release was not required. *-) Tried calling today to ask but no luck getting through.

Rocko, Best bet would be to stop by the National Park Visitor Center, which is right in Cruz Bay just a couple minutes walk from the ferry dock, ask for one of their small maps and have them show you where the no fishing areas are and give you any other related information and restrictions.

The folks that fish from shore usually do so from the rocky sides of bays/coves; one bay I've seen folks fishing at a few times is Haulover - on the left side when facing the water, close to the point.

There is some general fishing information on this site; types of fish, season, bait, fishing events, clubs, general regulations... you can find it at https://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/more_info/fishing/index.php.

--Islander

This thread is really interesting to me.....we love to fish, but never brought our rods because we didn't really know exactly what the laws where in the VI's.

So Islander, do you think if we wanted to fish at Sapphire Beach, all the way over by the Marina, that it would be ok?

What type of bait do people use down there?

We'll catch and release. Just a nice relaxing thing to do for us.

Connie,

Not sure what they were catching if anything, or the legalities, but I've seen folks fishing over by the Marina area at Sapphire a few times.

There are some beaches on St. Thomas that are protected, for example Secret Harbor is part of a protected marine area.

Bait for line fishing... you can pick up frozen squid at Plaza Extra in the freezer section, 1lb is around $3.

--Islander

Thanks Islander...may live the fins at home and take the rod and reels instead for some relaxation.

Followup: Got through to NP Visitor Center (tu), and it is catch and release only for fishing in NP waters. They mentioned all the other regulations previously listed about not in swim areas and not at Trunk... again best bet is to go to the Visitor Center and have them show you on a map the restricted areas and park lands/waters.

--Islander

A note of caution to those who would fish off the shore/rocks in unregulated areas and maybe catch a reef fish which looks good enough to take home for a villa dinner. Cigituera.

Little bitty scavenger fish eat in contaminated waters caused by toxic developmental run-off. They get eaten by bigger scavenger fish who in turn get eaten by even bigger fish who grow into bigger fish which may look like good eating but are contaminated with cigituera which is very nasty to humans and is undetectable until the resulting most nasty results become apparent shortly after consumption.

The local fishermen who sell their catch in certain areas roadside and dockside after a morning's fishing know exactly where to go to catch good clean cigituera-free fish - way off shore.

Play around for true if them's your druthers and do the catch and release but truly best not to eat what you catch unless getting very sick is on your vacation itinerary. Cheers!

STT Resident,
Sound advice! People take notice! Bottom feeding fish can be poisoned, please be careful!

While ciguatera IS a problem in reef fish, it is due to normally occurring toxins in micro-organisms, not toxic run-off (which probably causes e.coli type problems.) Here is Wikipedia info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciguatera

I just want to thank all of you for the tips, suggestions, and advice. I checked the sites that were recommended and I will purchase squid and shrimp for bait. Next question then becomes, "do you cast and let the bait sit on the bottom, jig it in, or use a bobber and set it just off the bottom. I also plan on taking a few silver spinners or spoons. I travel light with my tackle box being a Tupperware sandwich container.

I look forward to getting off the Wisconsin ice, putting the tip-ups back in the 5 gallon pail, and not having to worry about the reels freezing up. It happens Jan. 27th for a week. Thanks again for the help.

Hi rocko
I'm from Green bay if you can swing it and find a group to go out with charter Double Header for 4 hours you will catch some amasing fish I try to get out with them every time I go down they troll live bait. The last time down we caught about 40 to 50 fish on the 4 hour charter.
Tom

Hi Rocko,

My wife and I will be in St. John 1/25 - 2/3. Any interest in splitting a charter on double header? They have one boat that carries 4 for $500 half day and one that carries 6 for $550. I have no idea if they have availability.

Paul

Double header Link if your interested.. http://www.doubleheadersportfishing.net/charter_info.html

Paul are you leaving on the 3rd or do you have the day? May have a couple to join you if your still interested. I went out on a 40' Luhrs last year and we had 4 people. That was plenty, 6 would have been crowded if all trying to fish. Don't know how 4 on the 35 centers would be. Seems like it would be better than 6 on the 40. Then again if your catching a lot of fish, breaks will be in order. JMO

Unfortunately, we're leaving on the third. We can do any day between 1/27, 1/28 or 1/29 if there's interest. I did email Double Header directly to see if they had anyone looking to share but haven't heard back from them.

Paul, Dates won't work for me, unfortunately. As to DH contacting you, I'd not worry much about that. Keep in mind most people who go out with these guys are on Island for vacation and really don't make plans till they get there. I have had good luck with coupling up with someone but usually it's like the day before you want to go that the boat guys call you. They probably don't know themselves till then. I'll bet you get out with someone. Fishing those waters is awesome. The color of the Mahi when they are close to the surface is incredible. Good Luck'