Here is a link about fishing in the USVI.

https://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/more_info/fishing/usvifishingregulations.php

More information is located on the VI Fish and Wildlife website.

http://www.vifishandwildlife.com/

If you require additional information on fisheries regulations, contact the Division of Environmental Enforcement at 773-5774 in St. Croix and 774-3320 in St. Thomas.

Which island are you interested concerning you lobster fishing?

So what i gathered form the website is that you can catch them year round as long as yuou dont spear them...Does anyone know any good spots for lobster?

Which island?

You can't spear, hook, use chemicals or gigs/traps to catch them and you are allowed 2 per day year round. Excluding females with eggs. They must have 3.5 inch carapace or larger.

Thanks...St. Thomas.

vaheel wrote:
...Does anyone know any good spots for lobster?

I will be curious to see if any fisherman would ever answer this response

Yea...I know but it was worth a shot.

Too funny, I was gonna post the other day that I hardly believe anyone will give away their little spots they like to go for lobster! It's best to have a boat. Lobster like areas with good movement of water. I recently saw a post on fb where someone said they used to go in between Thatch and Grass islands. Good luck!

vaheel wrote:
So what i gathered form the website is that you can catch them year round as long as yuou dont spear them...Does anyone know any good spots for lobster?

know any good spots....yes
will i post......no
could you find the spot....hope not

But I will recommend that you invest in an under water flash light.
Tie a glow stick to the back of your mask.
The hunt is 50% of the fun.

thanks, whats the glowstick for?

AAH....

So the boaters (hopefully not rescuers) can see you at night. also hang one on the shore so you can find your way back

SeaBreeze19 wrote:
Which island?

You can't spear, hook, use chemicals or gigs/traps to catch them and you are allowed 2 per day year round. Excluding females with eggs. They must have 3.5 inch carapace or larger.

The 2 per day rule only applys in the National Park Boundarys around St. John. No taking of lobster in the St. James Preserve as well.

This link should give you all the information needed for lobster catching.

http://www.caribbeanfmc.com/SCANNED%20FMPS/SPINY%20LOBSTER/SL%20FMP.htm

Trapper9872, correct - 2 lobster per day applies to National Park waters only. Thanks for the corection.

There is a download under the above link that shows where National Park waters are. Or at least on that website.

If you have any any questions, call the phone numbers provided.

http://www.caribbeanfmc.com/REGULATIONS%20PR-USVI/usvi%20booklet/fisher%20booklet%20final.pdf

9
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TERRITORIAL WATERS
SUMMARY OF FISHING REGULATIONS
TERRITORIAL WATERS EXTEND FROM SHORE TO 3 MILES OFFSHORE
1 Whelk:
Size Limit:
Landing Restriction:
Closed Season :
V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 9A, §316-6 & 316-7.
Minimum size of shell must be greater than 2 7/16 inches in
diameter.
Must be landed whole in the shell (see Appendix 1 page 24).
April 1-September 30.
2 Conch:
Size Limit:
Harvest Quota:
Landing Restriction:
Sale Restriction:
Closed Season:
V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 9A, §316-1 & 316-4.
Minimum size of 9 inch shell length from the spire to the distal end,
or 3/8 inch lip thickness (see Appendix 1 page 24).
No harvest of undersized conch.
150 conch per day per permitted commercial fisher.
6 conch per day per recreational (personal use) fisher; not to
exceed 24 per boat per day.
Must be landed alive and whole in the shell at final landing site.
No disposal of shell at sea before landing. Taking conch to offshore
cays and islands for purpose of removing from shell is prohibited.
Transport of conch meat out of shell over open water is prohibited.
No sale of undersized conch shell or meat from undersized conch.
No sale of imported conch meat unless shipment is accompanied by a
CITES export permit and shipment is cleared at the Port of Miami.
(see Conch Imports, page 8 for exceptions and further information).
July 1 - September 30.
3 Spiny Lobster:
Size Limit:
Landing Restriction:
Gear Restrictions:
V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 9A, §319.
3 ½ inch carapace length (see Appendix 1 page 24).
Must be landed whole.
No harvest of females with eggs.
No spearfishing, hooks, gigs or use of chemicals.
4 Shrimp:
Commissioner Prescribed Rule, V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 9A, §303(1)
No commercial harvest in Altona Lagoon and Great Pond.
No sale.
Recreational permit is required (see page 1).
5 Goliath Grouper
(jewfish):
Commissioner Prescribed Rule, V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 2, §104
Endangered species. Harvest prohibited, no possession.
6 Billfish:
V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 9A.
Federal regulations for billfish apply in territorial waters. See page
15 for specific regulations.
10
7 Billfish, Swordfish,
Tuna & Shark:
V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 9A.
Federal regulations and federal permit requirements apply in
territorial waters. See page 15 for specific regulations.
8 Tarpon &
Bonefish:
Commissioner Prescribed Rule under V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 9A,
§304.
No harvest.
Catch and release using hook and line only.
9 Sea Turtles:
V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 9A, §318.
Endangered species. No harvest, no possession and no harassment of
sea turtles or their eggs.
10 Aquarium
Collecting:
V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 9A, §106c.
Permit required from the Department of Planning and Natural
Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife.

I know I'm resurrecting an old thread here but I will be on island one week from today.
I thought I read somewhere that catching them with a snare is legal. Can anyone confirm this?

As posted by Alana, "No spearfishing, hooks, gigs or use of chemicals." Snares aren't prohibited.

Thanks, Just wanted to be absolutely sure what I was reading.

A few more questions:
All I can find on bag limits is 2 in National Parks.
What about non national park waters? Can't seem to find anything specific on that.
Also is there any specifics on the size or length of a lobster snare.
May want to do some spear fishing too. (not for lobster of course) Is there anything that states how the spear should be made and how long it can be?
I can't seem to find specifics on these questions.
Thanks!!

It took a bit of chasing but I found the number for fish and game. 340-775-6762
Funny though. I asked about the bag limit for territorial waters and she said that they "recommend" or would like to see folks only keep 5-6 per person. 😮
Uh ok. I get that lucky I'll be glad to only take that many!!
As far as size or length of either snares or spears the lady I asked and says there is no restrictions on that.

I don't believe there is a restriction on size of snare but absolutely NO spearing!
With snares you can release (and hopefully, you will!) females with eggs you may snare,
accidently without killing them which is the point of using ONLY snares and no spears, hooks, gigs, etc.

I released many females with eggs in my lobster catching days and let some huge, grand,
oldsters continue to be top breeders, male and female.
Why catch more than you need for dinner?