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FISHING CALENDAR · THE BAHAMAS
The Bahamas Fishing Calendar
The Bahamas tourism board's official chart rates each game fish month by month, and the Department of Marine Resources sets the closed seasons. Fishing goes on all year: flats, reef and blue water.
Government fish & wildlife updates
- Department of Marine Resources notices — Closed-season notices
- Bahamas Tourism – Fishing Regulations & FAQ — Bag limits, permits, flats licence
- BahamasTradeInfo (Govt.) — Season notices (crawfish, sizes)
Month by month
| Fish | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flats & inshore | |||||||||||||
| Bonefish | Tourism chart: Excellent Mar–Apr, good the rest of the year. Bonefish gather offshore to spawn around new and full moons Oct–May (UMass study). Release strongly encouraged; flats licence needed age 12+.[1][2][8] | ||||||||||||
| Permit | Tourism chart: Excellent Apr–Jul; occasional Nov–Feb.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Tarpon | Tourism chart: good May–Jun, fair Apr, Jul and Aug, occasional Sep; none Oct–Mar.[1][2][9] | ||||||||||||
| Great barracuda | Tourism chart: Excellent Jun–Aug, good the rest of the year.[1] | ||||||||||||
| Reef | |||||||||||||
| Grouper (general) | Tourism chart: Excellent Apr–Sep. Nassau grouper is closed Dec 1–Feb 28 (own row). Grouper must weigh at least 3 lb.[1][5] | ||||||||||||
| Nassau grouper | Closed Dec 1–Feb 28 to protect the winter full-moon spawning gatherings. Critically endangered.[4][5][6][9] | ||||||||||||
| Snapper (general) | Tourism chart: Excellent Apr–Sep. Foreign sportfishing boats: 60 lb or 20 bottom fish, whichever is less.[1][3] | ||||||||||||
| Greater amberjack | Tourism chart: Excellent Mar–Aug, fair the rest of the year.[1] | ||||||||||||
| Spiny lobster (crawfish) | Closed Apr 1–Jul 31 (breeding season); open Aug 1–Mar 31. Tail at least 5.5 in; no egg-bearing females. Visitors 10 per vessel.[7][5][3] | ||||||||||||
| Stone crab | Closed Jun 1–Oct 15. Claw at least 4 in.[5] | ||||||||||||
| Offshore | |||||||||||||
| Blue marlin | Tourism chart: Excellent June. All billfish must be released unless fishing an approved tournament.[1][2][3] | ||||||||||||
| White marlin | Tourism chart: Excellent May. Release required.[1][3] | ||||||||||||
| Sailfish | Tourism chart: Excellent April. Release required.[1][3] | ||||||||||||
| Swordfish | Tourism chart: Excellent Jun–Sep. Billfish release rule applies.[1][3] | ||||||||||||
| Mahi-mahi (dolphin) | Tourism chart: Excellent April; occasional Aug–Dec. Pelagic limit 18 per foreign sportfishing vessel (dolphin, wahoo, kingfish, tuna combined).[1][3] | ||||||||||||
| Wahoo | Tourism chart: Excellent Nov–Mar; occasional May–Sep.[1][3] | ||||||||||||
| King mackerel (kingfish) | Tourism chart: good Jun–Jul, fair the rest of the year.[1][3][9] | ||||||||||||
| Yellowfin tuna | Tourism chart ('Allison tuna'): Excellent Mar–May.[1] | ||||||||||||
| Blackfin tuna | Tourism chart: Excellent Jun–Jul.[1] | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic bluefin tuna | Tourism chart: Excellent May, good April and June.[1] | ||||||||||||
Never keep: Sharks are protected (since 2011) — release any hooked shark unharmed. Billfish (marlin, sailfish, swordfish) must be released unless fishing an approved tournament.[3][2]
Bait & rig for each fish
Bonefish
Bait: Live or fresh shrimp and small crabs.
Lures: Small skimmer jigs and bonefish flies (Gotcha, Crazy Charlie).
Rig: No harvest-targeting rig is recommended. Keep dehooker and cutters ready for incidental release.
Leader: Clear 10–20 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a practical flats starting range, adjusted for fish size and coral/rock.
Permit
Bait: Live small blue crabs and pass crabs; shrimp.
Lures: Crab flies, small bucktail jigs and crab imitations.
Rig: No harvest-targeting rig is recommended. Keep dehooker and cutters ready for incidental release.
Leader: Use an abrasion-resistant leader that can be cut quickly if dehooking is unsafe.
Tarpon
Bait: Live crabs, mullet, pinfish, threadfin herring and large shrimp.
Lures: Swimbaits, soft-plastic jerkbaits, plugs and flies; small jigs for baby tarpon.
Rig: A documented tarpon option is a live-line/live-bait rig using main line, leader, a circle hook and live bait without added weight. Component strength and size must match the fish and local rules.
Leader: A strong monofilament leader helps resist contact with the gill plate and tail.
Great barracuda
Bait: Live pilchards, ballyhoo and needlefish.
Lures: Tube lures ("cuda tubes") retrieved fast, spoons, plugs and topwaters.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: Use heavy mono/fluoro or a short wire bite leader where barracuda teeth are likely to contact the leader.
Grouper (general)
Bait: Squid, cut fish, live pinfish and sardines.
Lures: Heavy jigs.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Nassau grouper
Bait: No harvest-targeting bait recommendation is provided. Incidental captures should be released promptly.
Lures: No directed lure recommendation on a release-only page; avoid intentionally targeting the fish unless current rules expressly allow the activity.
Rig: No harvest-targeting rig is recommended. Keep dehooker and cutters ready for incidental release.
Leader: Use an abrasion-resistant leader that can be cut quickly if dehooking is unsafe.
Snapper (general)
Bait: Live pilchards, ballyhoo plugs, squid and cut bait.
Lures: Bucktail jigs tipped with squid or shrimp.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Greater amberjack
Bait: Live blue runners, pinfish and large baitfish.
Lures: Heavy vertical jigs and big poppers.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Spiny lobster (crawfish)
Bait: Not caught on hook and line — divers use a tickle stick and net; traps where licensed.
Lures: Not caught on hook and line — divers use a tickle stick and net; traps where licensed.
Rig: Use only the collection device allowed by current local rules.
Leader: Not caught on hook and line — divers use a tickle stick and net; traps where licensed.
Stone crab
Bait: Fish heads and racks, pigs' feet.
Lures: —
Leader: Not used.
Blue marlin
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo, mackerel and live tunas.
Lures: Large skirted trolling lures.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
White marlin
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo and small squid.
Lures: Small skirted trolling lures.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Sailfish
Bait: Live goggle-eyes, pilchards, threadfin herring and ballyhoo.
Lures: Small trolling lures and rigged ballyhoo.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Swordfish
Bait: Common starting baits are ballyhoo, sardines, flying fish, squid strips or other locally abundant forage matched to size.
Lures: Trolling heads, feathers, plugs, spoons and metal jigs are common; match lure size and color to local forage.
Rig: Specialized deep-drop bait rig with breakaway/controlled weight and lights where lawful.
Leader: Heavy abrasion-resistant leader, often 150–300 lb class in specialized swordfish systems.
Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Bait: Ballyhoo, flying fish, squid and cut bait to keep a school near the boat.
Lures: Skirted trolling lures, small feathers and bucktail jigs.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 30–60 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common mahi start; increase for abrasion or mixed wahoo water.
Wahoo
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo and live baits on wire.
Lures: High-speed trolling lures and lipped diving plugs on wire.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Use heavy abrasion/bite leader; many wahoo anglers add short wire or cable because of the teeth.
King mackerel (kingfish)
Bait: Live blue runners, goggle-eyes, menhaden and threadfin herring; frozen cigar minnows.
Lures: Spoons, diving plugs and duster-rigged baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Wire or monofilament leader is documented; material choice, strength and length are not universally established.
Yellowfin tuna
Bait: Live baits (blue runners, bonito) and chunks.
Lures: Spreader bars, skirted lures, poppers and stick baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
Blackfin tuna
Bait: Live pilchards and sardines; chunked bait for chumming.
Lures: Small feathers, cedar plugs, metal jigs and topwater poppers.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
Atlantic bluefin tuna
Bait: Live or dead mackerel, herring and squid.
Lures: Large spreader bars and big topwater plugs.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Local fishing reports — what’s biting now
- FishingBooker – Bahamas fishing reports — Charter captain reports across the islands
- Marlin Magazine – Bahamas — Billfish tournament results
- Bonefish & Tarpon Trust — Flats research and conservation news
Sources
- Bahamas Tourism – Fishing in The Bahamas (gamefish chart)
- Bahamas Tourism – Fishing Regulations & FAQ
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism – Sport Fishing Regulations & Updates (PDF)
- Department of Marine Resources – Nassau Grouper season closure notice
- Perry Institute for Marine Science – Sustainable Seafood Guide (closed seasons)
- Perry Institute – Nassau grouper spawning season
- BahamasTradeInfo (Govt.) – Crawfish Season Opens August 1st
- UMass Amherst via ScienceDaily – Bonefish spawning location discovered offshore
- Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board (official) – Gamefish Chart
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every month on this calendar comes from the sources above. Empty boxes mean no official source gives those months. Rules change — check the agency page before you keep a fish.
On the bay, in the mangroves or on the ocean, the everyday struggles get left at the dock — for those few hours it’s just you, the water and peace.