FISHING GUIDE · BERMUDA
Bermuda Fishing Guide
Bermuda has deep water close to shore, and its offshore banks are known for wahoo, tuna and summer blue marlin. Rules are set by the Government of Bermuda and include size limits, protected species, and seasonal closed areas for spawning groupers and red hind. Recreational fishers may not sell their catch.
📍 Bermuda, in the Atlantic about 600 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Challenger Bank (about 14 miles offshore) and Argus Bank (about 31 miles) are seamounts off the southwest side of the island.
Map: spots, ramps and marinas
★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)
Quick facts
- Challenger and Argus banks are seamounts off Bermuda's southwest shore; strong currents there bring bait and gamefish together.
- Bermuda minimum sizes: wahoo and yellowfin tuna 7 lb (3.2 kg); blue marlin 250 lb (114 kg); white marlin 50 lb (23 kg).
- All sharks, sea turtles, whales and dolphins, all parrotfish and several groupers (including Nassau) are protected under the Fisheries Act 1972 and Protected Species Act 2003.
- Fishing is banned year-round around 30 marked dive sites and wrecks, out to 1,000 m at North Rock.
- The Bermuda Triple Crown billfish series is held each July.
What you can catch
- Wahoo
Top target at Challenger and Argus banks; best in spring and fall. - Yellowfin tuna
Offshore and on the banks; 7 lb minimum. - Blue marlin
Summer billfish; focus of the July Triple Crown; 250 lb minimum to keep. - White marlin
Offshore; 50 lb minimum to keep. - Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Caught offshore around the banks. - Red hind
Reef fish; 14-inch minimum, 10 per boat per day. - Bonefish and pompano
Shore fish in bays; hook and line only. - Snapper
Yellowtail 12-inch minimum; lane snapper 10-inch minimum, 30 per boat per day.
Month by month
| January | Offshore trips weather-dependent. |
|---|---|
| February | Late-winter wahoo bite often comes before the spring run. |
| March | Late-winter wahoo; seas can be rough. |
| April | Lobster season closed Apr 1 - Aug 31. Seasonally protected grouper and hind grounds closed from Apr 15. |
| May | Spring wahoo run starts mid to late May. Calmer seas begin (May-Nov is the best period). |
| June | Wahoo and tuna; protected grounds still closed. |
| July | Triple Crown billfish series; blue marlin season. |
| August | Blue marlin; hind and grouper grounds reopen Aug 15 (2026). Lobster closed through Aug 31. |
| September | Fall wahoo run begins; lobster season open (license needed). |
| October | Fall wahoo run; live-bait fishing on the banks. |
| November | Fall wahoo; extended black grouper closure areas closed through Nov 30 (to Dec 1 in 2026). |
| December | Offshore trips weather-dependent. |
Tips
- Bring your own tackle; many tackle shops have closed. Bait can be found at gas stations and grocery stores.
- Carry a measuring device; fish must meet minimum sizes measured by fork length.
- No more than 5 hooks in the water per boat at one time.
- Release any protected species right away, even if it may not survive.
- Check the government map of seasonally protected areas and dive-site no-fishing zones before you go.
Rules and license
Government of Bermuda, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Marine Resources Section) · Official rules page ↗
- Licenses required for spearfishing and for catching lobster; only pole spears allowed (no spearguns or Hawaiian slings), no SCUBA.
- Lobster closed season Apr 1 - Aug 31; noose only, no spearing.
- Size limits include wahoo, yellowfin and bigeye 7 lb; bluefin 45 in/66 lb; swordfish 49 in/55 lb; blue marlin 250 lb; white marlin 50 lb.
- Bag limits: black grouper 1 per boat per day (95 cm min); red hind 10 per boat per day; lane snapper 30 per boat per day.
- Protected (no take): sea turtles, sharks, whales and dolphins, Nassau and several other groupers, all parrotfish, seahorses, spotted eagle ray, corals.
- Seasonally protected (hind/grouper) areas closed Apr 15 - Aug 14; extended closure areas Apr 15 - Nov 30.
- Fishing banned year-round within set distances of 30 dive sites and wrecks.
- Recreational fishers may not sell their catch; fines up to $50,000 and 2 years in prison.
Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.
Boat ramps and marinas
The map above shows 8 boat ramps and 22 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.
- Barr's Bay
- Boat ramp near Convict Bay
- Boat ramp near Mill Creek
- Boat ramp near Mullet Bay
- Boat ramp near Parsons Bay
- Boat ramp near Theo's Cove
- Boss's Cove
- Burchall Cove
- Caroline Bay Marina
- Coot Pond
- Devonshire Dock
- Ely's Harbour Public Dock
- Fairyland Creek
- Flatts Wharf
- Hamilton Harbour
- Heron Bay
- Jews Bay
- Mill Creek
- North Basin
- Pitts Bay
- Rance Boat Yard
- Riddell's Bay
- South Basin
- St. George's Dingy & SportsClub
- St. George's Harbour
- Stocks Harbour
- Stovell Bay
- The Scaur
Sources
- https://www.gov.bm/articles/recreational-fishing-rules
- https://www.gov.bm/fishing-restrictions-and-catch-limits
- https://www.gov.bm/bermudas-protected-species
- https://www.gov.bm/bermudas-no-fishing-areas
- https://cloudfront.bernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Fisheries-Notice-Reminder-of-Hind-Ground-closure-period-April-2026.pdf
- https://environment.bm/recreational-fishers
- https://www.saltwatersportsman.com/wahoo-fishing-bermuda-bahamas/
- https://www.frommers.com/destinations/bermuda/active-pursuits/fishing/
- https://www.marlinmag.com/?p=44213
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.