Fishing guides › British Virgin Islands
FISHING GUIDE · BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
British Virgin Islands & Anegada Fishing Guide
The BVI offer two very different kinds of fishing: blue marlin on the North Drop and sight-fishing for bonefish on the Anegada flats. Marlin fishing is best in summer and early fall around the full moons. Visitors must get a BVI fishing license before taking any fish.
📍 Tortola, Virgin Gorda (Spanish Town), Scrub Island, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. The BVI North Drop lies north of the islands; Anegada has the big bonefish flats.
Map: spots, ramps and marinas
★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)
Open the full British Virgin Islands map →
Quick facts
- The North Drop is where the Puerto Rico Trench turns north; Marlin magazine calls it the most consistent blue marlin fishing this side of the Panama Canal.
- The one-day North Drop record of 10 blue marlin is shared by Sam Jennings, Capt. Mike Lemon and the Revenge team.
- Anegada is about 11 miles long, its highest point is 28 feet, and its flats cover more area than the land.
- Visitors need a Pleasure (Recreational) Fishing License; it is valid for one month.
- Keeping billfish (blue and white marlin, sailfish, swordfish) is illegal in the BVI.
What you can catch
- Blue marlin
North Drop; best around the full moons, July to October. Must be released. - Bonefish
Anegada flats, fished all year; outgoing tides are best. - Tarpon
Anegada flats, and mangroves and harbors near Tortola. - Permit
Anegada flats; guides report fish around 18 lb. - Sailfish and white marlin
Caught on the drops; release them. - Yellowfin and blackfin tuna
Offshore on the drops. - Wahoo and mahi (dorado)
Offshore trolling targets.
Month by month
| January | Good inshore bonefish season; offshore wahoo and mahi. |
|---|---|
| February | Good inshore bonefish season. |
| March | Bonefish on Anegada flats (fished all year). |
| April | Bonefish; offshore tuna and mahi. |
| May | Blue marlin season starting on the drops. |
| June | Offshore season for marlin and tuna begins in earnest. |
| July | Blue marlin around the full moon. |
| August | Peak blue marlin; North Drop Open tournament out of Virgin Gorda (catch and release). |
| September | Blue marlin still strong around the full moon. |
| October | Last of the main marlin full-moon season. |
| November | Inshore bonefish season picks up; some marlin still around. |
| December | Good inshore bonefish season. |
Tips
- Apply for the BVI recreational fishing license ahead of time; Department of Conservation & Fisheries, (284) 468-2700. Allow at least two weeks.
- Do not bring a spear gun: spearfishing and spear guns are banned for visitors.
- No fishing, anchoring or diving in Fisheries Protected Areas such as Horseshoe Reef (Anegada) and Money Bay (Norman Island).
- Coming from the USVI, clear BVI Customs and Immigration first, and report to U.S. Customs when you return.
- Barracuda, jacks, snapper and other reef fish can carry ciguatera; release barracuda.
Rules and license
BVI Department of Conservation & Fisheries (Government of the Virgin Islands) · Official rules page ↗
- It is illegal for non-BVIslanders to take any marine organism without a recreational fishing permit; the Pleasure/Recreational Fishing License is valid for one month.
- Possessing billfish (blue and white marlin, sailfish, swordfish) is illegal.
- Possessing more than 30 lb of fish per boat is illegal.
- Spearfishing gear is not permitted; carrying or using a spear gun, explosives or poisons is prohibited.
- Fisheries Protected Areas (e.g. Horseshoe Reef, Anegada; Money Bay, Norman Island): no anchoring, diving or fishing.
Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.
Boat ramps and marinas
The map above shows 6 boat ramps and 10 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.
- BVI YACHT CHARTERS
- Boat ramp near Gun Creek
- Boat ramp near Leverick Bay
- Frenchman's Cay Marina
- Hodge's Creek Marina
- James Young Marina
- Nanny Cay Marina
- North Latitude Marina
- Prospect Reef Marina
- The Moorings Marina, Tortola
- Village Cay Marina
- Virgin Gorda Marina
Sources
- https://www.bvitourism.com/resources
- https://www.catamarans.com/catamaran-charter-newsletters/how-to-fish-in-the-bvi.aspx
- https://www.moorings.com/uk/blog/bvi-fishing-holiday-top-10-things-to-know
- https://www.marlinmag.com/?p=44147
- https://www.saltwatersportsman.com/?p=55037
- https://www.oilnutbay.com/sport-fishing-in-the-british-virgin-islands/
- https://gov.vg/node/561
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.