St. Kitts & Nevis (with Saba and Statia) Fishing Guide

St. Kitts and Nevis have deep water close to shore, and charters troll for wahoo, mahi, tuna, marlin and sailfish, or bottom fish the reefs for snapper and grouper. Anyone fishing the Federation's waters, including sport fishers, must register with the Department of Marine Resources, and a 2-mile Marine Management Area surrounds both islands. On nearby Saba and Statia, marine parks have no-fishing zones and fees, so check the rules before you go.

📍 St. Kitts and Nevis, Leeward Islands, split by a strait called The Narrows. Most sport fishing is off the west coast of Nevis (Oualie Beach area) and the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts. Saba and St. Eustatius (Statia), Dutch islands, lie just to the northwest; the Saba Bank is southwest of Saba.

Map: spots, ramps and marinas

★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)

Open the full Saba, Statia, St. Kitts & Nevis map →

Quick facts

The St. Kitts and Nevis Marine Management Area was declared on August 18, 2016; it covers 2 miles of sea around both coastlines, including Monkey Shoals.
A 2021 study counted at least 23 sportfishing charter operators in St. Kitts and Nevis, six of them around Oualie Beach on Nevis.
Saba Marine Park, set up in 1987, rings the whole island from the high-water mark down to 60 m (200 ft).
The Saba Bank covers about 2,600 km2 and is called the largest submarine atoll in the Atlantic; it became a national park in 2010.
St. Eustatius National Marine Park (1996) runs from the high-water line to the 30 m depth line, 27.3 km2, with two no-fishing, no-anchoring reserves (north and south).

What you can catch

Wahoo
Top offshore target; a prize category in the St. Kitts World Fisheries Day tournament.
Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Common trolling catch; also drawn to FADs.
Yellowfin tuna
Offshore target; skipjack also caught.
Blue marlin
Caught offshore; white marlin also reported.
Sailfish
Offshore target listed by Nevis charters.
Kingfish
Nearshore trolling target.
Barracuda
Common inshore and reef-edge catch.
Snapper and grouper
Reef and bottom-fishing trips.

Month by month

January	Charters run year-round; troll for wahoo, mahi and tuna. Ask your captain what is biting.
February	Offshore trolling and reef fishing; morning wind can make it choppy.
March	Offshore trolling and reef fishing.
April	Offshore trolling and reef fishing.
May	Offshore trolling and reef fishing.
June	Atlantic hurricane season starts Jun 1; watch the weather.
July	Hurricane season; offshore trips when the weather allows.
August	Hurricane season; most storm activity is mid-Aug to mid-Oct.
September	Peak of hurricane season (around Sep 10); plan around storms.
October	Hurricane season; offshore trips when the weather allows.
November	Hurricane season ends Nov 30. A World Fisheries Day tournament was held at Dieppe Bay, St. Kitts, in Nov 2021.
December	Offshore trolling and reef fishing.

Tips

Register with the Department of Marine Resources before fishing in St. Kitts and Nevis waters; it applies to sport fishers too.
Most charters leave from Oualie Beach on Nevis; the run to the grounds is often about 20 minutes, longer if the weather is rough.
At Statia, never fish or anchor in the two marine park reserves; Orange Bay is the anchorage, and the anchoring/mooring fee is paid at the harbour when you check in.
At Saba, fishing of any kind is banned in the marine park's protected areas (except line fishing from shore); you may not anchor there either.
Foreign boats need a license to fish on the Saba Bank, and large ships are asked to avoid it; check with the Saba Conservation Foundation first.

Rules and license

St. Kitts & Nevis Department of Marine Resources; Saba Conservation Foundation (Saba Marine Park, Saba Bank); STENAPA (St. Eustatius National Parks) · Official rules page ↗

St. Kitts & Nevis: all fishers who are not registered, including recreational and sport fishers, must register with the DMR.
St. Kitts & Nevis Marine Management Area: 2 miles around both coasts, with zones for transport, fishing, recreation and conservation; zone rules are on the DMR map. Check current rules.
License fees, size limits and closed seasons for St. Kitts & Nevis: not confirmed; check current rules with the DMR.
Saba Marine Park: eight marine protected areas (including Diamond Rock, Man of War Shoal, the Pinnacles and Tent Bay) where fishing by any means and anchoring are banned; shore line fishing allowed.
Saba Marine Park charges user fees; check current amounts with the Saba Conservation Foundation.
Saba Bank: foreign vessels need a license to fish; IMO no-anchoring rule and an area larger ships (over 300 GT) should avoid.
Statia Marine Park: no fishing or anchoring in the northern and southern reserves; $10 per night anchoring/mooring fee (or $30 a week); don't touch sea life or throw trash.
Saba Bank and Statia waters are part of the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary (2015).

Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.

Boat ramps and marinas

The map above shows 2 boat ramps and 5 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.

Boat ramp near Gallows Baai
Boat ramp near Saint Kitts Deep Water Port
Budget Marine
Christophe Harbour Marina
Dry Dock Marina
Frigate Bay Marina
Port Zante Marina

Sources

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.