Can anyone offer some insight about fishing around STT? I'd like to do some fly fishing during my few days ashore; nothing fancy, no guide, just fish the shallows, strictly catch-and-release: bones, tarpon, permit; really, just about anything. Staying at the BW Emerald Beach.

Bones, Tarpon and Permit are in abundance along most of the shorelines of the islands also by the Emerald Beach hotel.
But don't fish where the people swim.
If you go to St John fishing is permitted in the National Park waters as long as you don't fish in the designated swim areas.

Goes without saying. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

I have seen people fly fishing in the shallows going into Compass Pt. on the port side.

Fishing on the port side entering Compass Point would be prohibited -- it is contained in the Cas Cay Nature Preserve and is an APC - area of particular concern.

Map on Page 10 -- much info contained in the document as a whole.

http://www.horsleywitten.com/STEERwaters...n_Final_low.pdf


Also this is a shorter explanation and description of the Cas Cay Sanctuary

http://www.uvi.edu/files/documents/Colle...gement_plan.pdf

Thanks, LS, I appreciate this in-depth study and especially the map. Most likely, I will "steer" clear of this ecologically important area. Just looking for something around Lindbergh Bay, relatively close to the hotel, but not too far from a beer!

don't shoot the messenger, I have seen people in skiffs fishing the area behind the false entrance to the Lagoon

The locals fish and anchor wherever the please without incident, even in the National Park waters of St John.
There must be a Grandfather cause somewhere on the books. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Go figure

That area does look like a nice Bonefish area, shallow and crystal clear.

The locals fish and anchor wherever the please without incident, even in the National Park waters of St John.
There must be a Grandfather cause somewhere on the books. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Go figure [/quote]

It is not illegal to fish in the National Park - no grandfather clause just the basic NPS Regulations as posted here:

http://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/upload/MooringGuide.pdf

Fishing in a Marine Sanctuary like the Cas Cay area is a different story and prohibited, enforced by DPNR when they patrol. No grandfather clause involved there either.

Local Sailor: there used to be an exemption for bait fishing in STEER. Has that changed?

It is not illegal to fish in the National Park - no grandfather clause just the basic NPS Regulations as posted here:

http://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/upload/MooringGuide.pdf

Fishing in a Marine Sanctuary like the Cas Cay area is a different story and prohibited, enforced by DPNR when they patrol. No grandfather clause involved there either. [/quote]

In my first comment I said fishing was allowed in the NP.
As for the locals I should have said they can break the rules and get away with it for example no life jackets, anchoring in park waters where there are moorings and they basically have the run of the land.

Subchapter
96, Section
96-5
Permitted Activities
within the Cas Cay MRWS:
Acts permitted, provided a permit is first obtained from the
Commissioner:
•
The use of castnet with a minimum square mesh size of ¼
inch to capture baitfish (fry) within 50 feet of the north and
west shorelines of Cas Cay only.


This has not changed.

since this is a fishing topic....
we'll be down the first week August. I've taken spinnning tackle and fly rods previously and had success.
One of the guys going this time wants to charter one day. Any suggestions for someone on STJ or who would pick us up at the Park dock?