Fishing in BVI

We plan on doing a little fishing in Anegada. Do we need a license? Thanks

Yes, you need an individual fishing license and the boat needs to be registered to fish as well. Many boats have not been registered. Check with your charter company.

If you are just going to hire a fishing charter, vs fish off your boat, your guide will take care of that.

Has anyone actually been able to get a license recently?

Rates for fishing trips include a guide, equipment, cooler with ice and water, fishing license and are based on 2 friends per boat. Rates for long term and large groups are negotiable.

I put some info together here if you plan to do it yourself: BVI Fishing

Are you going to go fish the north drop?

not if you are fishing from shore.

For our two charters last year and one this coming July, Fiona from BVI SUP has handled the fishing license. She has my info on file and submits the application. I've never seen the license and was told that if I was questioned to tell whomever that I was on file.

Thanks everyone- yes we will be fishing from shore.

No license needed for recreational fishing from shore on Anegada. In fact, no such license even exists in the BVI.

Your statement "There are no specific size limits (that I have been able to find) with the exception of lobster" implies that lobster fishing is legal.

Absolutely no lobster, conch, or whelk of any size may be legally taken by visitors.

The USVI does allow two lobsters per day per person.

I love lobstering in the USVI - we have always taken our limit. There have been so many we could have plucked out of the water and onto the grill in the BVI. Sigh.

Thanks, yea that's confusing. I'll change it.

The article is titled "BVI Fishing Tips". What part of the USVI is in the BVI?

The Moorings just told me it would be a $50 to register the boat for fishing. I thought all the boats were registered are they just asking for more money or legit? And the each person fishing needs a license if they want to fish from the boat.

In 2020 Moorings told me only their cats were registered for fishing. They were not registering the monos.
It's a question that needs to be asked upfront. Since this policy was not in writing, they refunded me my deposit. Time$ are changing.

They charge a 50 dollar fee. The boat should already be registered. It’s just revenue. They say it covers the cost of processing the registrations.

Thanks

We are bareboat charter a powercat

Last November we paid the $50. The Moorings said we were good. We ordered our fishing license and rented poles and equipment through the place the Moorings promotes. I think it was Sail Caribbean Divers, but I would have to go back and look that up. They are located at the Moorings base. When we got there they did not deliver the poles or license to us. They said that the boat was not registered. They told us they would bring the equipment to us or we could pick it up at Cooper Island when they got it straightened out. The next day they called me and told me to call the Moorings about registration. Sorry, I paid you to work out the details. We never got the poles or license, nor did we get charged for them. I was not happy with either of them. We tried to do everything right and had the paperwork to back it up. Still caught a few fish on the limited small equipment we brought with us. You can ask the question multiple times prior to getting there, but they will tell you everything is fine……until you get there and they did to follow up. Huge premium for the Moorings. Our same boat for this year for the same week was up 40% over last year. Pretty easy choice to give the other charter companies a chance to earn my business.

Thank you so much for all the great info. We have been using the Moorings for the last 10 years, their prices this year are astronomical.

Sorry your boat was not BVI registered to fish.

ALL TMM Charters boats are registered for fishing. (And besides, their boats are well maintained and customer service great).

Just to be clear, did you just admit you fished anyway, without a license, on a public forum, on the internet?

Shush !

Yes, I obtained fishing license for our trip a couple of weeks ago. They were very quick with responding.

Did you do it on government website? Previous several times I did application before trip and never heard back.

I sent an email to fisheries@govbvi.onmicrosoft.com. I sent it on April 22 at 9:47 and had the blank applications at 9:58. Just 11 minutes later! I filled out the application and credit card form and sent it back along with a copy of passport on the 25th and received the licenses on the morning of the 28th.

Just got back recently from BVI. Had our best week ever fishing. 4 mahi, 2 cero mackerel, 5 bonita, 4 jacks, 8 cuda, and 1 reef shark. Best spot was between Jost and Anegada, over the wreck of the Chikuzen in particular. Best lure was a 4 inch rainbow 'bubble trouble' lure from Fathom Offshore. Next best was a blue/white feather and skirted ballyhoo.

Was hoping for a wahoo on the drops since I've heard they are in the area. Had a few screamers but couldn't set the hook.

Wow! Nice work Matt. That's the best catch I've heard in the BVI in a long time.

Thanks TC! We did more fishing than the average crew probably would, which could be part of it. Did some on the north & south drop as well as around the backside of JVD. But really, the best fishing was between Anegada and JVD - accessible to most crews. Also just felt like I wasn't fishing a desert for once. That mahi in the picture above was caught just outside the channel markers in Anegada in 20 feet of water.