We are flying into Beef Island for a charter out of Road Town (Conch Charters) July 22 - July 31. How much of a hassle is it to sail back and forth between the USVI and the BVI. We have a few crew members that are very interested in trying to catch some lobsters and it is my understanding that this is only legal in the USVI.

Are there any licenses required to catch lobsters in the USVI?

Are there any licenses required to catch Yellow Tail Snapper in the USVI?

Are Yellow Tail safe to eat in the USVI (ciguatera poison bad?)

There is no fishing license required for the USVI. There are lobster regulations to size and sex. You will need some type of catching device, we have a snare. I have eaten yellow tail in BVI and USVI without incident. As to ciguatera, I've heard to not eat fish with eyes bigger than yours. Customs is a piece of cake, you can download and fill out the USVI forms in advance.

Assuming that everyone aboard is a US citizen, then clearing out of the BVI will take longer than clearing into the USVI (and you don't need to clear out of the USVI when returning to the BVI). Call it 30-45 minutes unless a ferry arrives just before you, in which case all bets are off.

I catch a lot of lobsters in the USVI. As mentioned you need snares and decent gloves. It's highly unlikely you will catch a lobster unless you are diving. It's almost impossible snorkeling. A good dive light also helps a lot if dinner rides on getting several!
G

I am so glad i found this forum. You all are such a helpful community. Thank you so much for the replies.

I understand that catching lobsters will be a challenge, but I like a good challenge. I will make sure to bring some good gloves. I see that spears and hooks are illegal. What are these snares you speak of and are the legal?

I cannot seem to find any detailed information on passing back and forth between the BVI's and USVI's. We will be leaving out of Road Town and headed strait for the USVI's. Where will we need to stop to get the paper work processed? Will we have to stop again when we re-enter the BVI's?

I've never cleared out of the BVI in Road Town, but headed to the USVI you're likely to pass right by Sopers Hole at West End. Customs there is quick and easy (unless a ferry has arrrived, then you wait in line). Motor across the channel to Caneel Bay and pick up a ball, dinghy around to Cruz Bay to clear US customs.
When you are headed back to the BVI, simply leave the USVI, no need to check out and check back in at West End.

Someone may comment on customs in Road Town, you may be able to clear out before you start your charter.

Do you know if there are very many good places to moor or dock in the USVI's?

In Red hook, the dive shop sells spears, slings, and snares, all legal in the USVI.

At Soper's Hole the right area is for ferries, all private or charter vessels check in on the left side, no lines, no ferries

Our family plans to visit St. John as well. Just to confirm - when we return to the BVI, we do not have to check out of the USVI or check into the BVI? When we arrive for our charter, we are paying for our entire stay in the BVI, but I thought we would have to check into the BVI when we leave the USVI. If not, it would be much more convenient. Thank you for your help!

Last time we did this, we were able to check in AND out of the USVI for a short stay of predetermined duration, but we did have to check back IN to the BVI.

You thought right. You must clear back into the BVI's

To leave the BVI and go to the USVI and back, you must:
1 - clear out of the BVI
2 - Clear into the USVI [best option at Cruz Bay STJ ]
3 - Clear back into the BVI

In the BVI the Captain can do both the clearances alone with the vessel papers, everyone's passports and forms - In the USVI the whole crew must appear together at C&I - [those forms can be printed online.]

This is all very helpful. Thank you!

Just to make it clear you can't spear lobsters in the USVI. it's by hand or snare only.
G

[img]http://[/img] Got these 4 weeks ago in usvi. Snare and gloves snorkeling.Hope the image shows up. Snares can be viewed on amazon. we just made our own .

Sure is a pain adding images.

http://s288.photobucket.com/user/rickanddoris/media/IMG_0520_zpsnikp2ua2.jpg.html

Hope I got it this time. Sorry to hijack this posting.

Those are slipper lobsters not spiny lobsters. Much easier to catch however I don't think they are legal to keep. I have heard they are tasty so will double check before my June trip.
G

50 CFR 622.2
-
Caribbean spiny lobster means
Panulirus argus.
50
CFR 622.37(b)
– Minimum size 3.5 inches carapace length.
50 CFR
622.38(b)
- A Caribbean spiny lobster must be maintained with head
and carapace intact.
50 CFR 622.32(b)
(iii) -
Egg
-bearing spiny
lobster in the Caribbean EEZ must be returned to the water
unharmed. An egg
-bearing spiny lobster may be retained in a trap,
provided the trap is returned immediately to the water. An egg
-
bearing spiny lobster may not be stripped, scraped, shaved, clipped,
or in any other manner molested, in order to remove the eggs.
50
CFR 622.31(
j) - Spears and hooks. A spear, hook, or similar device
may not be used in the Caribbean EEZ to harvest a Caribbean spiny
lobster. The possession of a speared, pierced, or punctured
Caribbean spiny lobster in or from the Caribbean EEZ is prima
facie
evidence of violation of this section.

and I also found this about slipper lobsters:
Egg-bearing (berried) spiny lobster and ridged slipper lobster (also
commonly known as shovelnose or bulldozer lobster) must be released
unharmed. Stripping egg-bearing females of eggs, and
possession of spiny or ridged slipper lobster tails from which eggs have
been removed is prohibited. Eggs are an orange, yellow, brown, or red
mass found covering the underside of the lobster’s tail.
Gear such as spears, hooks, wire snares, and any device which could
puncture, penetrate, or crush the shell of the lobster is prohibited.

I looked for regs on slipper lobsters. Can't find anything on them as far as legal or not. Same thing for spotted lobsters although I always avoided taking both. Local market has slipper tails for sale so they must be good.
G

Thought we read all the regs.and were told were good to go. no berries and size was good. Surely did not want to do anything wrong.Still were a bit of a fight getting them bagged.

Try getting a 8lb spiny lobster in a bag! A near impossible feat!

G