Tuna Fishing in the Bahamas

Deep sea fishing is popular in the waters of the Bahamas, and tuna is one of the sought-after fish. The experience of catching a tuna can be rewarding for an angler after battling the fish aboard, sometimes for hours. The Bahamas is made up of 700 islands and the surrounding waters offer an abundance of tuna fishing.

  1. Types

    • According to the Angler’s Addiction, the blue fin tuna can weigh over 750 lbs. Yellow fins are normally between 40 and 50 lbs. Black fin tuna are smaller, as are other varieties, such as the skipjack. Tuna are shaped like large bullets and can swim as fast as 35 to 45 miles per hour. Chubasco Charters indicates that the yellow fins are a challenge as they fight hard.

    Time Frame

    • The best time to fish for blue fin tuna is April through July, according to Fish in the Bahamas. Fishing for black fin is good to excellent from March to September, and March through July is a good time to fish for Alison tuna. Chubasco Charters indicates that the yellow fin begins to migrate through the Bahamas toward the Gulf Stream in late February or early March and continues through the end of August. November, December and January are overall the poorest tuna fishing months in the Bahamas.

    Boat Arrival

    • Visitors that arrive by boat must fly the yellow quarantine flag and must clear customs and immigration at one of the 32 entry ports. Every person on the boat must complete an immigration card and provide proof of citizenship. Citizens of the U.S. must present a birth certificate or passport and a form of photo identification, according to The Islands of the Bahamas. Entry fees are charged based on the size of the boat, and fishing permits are obtained at the time of entry.

    Regulations

    • Regulations state that each boat may not fish with more than six rods or reels, except in cases where the boat operator has a permit for more, according to Fish in the Bahamas. There is a limit of six tuna per individual vessel. Marine vessels are permitted 18. These catch limits are the amounts of tuna that may be aboard the vessel at any time; they are not per day limits or per trip limits, according to The Islands of the Bahamas. Any person leaving the Bahamas is allowed to take with him, for non-commercial purposes, as many as six tuna.

    Locations/Bait

    • Chubasco Charters indicates that yellow fin tuna are located by the congregation of birds that are feeding off of the small fish that float to the surface as a result of feeding tuna. According to The Islands of the Bahamas, Tuna Canyon and Tuna City are two areas where anglers fish for tuna. Tuna Canyon is located 12 to 15 miles south of Freeport. Tuna City is several miles west of Grand Bahama Island. The deep waters provide good feeding areas. Baits include herring, mackerel, squid, ballyhoo and pilchards.

    Charters

    • Charter boats are available throughout the Bahamas for deep sea fishing of tuna. The Islands of the Bahamas website provides an extensive directory of fishing charters, which usually can be be booked for half-day or full-day trips. Advanced reservations are recommended.