 | | Thursday, AUG 28, 2008 | | | | 
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| **STAY TUNED *
These pages are constantly changing.
Coming back often
is a good idea.
There will be
COMPETITIONS and
PRIZES to be WON.
Prizes such as:
Musical CDs and art pieces etc.
by the BVIs top artists.
STAY TUNED
come back often
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Sport Fishing in the British Virgin Islands
 | | Recent caught -N-Release - By Virgin Gorda Fishrmens Corp President (Michael Collins) - With Capt. Kawazi of 'Go With The Flo' |
Sport Fishing In The BVI's
Welcome to BVI sport fishing website.
As it's name suggests, this website is about sport fishing; more particularly about sport fishing in the British Virgin Islands.
As a highly favored sport fishing destination, the British Virgin islands are highlighted in many sport fishing articles and magazines; including,"Sport Fishing Magazine"
and:New York Expert Articles
Already recognized as the sailing capital of the world, the British Virgin Islands are also
recognized as a premier sport fishing destination.
Several top notch sport fishing tournaments (usually for the favored Wahoo or famous Blue Marlin) are held throughout the year; the most popular being the "Virgin Gorda Fisherman's Jamboree held during Easter weekend, and the high powered A.H. Riise Bill Fish Tournament (go to the link on the left labeled "Recent Tournaments")
The British Virgin Islands are located on the same geological shelf as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, with the exception of St. Croix.
The fisheries industry in the British Virgin islands has been well documented and categorized by the Conservation and Fisheries Dept. See (Development Planning Unit)
The BVIs Exclusive Economic Zone covers some 84,050 km.
sq and it's pelagic area beyond the shallow shelf is approximately another 74,813 km.sq (83,000sq.mls).
Several significant fishing banks rise above the general shelf floor; the most notable ones being the Sea mount south east of Virgin Gorda, and the North drop north of Jost Van Dyke.
These are the premier sport fishing banks in the British Virgin Islands; the venue for most of our sport fishing tournaments.
Fishing practiced in the British Virgin Islands falls into three (3) categories:
Artisanal - (Commercial) fishing,
Recreational (Sport fishing and
Offshore (Pelagic) fishing.
Artisanal - (Commercial) fisheries: employs small boats using traditional fishing methods. Alimoso and Davies (1991) found that there were about 300 artisanal fishermen operating in BVI waters with approximately 50% owning boats and gear while the other 50% worked as helpers and assistants.
The main fishing gear used were/are fish traps, hook and lines and fishing nets (mainly gill nets and seine nets).
Most artisanal fishing is carried out on the shelf mostly in the areas around Anegada, east and north of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke including the banks.
Recreational Fisheries:
Are classified into Big Game Sport Fishery and Pleasure Fishery.
In practice the dynamic nature and similarity of operations in the two fisheries makes it difficult to effectively differentiate between them. Past reports by Walters (1983) and S. Alimoso (1993) described the two as follows:
(a)Big Game Sport Fishery: Involving professional angling aimed at big game fish such as blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and sail fish (Istiophorus albicans). Vessel size range between 25 ft. � 50 ft. in length.
(b) Pleasure Fishery: Involving amateur angling, harvesting such small fishes as tarpon (Tarpon atlanticus) and bonefish (Albula vulpes). Vessel sizes are between 17ft. � 40ft. in length
Offshore: Pelagic - Long-line Fishery:
Various assessments of BVI�s pelagic long-line fishery have been carried out over the years (Alimoso, 1992; MRAG, 1993). These studies have shown that between 1984 and 1990, 22 large foreign-based long-liners were issued fishing licenses.
Total annual catch from the fishery averaged about 90 tons/(200,000 lbs) per year for the period 1984�1990.
Ban on foreign commercial licenses in effect:
Since 1999 a freeze has been placed on the issuance of licenses to foreign commercial fishing vessels; perhaps due to a lesser than expected economic return; or perhaps due to fear of depletion of the fish stock.
However, obtaining a regular fishing license continues to be a rather simple process.
In the British Virgin Islands, there are numerous seasoned captains and boats from which to choose, and sport fishing trips can be arrange rather hassle free whether one is vacationing at a resort, villa or on a yacht.
Half-day and full-day fishing charters are the norm.
Charters usually include snacks and beverages, gear and bait.
One only need to take along such items like hat, sun screen, and camera.
The species of fish usually caught include: wahoo, mahi-mai, black and yellow fin tunas, marlins, sail-fish, mackerel, barracudas etc.
Please feel free to email your inquiries or reservations.
"Best of luck and many great catches"
Ph.(284)-495-6610 or Cell ph: (284)-544-4492
...E-mail:bvisportfishing@surfbvi.com
Please feel free to add your comments in our guest book.
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