![]() ![]() ![]() Lastly, the proposed regulations provide no grandfathering clause for existing guides. But without them, any proposed regulations aren’t worth the ink they’re printed with. It will not be cheap to provide fishery inspectors on every island and equip them with training, uniforms, vehicles, boats, fuel, etc. but unless one provides for the enforcement, those regulations lose all credibility. It’s one thing to mandate regulations requiring licenses, and permits and permitted guides, etc. I would also stipulate that at least half of any fines collected as a result of these proposed regulations be directed to funding the enforcement and protection of the fishery and associated regulations. CAT GOES FISHING BONEFISH LICENSEBut 100% of the fishing license proceeds should be directed to protect and preserve the fisheries. It makes perfect sense to do so – for example, taxes on hotels and food and travel can and should be used to maintain and improve roads, traffic, lighting, infrastructure, etc. There are plenty of other ancillary monetary benefits associated with visiting anglers that can be directed to the Consolidated Fund. Those licenses are mandated for a very specific purpose and all monetary proceeds from those licenses should be directed to preserve and protect the specific fishery involved. Personally, were I a Bahamian outfitter or guide, I would strongly object to any amount of the license fees being directed to the Consolidated Fund. That seems a little narrow-minded in my opinion. Interestingly, according to the proposed regulations and the definitions therein, I don’t need a license to fish for barracuda, mutton snapper, yellow tail snapper, ocean going triggerfish, or any type of fish on the flats other than permit, tarpon, snook and bonefish. I’d urge you to maybe give a call to your Bahamian friends, the places you stay, the business you frequent, and tell them that something evil this way comes and the hurt is only just beginning. I’m not sure who you can write or complain to at this point. You can’t promote your industry by threatening your primary customers with three months in jail. The place I visited on Abaco earlier this year would be pretty much shut down and that family would lose at least 50% of the income they get from tourists, if not more. I cannot imagine that the average Bahamian has any idea of the power play going on here, or how their lives and businesses would be impacted by this. This is the dumbest bunch of regulations in one place, at one time, in the modern history of the Bahamas. I’m hearing stories of independent guides really hurting as anglers just go other places. ![]() To make matters worse, the proposed regs enshrine the place of power of the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association, run by Prescott, who should be disqualified from being 100 feet from anything involving fly fishing based on how poorly he’s handled this whole thing. Similarly to how Florida struggled with the definition, this just means you can be holding one for a photo, so the fish is in your possession, but you don’t keep it.) Native Bahamians are required to buy a license to fish the waters right in front of their own homes.Įverything is catch and release with a limit of one in possession, which, of course, is not catch and release. A boat with two people required a guide, or, $5,000 and 3 months in jail. You can still rent a boat to go fish, as long as you are the only one on it. ![]()
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