Fishing restrictions and catch limits
It is your responsibility to know Bermuda’s fisheries regulations before taking part in any fishing activities within Bermuda’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Contravention of any of the regulations is a criminal offence.
Please familiarize yourself with the locations of Bermuda’s No Fishing Areas.
Recreational fishers may not sell their catch.
Minimum legal weights and lengths
|
Species |
Minimum Size |
|
Black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) |
95 cm (37.5 inches) |
|
Yellowmouth grouper (Mycteroperca interstitialis) |
50 cm (20 inches) |
|
Red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) |
35 cm (14 inches) |
|
Yellowtail snapper (Lutjanus chyrsurus) |
30 cm (12 inches) |
|
Lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris) |
25 cm (10 inches) |
|
Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) |
45 cm (18 inches) |
|
Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) |
3.2 kg (7 lbs) |
|
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) |
3.2 kg (7 lbs) |
|
Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus) |
3.2 kg (7 lbs) |
|
Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) |
115 cm (45 inches), 30 kg (66 lbs) |
|
Swordfish (Xiphius gladius) |
125 cm (49 inches), 25 kg (55 lbs) |
|
Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) |
114 kg (250 lbs) |
|
White marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) |
23 kg (50 lbs) |
Minimum legal lengths are measured in fork length.
A suitable measuring instrument must be carried to check the length of the fish.
Bag limits
|
Species |
Bag limit |
|
Black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) |
1 fish per boat per day |
|
Yellowmouth grouper (Mycteroperca interstitialis) |
1 fish per boat per day |
|
Lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris) (recreational limit) |
30 fish per boat per day |
|
Red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) |
10 fish per boat per day |
Restricted species
Fishing for Bonefish (Albula vulpas) and Pompano (Trachinotus goodie) is only permitted with hook and line.
Gear restrictions
A vessel may not have more than a total of five hooks in the water at a time. Fixed fishing gear of any kind (including, but not limited, to pots and fixed nets) is prohibited.
Net fishing
Recreational fishermen may only use cast nets not exceeding eight feet (2.4 metres) in diameter. Other nets are not permitted. .
The following bays are closed to netting of any kind:
- Somerset Long Bay
- Shelly Bay
- Whalebone Bay
- Coot Pond