Family Islands: where you can actually spearfish
New Providence (Nassau) and the south shore of Freeport are effectively closed to hunting: the mile-wide ban covers the whole reef fringe (reg. 6). The real hunting is on the Family Islands (the out islands), where the rule is only 200 yards from shore — which in practice means offshore reef and walls, not the beach. This is where gin-clear water, ocean walls and blue holes make the Bahamas what it is.
We walk the islands one by one, with the two things that define a Bahamas dive: the 200-yard rule and the cuts — the channels between cays where the current runs hard and you dive the slack only. Key species: hogfish, mutton snapper and mahi offshore; mind the Nassau grouper closure (1 Dec–28 Feb) and the crawfish season (1 Aug–31 Mar).
Open the flagship — Andros →The 200-yard rule in practice
On any Family Island you may not use the spear within 200 yards of shore (reg. 6(c)). That's no punishment: the best ground — the reef edge, the walls, the rim of the blue holes and the cuts — is offshore anyway. Remember reg. 11: within 200 yards, food for yourself and family only. And watch the parks: the Bahamas National Trust runs ~32, all no-take; the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park (no-take since 1986) is the flagship.
Eleuthera & Harbour Island
Spanish Wells, off north Eleuthera, is the country's lobster capital, with rich banks offshore. Current Cut is a famous strong-current drift (3–5 knots): slack only. Harbour Island adds pink-sand beaches and good access from shore and boat. Quarry: hogfish, mutton snapper and mahi offshore.
Abaco
The sheltered Sea of Abaco and the barrier reef outside give options in almost any wind; work the ocean face of the reef when it's calm. There are many no-take parks around (mind the boundaries). Prime ground for hogfish and reef fish, with walls and coral heads reachable by boat.
Long Island
Dean's Blue Hole (~202 m) is the world's freediving mecca: use it to train depth and calm. For hunting, the Stella Maris walls and dramatic drop-offs right off the shore put deep water a fin-kick away, with pelagic chances. Excellent visibility and little traffic.
Andros
The flagship: the world's 3rd-largest barrier reef and, right behind it, the Tongue of the Ocean (TOTO), a ~2,000 m trench hard against the coast. Wall, pelagics and hundreds of blue holes. Mind the parks: Andros West Side NP and Joulter Cays NP are no-take. It's big water — dive with a buddy and respect the current.
Exuma, Bimini & reading the cuts
In Exuma, the Land & Sea Park (no-take since 1986) starts north of Conch Cut: hunt SOUTH of it. The cuts between cays run 3–5 knots — dive the slack only, timing the tide. Bimini, ~80 km off Florida, is the Gulf Stream wall: gin-clear water, pelagics and the Sapona wreck; also the highest shark density, so deal with your fish fast.
Where to dive, by region
New Providence
New Providence (Nassau) — the No.1 hub, but hunting is banned within 1 mile of shore: legal hunting is on the offshore banks and cays. Gin-clear water, a launch point.
- Nassau — Nassau is the country's №1 traffic hub, but spearfishing is banned within 1 mile of New Providence's coast — so the city itself is an info stop, not a shot.
Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama — Freeport-Lucaya on the south shore under the ≥1-mile rule; the famous Theo's Wreck (a dive site). West End — the western gateway from Florida on the bank edge.
- Freeport–Lucaya — Freeport–Lucaya sits on Grand Bahama's south coast, where spearfishing is banned within 1 mile — the famous Theo's Wreck and UNEXSO reefs are dive sites, not shots.
- West End — West End is Grand Bahama's westernmost point (Old Bahama Bay), a classic gateway from Florida on the edge of the Little Bahama Bank.
Bimini
Bimini — the islands closest to Florida (~80 km): the bank's western edge drops in a wall to the Gulf Stream. Gin-clear water, pelagics, the iconic Sapona wreck.
- Alice Town (Bimini) — Bimini is the closest Bahamas to Florida (~80 km): the western edge of the Great Bahama Bank drops into the Gulf Stream — gin-clear walls, pelagics and a verified spot array.
Abaco
Abaco — the sheltered Sea of Abaco between the mainland and the barrier reef, plus the ocean side with reef and wrecks. Many no-take parks around (Pelican Cays, Fowl Cays).
- Marsh Harbour — Marsh Harbour, the country's third-largest town, is the boat and charter hub of the Sea of Abaco — a sheltered lagoon between mainland Abaco and the barrier-reef cays.
- Hope Town — Hope Town on Elbow Cay (the candy-striped lighthouse) sits on the ocean side of the Abaco barrier reef — reef and wall past 200 yd, plus the sheltered Sea of Abaco behind.
- Treasure Cay — Treasure Cay — famous beach and marina on mainland Abaco — fronts the sheltered Sea of Abaco with the barrier reef offshore.
- Green Turtle Cay (New Plymouth) — Green Turtle Cay (New Plymouth) is a fishing settlement on northern Abaco — barrier reef and the historic San Jacinto wreck offshore.
Eleuthera
Eleuthera — Spanish Wells, the country's lobster capital with rich banks; nearby is Current Cut, a famous strong-current drift (slack only). Harbour Island's pink beaches.
- Spanish Wells — Spanish Wells (St. George's Cay) is the crawfish capital — the country's biggest lobster fleet, so proven productive banks all around. Legal hunting past…
- Harbour Island (Dunmore Town) — Harbour Island (Dunmore Town, the pink-sand resort) fronts the Devil's Backbone reef on its ocean side — a shallow, jagged ship-graveyard, so navigate carefully.
- Governor's Harbour — Governor's Harbour is Eleuthera's administrative centre, set on a sheltered leeward bay with the Atlantic reef on the ocean side.
- Rock Sound — Rock Sound, southern Eleuthera, sits on the sheltered side by the inland Ocean Hole (a landlocked blue hole, an info curiosity) with Atlantic reef offshore.
Exuma
Exuma — the ECLSP park (no-take since 1986) starts north of Conch Cut: hunt SOUTH of it, outside the park. George Town and Staniel Cay are hubs; 20–30 m clarity.
- George Town — George Town (Great Exuma, Elizabeth Harbour) is the Exumas hub and regatta anchorage.
- Staniel Cay — Staniel Cay sits mid-chain in the Exuma Cays (the swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto) — but the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park (no-take) begins just north at Conch Cut, so hunt only SOUTH of Conch Cut, outside the park.
Andros
Andros — the flagship of Bahamian spearfishing: the world's 3rd-largest barrier reef and, right behind it, the Tongue of the Ocean (TOTO), a ~2,000 m trench off the coast, plus hundreds of blue holes.
- Fresh Creek / Andros Town — Fresh Creek / Andros Town is the heart of the Bahamas' spearfishing flagship: Andros carries the world's third-largest barrier reef, and just beyond it the Tongue of the Ocean drops to ~2,000 m right off the east shore.
- Nicholls Town — Nicholls Town, northern Andros, is the quiet northern approach to the great Andros barrier reef and the Tongue of the Ocean wall.
Long Island
Long Island — Dean's Blue Hole (~202 m), a world freediving mecca and trust for a «breath-hold» brand, plus the Atlantic walls of Stella Maris on the east side.
- Clarence Town — Clarence Town, Long Island, is home to Dean's Blue Hole — the world's second-deepest blue hole and the Vertical Blue freediving arena.
- Stella Maris — Stella Maris, northern Long Island, is a resort with dive infrastructure and Atlantic walls off the east shore (Shark Reef, the Comberbach wreck, Cape Santa Maria).
San Salvador
San Salvador — a remote ocean plateau island (fly-in): dramatic wall drops 100–200 m off the beach and the clearest water in the Bahamas (25–30 m+).
- Cockburn Town — Cockburn Town is the main settlement of San Salvador, a remote oceanic plateau where the reef drops into deep water 100–200 m off the beach — dramatic walls and the clearest water in the country (25–30 m+).
Cat Island
Cat Island — remote, with minimal fishing pressure: walls, The Cut and high visibility on the leeward west coast.
- New Bight — New Bight is the main settlement of Cat Island (Mount Alvernia's Hermitage above it), a remote, low-pressure island with walls, The Cut and coastal dropoffs into deep water.
Frequently asked questions
Rules current as of 2026 — always confirm with the Department of Marine Resources before you go. Spearguns are banned country-wide (Hawaiian sling / pole spear only, breath-hold); keep ≥1 mile off New Providence and south Grand Bahama, ≥200 yards off any Family Island; national marine parks are no-take.
Which is the best Family Island for spearfishing?
Andros for its walls and blue holes, Long Island for the drop-offs right off shore, and Eleuthera/Exuma for variety. All offshore of the 200-yard line.
How far from shore do I have to be?
At least 200 yards off any Family Island. The best ground is offshore anyway.
Are the Exuma cuts safe to dive?
Only at slack: the current runs 3–5 knots. Time the tide and don't enter mid-flow.
Can I hunt in Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park?
No, it's full no-take since 1986. Hunt south of Conch Cut, outside the park boundary.
What fish and which closed seasons?
Hogfish, mutton snapper and mahi offshore. Nassau grouper is closed 1 Dec–28 Feb, and crawfish is in season only 1 Aug–31 Mar.