Spearfishing in the Bahamas
The Bahamas is ~700 carbonate-bank islands with gin-clear water (15–30 m, often more) over the ocean walls and the Gulf Stream. But it's a one-of-a-kind jurisdiction: the speargun is BANNED country-wide — only the Hawaiian sling and the pole spear are legal, and always on a breath. No scuba, no compressed air. This guide explains what spear you can use, the distance rules, and where and when to dive.
The water turns milky from WIND over the shallow bank (there are no rivers or upwelling): in a blow, the carbonate sand whitens it. Work the leeward (bank) side or the ocean side depending on the wind. The dry summer season (May–Sep) is the cleanest and calmest; winter brings N fronts. This guide walks the ten islands and links to a daily go / borderline / no-go forecast for every city.
Open the flagship — Andros →The rules in brief
- The speargun is banned country-wide (Fisheries Regulations, Ch. 244, reg. 2(b) & 10). Only the Hawaiian sling and the pole spear are legal — no stock, no trigger.
- Breath-hold only. Any underwater air — scuba, hookah, compressor — is illegal for fishing or collecting. You also need a fishing permit with the officer-signed «spear endorsement»; spearfishing competitions are banned.
- Distance rules: banned within 1 mile of New Providence (Nassau) and of the SOUTH shore of Grand Bahama; and within 200 yards of any Family Island. That's why Nassau and Freeport are info cities: legal hunting is offshore.
- Marine parks = full no-take (Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park and ~20 more): zero fishing. Seasons: crawfish (spiny lobster) 1 Aug–31 Mar; Nassau grouper closed 1 Dec–28 Feb; conch is regulated. A permit is required for yachtsmen too; the catch may not be sold.
What spear can you legally use?
The short answer: Hawaiian sling or pole spear, never a speargun. The Hawaiian sling is a tube with a band that launches a free shaft; the pole spear is a pole with a band at the butt. Neither has a stock or trigger, so both count as legal. A speargun (band or pneumatic) is illegal even on a breath. Bring your own gear: renting spearguns isn't an option.
Where to dive, by region
- 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 off the coast. Wall, pelagics and hundreds of blue holes.
- Bimini — the Gulf Stream wall ~80 km off Florida: gin-clear water, pelagics, the Sapona wreck. Exuma — the ECLSP (no-take since 1986) starts north of Conch Cut: hunt SOUTH of it. Eleuthera — Spanish Wells, the lobster capital; Current Cut runs hard (slack only).
- Abaco — the sheltered Sea of Abaco and the barrier reef, with many no-take parks around. Long Island — Dean's Blue Hole (~202 m), a freediving mecca, and the Stella Maris walls. San Salvador and Cat Island — remote, dramatic walls right off the shore, the best visibility (25–30 m).
Season, visibility and safety
The best season is the dry summer (May–Sep): calm, warm water (28–30 °C) and the cleanest visibility. Winter (Nov–Apr) brings N/NW cold fronts that muddy the bank. In the cuts between cays (Exuma, Current Cut) the current runs 3–5 knots: dive the slack only. Sargassum can reach the SE islands Apr–Oct.
Safety: the Bahamas has been a shark sanctuary since 2011 and density is high (highest at Bimini and Grand Bahama). Speared fish draws interest: don't keep the catch against your body, deal with it fast and dive with a buddy. And respect hurricane season (Jun–Nov).
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.
Is spearfishing legal in the Bahamas?
Yes, but breath-hold only and with a Hawaiian sling or pole spear — the speargun is banned. No scuba or compressed air. You need a permit with the «spear endorsement» and must keep the distances (≥1 mile off New Providence and south Grand Bahama, ≥200 yards off the out islands).
Can I use a speargun?
No. A speargun of any kind (band or pneumatic) is banned country-wide, even used on a breath. Only the Hawaiian sling and the pole spear are legal. Bring your own gear.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. You need a fishing permit (yachtsmen too, arranged on entry) with a «spear endorsement» signed by the officer. The catch may not be sold, and bag limits and closed seasons apply.
What's the best season and visibility?
The dry summer (May–Sep): calm, 28–30 °C water and 15–30 m visibility, often more on the ocean walls (Andros, Long Island, San Salvador). In winter N fronts muddy the bank; then work the leeward side. Pick the day by wind and forecast.