Posted on June 22, 2015 / by Louis Cahill
I don’t mean to be alarmist but I just finished reading a draft resolution for new Bahamian flats fishing regulation and I’m shocked and heartbroken at what it says
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]’ve been bonefishing in the Bahamas for some time now. Over a decade anyway. Twice a year, I take groups of ten anglers for guided fishing at a lodge and at least once a year I do a DIY trip. If you’ve been reading Gink and Gasoline for any time at all, you know of my love affair with these beautiful islands, their people and their fish. Today I am wondering if that is all coming to an end.Flats fishing is a key engine for the Bahamian economy. Not so much for Nassau with its choked streets, barred windows and shirtless frat boys. But on many of the family islands, fishing is the economy. Islands like South Andros would be destitute without the tourism flats fishing brings.
I know I drop a lot of coin with the locals when I’m in the islands
In 2016, if the proposed Draconian rulings become Bahamian law this DIY fly fishing guy from Texas is looking at a fine of $3,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both fine and imprisonment. I guess he’ll be going to the Yucatan or Belize with the other thousands who used to go to the Bahamas.
I go out of my way to do it. I have a huge pile of shells and doodads I’ve bought from my buddy Lindon who keeps the dock at little creek. Not because I need or even want them but because I appreciate that Lindon keeps the place tidy. I remember what it was like before and I know how hard he works at it. I also know that he’d be destitute without that job and the little extra cash he makes off the shells. So I’ll pay him $20 for a shell I could pick up off the beach myself and I encourage others to do it.
I drink in Joe Sands bar, I tip Kermit the bus driver and I donate money for homecoming and I feel good about doing it. More importantly, I introduce people to Bahamas bonefishing. Lots of them and, as a group, we drop a collective $60,000/week in the local economy. Apparently, that’s not enough for the ministers in Nassau.
Read more and find out where Cahill says the trouble lies . . .
Also, here’s the proposed 2016 angling rules for the entire Bahamas . . .
Here’s Nervous Waters take . . .
Here’s Bonefish on the Brain . . .
They’ll be more on this — stay tuned.
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