Turks and Caicos Fishing Charters

Turks and Caicos is home to excellent sport fishing, with prime waters found less than a 10-minute boat ride from the island of Providenciales. Every year, a handful of tournaments and reef and bottom fishing contests take place here, including the Wine Cellar Golf and Fishing Tournament. Amazing and world-class bonefishing is also found on the Caicos flats off the island's south shore.

A fishing charter is a great way to add some excitement to your Turks and Caicos vacation (and, in some cases, to catch your own dinner).

See Turks and Caicos Fishing for general information on seasons and angling throughout the country.

Fishing Licenses and Limits

• All visitors 16 and older must have a fishing license when fishing in the Turks and Caicos. Children under 16 do not require a license.
• Most Turks and Caicos fishing charter companies include licenses in their packages, or are able to sell one-day licenses.
• One-day and 30-day fishing licenses are available across Providenciales, including at all primary marinas.
• One-day licenses cost $10 from government offices that provide them, and $10–15 from marinas, charter companies, and other businesses that supply licenses.
• 30-day licenses cost $30 from government offices that provide them, and $30–35 from businesses.
• Issuers of fishing licenses will need to see government-issued photo ID of applicants.
• A person holding a recreational fishing license is allowed to keep 10 pounds of fish (which may be cleaned), and one ‘trophy fish’ (which may exceed 10 pounds in weight), per day.
• Generally, most edible fish must be at least 6 inches in length to be kept. One exception is Nassau grouper, which must be at least 21 inches for recreational fishers to keep. In the Turks and Caicos, Nassau grouper has a fishing season, which is typically open from March to November. It is illegal to be in possession of Nassau grouper outside of the season.

Where to Get a Fishing License

• Turtle Cove Marina Office: +1 (649) 941-3781 - Turtle Cove
• Maritime Department: +1 (649) 338-4171 - South Dock Road
• Walkin Marine: +1 (649) 946-4411 - Old Airport Road, Downtown
• South Bank Marina Shop: +1 (649) 946-5600 - 1 Long Bay Highway, Long Bay
• South Side Marina: +1 (649) 946-4137 - 26 Turtle Tail Drive
• Blue Haven Marina: +1 (649) 946-9910 - Leeward
• Scooter Bob's Car Rental (one-day licenses only): +1 (649) 946-4684 - Suzy Turn Road, Turtle Cove

Protected Areas and Seasons

There are many national parks and nature reserves in Turks and Caicos, and it’s a criminal offense to fish or collect conch or lobster in these regions. If you’re not angling with a local tour business, it’s your duty to know which areas are off-limits.

Fishing at the popular beaches of Grace Bay, Leeward Beach, the Bight Beach, and Turtle Cove is not allowed, as well as at the popular diving sites of Northwest Point, French Cay, and West Caicos.

There are established fishing seasons for lobster, Nassau grouper, and stone crab in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The open season for lobster is usually from August 1 to March 31, while Nassau grouper's open season is from March 1 to November 30. Hunting these animals outside of their seasons is illegal.

Reef and Bottom Fishing

Reef and bottom fishing is a sport that the entire family can enjoy, and previous experience is typically not required. Comparatively little skill and strength is necessary for this type of angling, and bites and catches are far more predictable than with deep sea sport and bonefishing.

Many of the common catches are great for eating, and include red snapper, mutton snapper, grey snapper, Nassau grouper, yellowtail, and jacks.

These charters typically anchor near a viable site, either near a reef or in one of the channels between cays, and simply cast lines overboard.

Turks and Caicos Fishing Charters

Fishing with one of the local and experienced tour companies can increase your likelihood of getting bites.

Generally, you can get the best rates by booking directly with a company (though some resorts and hotels have arrangements with local water sports operators that allow them to offer special rates). In any case, do a little research ahead of time for an idea of the going rates.

Turks and Caicos fishing charters tend to be half-day or full-day trips and welcome beginners and pros. Most are private, though a few companies (such as Seaside Tours) offer shared trips as well. Given that most reef fishing locations are in coastal areas—and perhaps due to the more laid-back nature of this type of angling—these charters may also include visits to uninhabited cays and snorkeling.

Snacks, drinks, and all necessary equipment are usually included on tours. Lunch is often complimentary on full-day trips. Some excursions include a beach BBQ on a secluded cay, where you can grill your catch.

There is a wide range of watercraft used locally for reef and bottom fishing, and the vessel is usually chosen based on the destination and group size. Some companies offer complimentary transport to and from your hotel or resort.

Shore Fishing Locations

It’s important to be aware of (and to not fish) in the protected areas on Providenciales. Much of the north coast of the island is part of the Princess Alexandra National Park and is off-limits for fishing.

The Heaving Down Rock area is the only recommended shore fishing site on the island. It’s easy to find and access, and no hiking is required to get there. Here, the natural water movement in the channel is a haven for fish.

Other legal and decent coastal sites exist, such as off the Bird Rock area and near South Dock, but public access is difficult.

Anglers typically have the best chance of bites and catching fish near to and during the full moon. Casting a line from shore doesn’t always give the best results—in most cases, a boat trip with a professional guide offers the best experience.

There is no freshwater fishing in the Turks and Caicos.

Fishing Supply Stores

There are two fishing supply shops on Providenciales.

The foremost is Walkin Marine near Downtown, which carries a wide selection of fresh bait, hooks, rods, reels, tackle, and lures, along with general marine, boating, and repair supplies.

The small shop at Scooter Bob's Car Rental is found near Turtle Cove Marina, and stocks bait, basic rods and reels, light tackle, and general gear.

Tiny pieces of conch or squid are generally the most effective bait.

Deep Sea Sport Fishing

There's excellent deep sea sport (or blue water or game) fishing to discover in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Several local sport fishing businesses operate out of Blue Haven Marina and Turtle Cove Marina.

The vivid blue of the deep ocean water begins only minutes away from the marinas and resorts. Unlike with so many other Caribbean and tropical Atlantic locations, you won’t have to waste time on a long journey out.

The practices of deep sea sport fishing are a little different from reef and bonefishing. Instead of simply casting and waiting, lines from 4 to 10 separate heavy rods and reels are fed out 50 to 100 feet (15–30 m) and are kept apart with outrigger booms.

A cruising speed of about 10 knots is maintained and the trolling back and forth off the northern Caicos barrier reef begins.

There’s a constant lookout by the captain, crew, and guests for indicators of game fish. The most common sign that there are fish below are flocks of seabirds, who feed on schools of small pelagic fish.

Once there’s a hit, a mad rush begins to get the other lines in and an angler takes the fighting chair and starts the long battle to reel in the catch before the sharks get it.

Depending on the species, it can take hours to land a fish. It takes a lot of energy and stamina to fight a large game fish and bring it in, so anglers may take turns during the fight.

Possible Catches

Sailfish, blue marlin, white marlin, swordfish, several species of shark, yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, bigeye tuna, skipjack tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo are all found in Turks and Caicos waters. There is a rough season for catching certain species (see chart below).

Although a bit less desirable, barracuda is a common game fish caught.

Edible fish such as tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi and mackerel are usually kept and preserved in coolers, so anglers have the option of cooking their catch or having it prepared at a local seafood restaurant. Billfish are typically tagged and released.

Choosing a Sport Fishing Charter

There are relatively few deep sea sport fishing companies in the Turks and Caicos, so to ensure availability, it's best to reserve your charter well in advance of your arrival date. Providenciales has several charter companies, and rates tend to be relatively similar.

Refreshments and snacks are typically included on excursions, along with lunch for trips longer than half a day.

The common vessel type for deep sea sport fishing here is a 40 to 50 foot (12–15 m) sport fishing yacht manufactured by companies like Bertram, Viking, and Hatteras. Some businesses offer deep sea excursions on smaller open vessels, but full sport fishing boats are best for full-day trips and when conditions aren’t optimal. The larger luxury charters are outfitted with full cabins and top-tier equipment, from heavy-duty fighting chairs and reels to state-of-the-art sonar.

Tournaments and Competitions

Several sport fishing events take place in the Turks and Caicos annually, many of which are smaller local competitions.

The Wine Cellar Golf & Fishing Tournament is the primary tournament for the year, and is a multi-day competition with prizes for various catches.

Bonefishing

The Caicos Islands are ideally suited for bonefishing and saltwater fly-fishing. Beautiful and expansive crystal-clear shallows line the southern coasts of Providenciales, Pine Cay, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, and East Caicos, and the vast majority of these regions see very little human intrusion.

Many interior and sheltered sites are also found on the main islands. Along with bonefish, barracuda is very common throughout the shallows of the country, and tarpon is sometimes seen.

The common size of bonefish in the Turks and Caicos Islands ranges from 5 to 12 pounds (2.25–5.45 kg).

Easily Accessible Bonefishing Locations

There are two viable (and legal) DIY bonefishing spots on Providenciales: Flamingo Lake and Juba Sound in the Turtle Tail area, and Turtle Lake and the nearby wetlands in the vicinity of Cooper Jack Bay.

It’s very easy to get to these scenic sites. Simply drive to the regions above and stop wherever the waters looks promising.

Bonefishing Charters and Excursions

Some local tour businesses offer bonefishing excursions. Flats boats and skiffs (suitable for poling) with spotting platforms are the typical watercraft used, yet transport to wading sites is also offered. A knowledgeable and experienced fly-fishing guide can make the difference between catching nothing and a trophy bonefish or tarpon, so it's worth selecting a company or tour guide who has spent significant time on these waters.

Hunting Lionfish

Lionfish is a venomous fish native to the Indo-Pacific, and it is invasive in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Lionfish preys on smaller reef fish, reproduces very quickly, and has an insatiable appetite, all of which can damage and change existing food chains and ultimately deteriorate the reef.

The spines on the lionfish are capable of causing an extremely painful sting to humans, which in rare cases can cause temporary paralysis.

The most common method for catching lionfish, both in the Turks and Caicos and globally, is by spear or pole spear. Lionfish is the only species in the Turks and Caicos Islands that you can legally spear, collect in nature reserves and national parks, and harvest using scuba diving equipment. It’s not a typical practice to hook lionfish.

Lionfish are actually delicious and safe to eat, with a white flaky texture and taste similar to snapper. It also has one of the highest percentages of fillet-to-total-weight ratios, with up to 33% of its weight being edible and clean fillet.

To hunt lionfish, you must obtain a license from the Department of Fisheries (which has offices located on South Dock Road). It's strongly recommended that you learn about safely hunting and cleaning lionfish from someone experienced before attempting to do so on your own. There are no organized tours in Turks and Caicos for hunting lionfish.

Turks and Caicos Fishing Charters