Fishing

Shore Fishing

Shore fishing is a great way to get your fix if you don't want to spend the money on chartering a boat for the day. Just grab a fishing pole, some bait, and head to the nearest beach (while making sure to avoid protected marine areas). Permits for shore fishing are not required if you plan to catch and release, however, if you'd like to keep some to cook for your next meal, you will need to procure a fishing license. Popular catches near the shore include bonefish, tarpon, permit, pompano, and barracuda.

Light Tackle and Fly Fishing

The shallow flats of the Cayman Islands offer anglers numerous locations to choose from for their light tackle and fly fishing exploits. North Sound, South Sound, and Frank Sound are just a few places to visit to pursue this sport. In these locations you can charter boats made especially for sailing the flats, or you can pull on same waders and avoid the extra cost. Bonefish, tarpon, and permit swim through these waters.

Coming across the proper fly fishing equipment in the Cayman Islands if you aren't utilizing a charter company's services can be difficult. If you plan to do some fly fishing on your own, bringing your own gear is advisable.

Charters in the Cayman Islands that offer light tackle and fly fishing tours include Bayside Watersports, Blue Water Excursions, Captain Ronald Ebanks, Emerald Water Anglers, Ezonas Aquatics, Jet Ski Fishing and Safaris, Fish Bones, Little Cayman Sport Fishing, and See and Sea Tours.

Bottom and Reef Fishing

Reefs in the Cayman Island are managed under marine conservation laws, limited to low-volume recreational and sustenance fishing. It is important that the fish caught in the reefs be released unless they will be eaten, because over-fishing has caused near depletion of conch and lobster. Still, the Cayman Islands are surrounded by hundreds of miles of reef that can be fished. Yellowtail, porgy, almaco jack, snapper, grouper, blue runner, bar jack, and jack crevalle are commonly caught on reef fishing trips. Bayside Watersports, Black Princess Charters, Ezonas Aquatics, Just Fish'n, and Oh Boy Fishing Charters provide these type of tours.

Deep Sea Fishing

The Cayman Islands are great for deep sea fishing because the waters grow very deep very quickly. In fact, just a few hundred yards off the coast of Grand Cayman, the reefs go as deep as 800 feet, and the Cayman Trench reaches a dramatic depth of 20,000 feet. Sports fishermen on the hunt for big game fish should come prepared to pull in blue marlin, wahoo, mahi-mahi, tuna, and barracuda.

It is highly advisable that you charter with a knowledgeable fishing company when you go deep sea fishing in the Cayman Islands. Consider the following: Bayside Watersports, Black Princess Charters, Blue Water Excursions, Captain Ronald Ebanks, Condor Watersports, Ezonas Aquatics, Jet Ski Fishing and Safaris, Just Fish'n, Oh Boy Fishing Charters, Sea Star Charters, See and Sea Tours, and Slack-Em Charters.

Conservation Efforts

Anglers are encouraged to release all catches that are not to be eaten, unless they are record setting, or caught during a tournament.

The Cayman Islands Department of Environment lists catch limits for various types of fish on their official Web page. The following chart lists a few that you should be aware of, but these limits may change at any given time. Always check with the Department of Environment before you head out on your fishing trip.