Your Guide to Fishing in Turks and Caicos
From Chasing Marlin to Diving for Lobster, and Everything in Between
Spend some time fishing our waters, and you may never want to leave—Turks and Caicos is a dream fishing destination for anglers around the world. If it’s big game fish you’re after, you can battle trophy fish like marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi and wahoo trolling the blue water offshore. For light tackle smaller fare, cast a line for bonefish on the shallow flats, or anchor off the reef for snapper, grouper and triggerfish. The 40 islands and cays that make up our beautiful archipelago boast abundant waters perfect for your next fishing adventure.
Take it from us, as avid anglers ourselves, Turks and Caicos is an incredible destination whether you are giving fishing a try for the first time, or chasing a bucket list catch like a monster wahoo or a blue marlin.
Deep Sea Fishing
One of the major perks of fishing in Turks and Caicos is the quick trip out from the dock to prime fishing grounds. The north shore reefs drop off into deep waters just a 15 to 20 minutes’ boat ride from the dock. Where many other popular fishing destinations around the world require a long ride out for your fishing adventure, the short travel time to deep water fishing in Turks and Caicos makes a half day, ¾ or full day fishing trip a great option for first time and seasoned offshore anglers alike.
Deep sea fishing is also called offshore fishing, big game fishing, and deep sea trolling where the boat moves with baited lines dragging behind. The equipment utilized is a conventional reel, and a combination of artificial lures and natural baits are used as bait. The waters surrounding the Turks and Caicos Islands are abundant year-round in pelagic species. Pelagic is a term to describe fish that live primarily in the open ocean—like billfish, tuna, wahoo, and mahi-mahi. These fish migrate through the islands at different times of the year, so there’s always a good bite, no matter the time of year. For example, you’re more likely to catch wahoo during the cooler winter months and blue marlin, and yellowfin tuna in warmer summer waters.
Turks and Caicos has a well-developed charter fishing industry and you’ll find that many charter boats here are equipped with state-of-the-art electronics and gear, luxury interiors, and experienced crews who have been fishing these waters since childhood. Our first choice is Panoply Sport Fishing & Luxury Charters for an excellent deep sea fishing charter or one of their custom fish and snorkel cruises. They’ve been in business since 2008 and have a long list of accolades at tournaments, like the Wine Cellar Golf and Fishing Tournament, Caicos Classic IGFA Billfish Release Tournament and even the Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica.
Bottom or Reef Fishing
If you’re looking to try fishing for the first time, or prefer fighting on light tackle for smaller fare then bottom fishing, used interchangeably here in Turks and Caicos with reef fishing or inshore fishing, is the perfect option. Our islands’ shallow reefs and coral formations on the Caicos Banks are teeming with inshore species like strawberry and Nassau grouper, yellowtail snapper, and triggerfish. These fish make for a great fight on spinning reels and a delicious addition to your dinner plate.
In deep sea fishing, the boat is constantly in motion, while in bottom fishing, you’ll be anchored in place near a reef, wreck, or coral head. Smaller, lighter spinning reels with lures or natural bait, such as squid, are typically used for this type of fishing. Bottom fishing is especially great for children, and the perfect opportunity to practice your reeling technique before heading offshore for bigger fare. While the fish are generally smaller from 5 to 20 pounds—it’s still a great fight, and great fun! Reef fishing also tends to be a little more hands-on for young ones, or adults, who want more constant action.
Turks and Caicos Fishing Seasons
‘The bite’ varies from year to year, but our calendar below can serve as a guide for what we expect to be biting inshore, offshore and on the flats in Turks and Caicos each month of the year.
Bonefishing
Bonefishing is a favourite pastime in Turks and Caicos and a great way to explore the biodiverse inland flats. These shallow waters, fringed by mangroves that you can access by shallow draft flats boats—are home to bonefish, permit, jack crevalle and even the odd pompano.
Some of the best bonefishing grounds can be found off Providenciales’ neighbouring sister islands of North Caicos and Middle Caicos. Excellent local guides are skilled in sight casting to these ‘grey ghosts’ to get you on the fish with a fly setup or spinning reel. Sneaking up on your targets is thrilling. Your captain trims up the engine, gets out the pole and manually ‘poles’ you into shallower waters for the cast.
You can also find decent fly fishing in Providenciales, in the Juba Sound, Discovery Bay, and Turtle Tail marine ponds. Most of the charter operations that offer bonefishing are based out of Providenciales, offering half day and full day flats fishing charters to North and Middle Caicos or to the flats on Provo.
Lobster and Conch Fishing
Lobster and conch diving in the Turks and Caicos Islands is a long-established custom, one that continues today with fishermen diving for subsistence, recreation and charter. Lobster fishing and conch fishing is referred to as ‘diving’ because regulations restrict the use of artificial breathing apparatus, like scuba gear, for harvesting these prized catches. So in order to catch them, you have to dive in!
Conch is a local staple in Turks and Caicos cuisine, with their shells a popular material for local crafts. Unfortunately, the high demand for conch has led to a shortage on the islands. As such, there are regulations in place to limit the harvest, excluding juvenile conch and lobster that are below a minimum size as they haven’t yet reached reproductive maturity. Both conch and lobster have distinct fishing seasons. Lobster season varies slightly each year, typically from early to mid-August to the end of March. Conch season is closed for a couple of months each year, typically for August and September.
Turks and Caicos Fishing Rules and Regulations
Turks and Caicos is naturally blessed with a wide array of fish species that make fishing in the islands a dream come true for anglers. The rules and regulations like size limits and closed seasons, restricted apparatus and protected areas have been put in place to ensure that great fishing and the pristine marine environment is preserved for many generations to enjoy in the decades to come. Additionally, many charter companies, recreational anglers and marinas implement best practices independently – like releasing billfish and other species under pressure, and participating in tag and release programs that contribute to the science of marine conservgation.
Fishing Licenses
To fish in Turks and Caicos, you’ll need to obtain a one day or thirty-day fishing license. Charter companies usually arrange these for and include the cost, or add it on to your charter price. If you’re fishing on your own, you’ll need to get a license yourself. We recommend a monthly if you plan to fish for more than 3 days —from one of the islands’ marinas or the National Environment Centre. For those going at it themselves, be sure to study the map of the Turks and Caicos National Parks as fishing is not permitted in protected areas.
Spearfishing
Spearfishing is illegal in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The only exception to this rule is spearfishing lionfish, an invasive species that threatens the islands’ native reef fish and is damaging our marine environment. To hunt lionfish, you will also need to obtain a permit from one of the authorities above. Hawaiian slings and lobster hooks are permitted for use by Turks and Caicos Islanders only. Visitors to the island and residents without Turks and Caicos Islander status are permitted to fish with rod and reel and noose only.
Protected Areas
If you’re fishing in Turks and Caicos without a guide, you’ll want to have a good understanding of which areas are fair game and which ones are off limits. There are several protected nature reserves and national parks where harvesting any marine animal other than lionfish is an illegal and fineable offense. Along Provo’s coastline, these include Grace Bay Beach, Leeward Beach, the Bight Beach and Bight Reef (Coral Gardens), Smith’s Reef in Turtle Cove, and Malcolm’s Road Beach.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the local rules and regulations. You can find a map of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ National Parks here.
Let Hummingbird Luxury Plan Your Perfect Fishing Adventure
Great fishing, from the homebase of your luxury villa in Turks and Caicos, is just a click away. Our experienced team of hospitality professionals at Hummingbird Luxury will get you on the right boat, with the right guide – whether you want to cast a fly for bonefish, chase big game offshore or fight smaller fare at the reef. Get in touch and let’s start planning your fishing getaway to Turks and Caicos.
