what the Ministry says, the rules will be different wherever you are. The same goes with Duty items, boat parts being flown in, etc., and what you are and are not allowed to bring into the Country. Basically, it all depends on the mood of the fellow or gal in charge at the time with just about anything. But thanks for that Jan, good to know. I didn't know about the 200 yards offshore item. Generally speaking, I find it pretty rare that anything like that is enforced in the Bahamas, they either don't know the rules or they don't care, they will continue to do whatever it is they've been doing for generations. I see folks fishing all the time in the Park and taking lobster in the off-season is done all the time by the locals throughout, they just call them summer crabs and not uncommon to see them using Hookas, which are also illegal. Pretty soon, sad to say, like sisal, pirating & bootlegging, there will be no more conch. Like anywhere else, the pressure on the fisheries in the north, Abaco & Exuma, has taken it's toll, but not nearly as much so in the southern Bahamas where the activity is much less. It makes me sick to see these Americans on the sport fish depleting the fisheries just for fun. And yes, you generally need to ask for the fishing permit every time you get the Cruising Permit, and it is always free.

Cheers, John