This Blog is a little different then most I write as it concerns the sports fishing regulations in the Turks & Caicos affecting anglers wanting to DIY on Providenciales.
Fishing License front
For years I have read magazine articles, Blogs, forum postings and interacted with fly fishermen about where to fish on Provo. Most articles, postings and communication include places like Bonefish Point or Silly Creek as prime walk and wade flats. To the best of my knowledge I have never read anything that says the above two areas (and others) are “off limits.”
Fishing License Back
Since Turks & Caicos is a destination in the upcoming book Do It Yourself Bonefishing I needed to be clear on the sports fishing regulations. That is where the story gets interesting. First of all, you do need a sports fishing license prior to casting to your first cruising bone. This was pretty clear to me, well enough publicized and of course I am all for supporting the fishery I am using. On the back of the license is the statement “The Holder should familiarize Him/Herself with the Fisheries Protection Regulations” I tried desperately to “familiarize” myself with the regulations, but alas after hours of searching am not much further along than the moment I landed on the tarmac.
Provo flat
I have searched the Fisheries Protection Regulations and could not find wording specifically stating where or where not a person can fish. I then spent hours on Google searching to see if I had indeed missed something. I have called and emailed the authorities on several occasions and cannot get an answer.
This is what I know, on Provo there are National Parks including Princess Alexandra and Chalk Sound and Nature Reserves including Pigeon Pond and Frenchman’s Creek.
Clearly Bonefish Point and the creek system behind it referred to as Pigeon Pond and Frenchman’s Creek are within the Nature Reserve. Silly Creek appears to be located within Chalk Sound National Park. Even though I can’t find the wording, does that meant it is illegal to fish these areas?
Provo producer
The one clue I have been able to find (thanks to a sharp eyed reader) is a single sentence found in the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources website under Duties stating “ensure that individuals are not fishing within the Protected Areas system ( e.g. National Parks, Nature Reserves and Sanctuaries).” But to be clear, I have not been able to find any legislation supporting this one sentence. I have not found a printed regulation forbidding sports fishing in National Parks or Nature Reserves and lastly I’ve not had confirmation from any authority one way or the other.
To further complicate it, I never met anyone on Provo who said fishing at Bonefish Point is prohibited and most locals and accommodation owners will tell you that Bonefish Point is the place to go.
Discovery Bay, Provo
So if I can’t find the rules after extensive research I don’t know how the government can expect the average fishermen to know where you can and cannot fish. I have no idea what the ramifications are if you are caught fishing in a closed zone, but all traveling fishermen want to abide by the rules of the country being visited. My recommendation is that the government provide a web link on the fishing license or have a very simple one page brochure handed out with each sports fishing license purchased, stating the rules they want sports fishermen to follow along with a map of any zones closed to anglers.
I will continue the hunt until I get an official response from the authorities that is suitable for print.
On the bright side if you cannot fish in the National Parks or Nature Reserves, there are still a number of quality spots on Provo for a self-guided day.
