St Maarten any info?

[codfishhead]

Going to warmer waters in a couple weeks. After inquiring with a scuba charter to see if they would take me and my boys spear fishing I find that St Maartens on both sides there’s no fishing allowed of any kind. Need to go off shore to kill any fish. What BS!
You can’t tell a drunken American he can’t go fishing. Foolish mortals.

So I am packing my shit and taking it with bail money and they can kiss my ass. I’m staying on the Dutch side. Going with 18 people and have 5 time shares to party in. Ya it will be nuts.

Appreciate any and all info on spear fishing spots, bars, restaurants, interesting things to do and see, local fare of every kind. I’ve been to lots of places they say don’t leave the grounds especially at night. I’m renting a car and going as deep as I can into the local areas and experiencing the island from a locals view as well as hitting some high end spots.

Where, who, and what, should I do while there?

Thanks

Jay

[stripey]

There are interior ponds that supposedly hold some decent tarpon Ive heard and i believe its legal to fish for them. I dove the beach by the airport years ago...small tropicals was all i saw. There was an offshore storm prior to my arrival that brought in some NASTY jellyfish so you may want to inquire about that!!! Very painful stings...

[codfishhead]

Thx.
I’ve talked to a few people about the Tarpon and plan on playing with some. The inland water is as nasty as it gets. But if you can play with rolling Tarpon I’ll do it in sludge.

[DewTheDewDude]

I'm actually heading down to St. Maarten's on the 26th, for a couple weeks. Was thinking about bringing my polespear,but hell I didn't do any research yet. That kind of stinks..Well if you hear any good spots please let me know! =D

[codfishhead]

I'll be there that week. Going down with 19 people and staying on the Dutch side.

Needless to say I’m bringing spear fishing gear and will be fishing both with a pole and a spear gun. Looking at maybe renting a boat. I’ll have my 2 sons with me that I’ve taken free diving a few times. One of them has been on swim teams since he was 5 and now a senior at UCONN. Freaken kids a fish.

I’ll hunt up more info. So far it’s a mixed bag. Many people including a couple that lived there told me no one gives a shit about fishing.
They spear fished and fished daily to others tell me don’t get caught because of the fines.

Response from the scuba place I asked about fishing:


Can you spear fish on the Dutch side? NO, IT IS ILEGAL AND CONSIDERED A CRIME
Is there fish to spear fish on the Dutch side near Flamingo? NO, AND IT IS ILEGAL AND CONSIDERED A CRIME
What fish are around at the end of Dec to hunt for? NONE, IT IS ILEGAL AND CONSIDERED A CRIME
Is there any fishing lic needed for fishing or spear fishing? NO, IT IS ILEGAL AND CONSIDERED A CRIME
I want to do some diving. Can I spear fish when going out with you diving? NO, IT IS ILEGAL AND CONSIDERED A CRIME
What gear do you recommend I bring and what should I leave home? RECOMMEND TO BRING WHATEVER GEAR YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE IT AND HAVE YOUR OWN HERE, RECOMMEND TO LEAVE BEHING YOUR SPEAR GUN.
I’ll be renting all diving equipment from you. Wondering about a suit. Should I bring one? SHOULD YOU HAVE ONE, YES, DEC IS OUR WINTER TIME AND HAVING YOUR OWN WETSUIT IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN USING THE RENTAL AS IT SHOULD FIT YOU BETTER.
Anything else you can tell me about fishing, spear fishing, diving, snorkeling and so on would be very much appreciated. Thank you Jay I CAN TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT DIVING, AND NOTHING ABOUT SPEAR FISHING,

[Marco]

I think you can spear on the french side. I went there about 15 years ago and in the french side there are dive stores that used to sell spearguns.

[sacha58]

Dutch side spearfishing is a nono.... French is Ok, but check if you need to get a temporary license... I 've been there 5 times and always speared , but you cannot eat the fish as there is a lot of Cigua, but also a lot of small and tasty lobsters :-)

[Freedvrjim]

Scuba shops will lie to tourists trying to protect their reefs..
Do a quick google search of St Maartin marine regulations 2013 and
You'll find accurate information..

[DewTheDewDude]

Originally Posted by wndsurfrjim

Scuba shops will lie to tourists trying to protect their reefs..
Do a quick google search of St Maartin marine regulations 2013 and
You'll find accurate information..

So it is legal on the French side? =P

[Behslayer]

Do they have a Wahooo Run?

[Dude George]

Be careful as there are protected reefs on both sides, and they don't mess around with enforcement. It is legal on the French side as of last year. Jon the Wahoo in the Caribbean is always here year round But the slobs tend to be more arround in the winter months.

[Freediver105]

I am also heading to St. Martins from December 29th - January 4th. Gonna be in Grand Case if I can remember correctly, hoping to get some good free diving pics/videos in if I can't spear anything.

[DewTheDewDude]

I hear there isn't much shore diving down there, but what about lobstering though?

I'm assuming there everywhere, and I won't even need a spear for some good eating!

Do the ones down there not even have claws? Is there something with there antennas?

Just curious, I'm definitely going to get my hands dirty in some lobster goo.

Thanks.

[JavBoston]

Originally Posted by sacha58

Dutch side spearfishing is a nono.... French is Ok, but check if you need to get a temporary license... I 've been there 5 times and always speared , but you cannot eat the fish as there is a lot of Cigua, but also a lot of small and tasty lobsters :-)

Why are you shooting fish that you know you can not eat???

People like you piss me off, shoot fish for photo then throw it away. WTF!!!

[sacha58]

Originally Posted by JavBoston

Why are you shooting fish that you know you can not eat???

People like you piss me off, shoot fish for photo then throw it away. WTF!!!

Keep your piss inside.... I ate all the lobsters and used to give the fish to local fisherman that were very happy about it and said that they know how to differentiate those with cigua from those without... and, more over, pelagics are usually free, especially when small to mid size.

People like you, easy to give bad comments , in fact, piss me off too, so we are even