Fishing Grounds the Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are located six-mile deep by the Puerto Rico Trench, an area known for having a lot of game fishing in the world. The most popular areas to fish near St. Thomas are the North Drop and the South Drop both a couple of miles of St. Thomas. St. Croix is surrounded by a drop which is .5 to 4 miles north or south. Schools of small fish migrate and gather here, and this attracts larger fish as billfish, Tuna, Wahoo and Dolphin fish (Mahi-Mahi). Fishing by trolling across the 50-100 depth contour.
Below we have put together a list of seasonal times, locations and the proper gear to catch fish Offshore, Inshore, and shallow water near St. Thomas and St. John.
Offshore Game Fishing
Offshore game fish include Blue and White Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna and Wahoo among others. Most of these fish are all known to give quite a fight. The most aggressive Marlin around a full moon is known to fight for hours. Fast swimming Wahoo up to 50 miles an hour attack bait. While it is no easy task reeling in big tuna offshore.
ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN
STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom drop off, FADs
All year, best May-October
Lures, Ballyhoo, Belly strips, Mackerel
WHITE MARLIN
STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom drop off, FADs
All year, best April-May
Lures, Ballyhoo, Bellystrips
SAILFISH
STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom drop off
October-March
Lures, Ballyhoo, Bellystrips
YELLOWFIN TUNA
STT North & South Drop, STX 100 Fathom drop off and all shelf areas, FADs
August – February
Lures, Ballyhoo Feathers
BLACKFIN TUNA
shelf areas on all islands, FADs
All Year
Lures, Feathers
SKIPJACK TUNA
shelf areas on all islands, FADs
All Year
Lures, Ballyhoo
DOLPHIN FISH (MAHI-MAHI)
STT North & South Drop, shelf areas on all islands, FADs
October-January (peak season) May, July
Lures, Ballyhoo, Flying Fish
WAHOO
shelf areas on all islands, FADs
All year, best September-May
Lures, Ballyhoo
Inshore Game Fishing
The most recreational fishing for visitors and locals on the Virgin Islands is Inshore fishing. Catch Barracuda, Bonefish, Kingfish, Mackerel, Snook, and Tarpon. All you need is a fly rod, top bait and trolling.
BONITO (LITTLE TUNNY)
most inshore areas, drop-offs and around schools of bait fish
All year, best January-May
Fry, feathers
BARRACUDA
reef & bank areas
All Year
Lures, spoons, ballyhoo
HARDNOSE
most inshore areas and around schools of bait fish and FADs
April-September
Fry, small feathers
BAR JACK
most inshore areas and around schools of bait fish
All Year
Fry, squid, ballyhoo, feathers
CREVALLE JACK
STX 100 Fathom drop off, most inshore areas and around schools of bait fish
All Year
Fry, squid
RAINBOW RUNNER
STT North and South Drops, reefs & banks, FADs
April – September
Fry, squid, ballyhoo, feathers
YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER
near reefs & bank areas
All Year
Fry, cut bait
KINGFISH
reefs, most mid-shelf areas and drop-offs
All year, best February-May
Ballyhoo, fry, skirts
CERO
Near shore, reefs
All Year
Lures, feathers, fry, ballyhoo
Shallow Water Game Fishing
Fish in shallow water which includes Barracuda, Jacks, and Permit. Catch and release only Bonefish and Tarpon that are also favorite catches in shallow waters.
BONEFISH
near shore, shallow areas, sea grass & sand flats, bays, mangrove lagoons
All year, best late March- September
Live shrimp, small jigs often baited with shrimp or crab
Small flies tied to imitate shrimp, crabs
PERMIT
shallow sea grass & sand flats, bays, lagoons, back reefs
All year, best April-October
Small live crabs, pieces of crab, small sea urchins
Crab patterns
TARPON
mangrove lagoons, bays, harbors, deeper water adjacent to shallow flats, around offshore cays
All year, best March-October
Silver spoons, white jigs, live bait fish
Large streamers, various ‘tarpon’ flies
BARRACUDA
around reefs, channels adjacent to shallow water, mangrove lagoons and bays
All Year
Live fish, bait fish imitations, silver spoons, feathers
Bait fish imitations, needlefish imitations
JACKS
around reefs, channels adjacent to shallow water, mangrove lagoons and bays, back reef flats
All Year
Squid, shrimp, cut bait, small spoons, spinners, jigs
Small streamers, shrimp imitations
SNOOK
mangrove lagoons, bays, harbors, along beaches with sharp drop-offs and submerged structures
All Year
Live shrimp, small fish, bait fish imitation lures, jigs
Bait fish imitations
MAHOGANY SNAPPER
around reefs, channels, adjacent to shallow water
All Year
Batifish, squid, fry