St. John USVI · Activities

Fishing in St John USVI

Thanks to the vast selection of underwater life at this Caribbean paradise, fishing is one of the preferred past times on St. John USVI. With daily charters taking all kinds of fishers out to sea, there is a good possibility that you will be able to catch anything from a Tuna to a Barracuda to a Kingfish or a Wahoo, Bonita, Marlin, Mackerel, Shark or even a delicious Mahi-Mahi.

Of course, the daily catch is always dependent upon where the boat heads out to and what the conditions are like at sea. Nevertheless, happy vacationers - whether beginning fishers or long-time pros - have consistently been delighted by the great rewards they are able to reap on these fantastic fishing charters out of the St. John USVI.

Many tours offer all of the necessary amenities including a fishing chair, downriggers, outriggers, clear-sounding radio, electric fish finders, global positioning satellite technology as well as a full line of tackle and rods that are customized to your specific fishing needs. These chartered fishing trips generally take off from Cruz Bay early in the morning, although they many companies are happy to schedule an afternoon. If you prefer an afternoon excursion, be sure to schedule one in advance. Often the trips are restricted to anyone over eight or ten years, so it is important to check with the company before making your final plans. The prices for a full day - eight hour trip - range from around $800 to $900, with beer, water, soda, bait and fuel all included. This is good for small groups of up to six, and the price can be reduced for shorter fishing excursions. A six hour trip is usually classified as three-quarter day and can cost between $600 and $700 while the half day, four-hour charter is priced at $400 to $500.

For those who are interested in checking out the inshore fishing trips, many are run by the same charter companies so that you can pay a little bit less and shoot for a different selection of fish. It should be noted that the water doesn't tend to get as deep here, so don't plan on winning any fishing records while on an inshore trip. The price of one of these charters goes at around $300 to $400 for a half day.

In addition to the sailing trips, there are flats that are accessible by foot for all those fishers who would prefer not to leave the land. There is also an availability of pickups, while the happy fishers who go to the flats can expect to catch anything from a Bonefish to a Tarpon and from a Barracuda to a Shark. The charters that contract out these shallow-water excursions make sure that only the best guides are in charge so that fishers of all skill levels can be confident that they are getting the top value out of their St. John fishing experience. With clear, beautiful water and fun and interesting company, fishing here can be as entertaining as it is profitable for the occasional record breaker.

For More Information

• Find a Hotel in the Virgin Islands
• See Photo's of St. John
• Sign Up for the VI Newsletter

See you on the Island, John "Big Hat" Walsh