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The Division of Fish and Wildlife supports the USVI recreational fishery by collecting and analyzing data from recreational fishing licenses, recreational landings, constructing fishing infrastructure, fishing tournaments, and facilitating licensing for resident and visitor recreational fishers. This work is funded by the Sport Fish Restoration Program (SFR) through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
“Recreational fishing” is defined as “fishing or fishing activities which result in the harvest of fish, none of which (or parts thereof) is sold, traded, or bartered” (50 §622.2, Commercial Federal Regulations) Sale, barter, or trade of catch by recreational fishers is prohibited. The following gear types are considered commercial gear and may not be used by recreational fishers: pots, traps, and seine nets.
Upon the public release of the Division’s USVI Recreational Licensing System, you will be able to purchase a recreational fishing license at www.gooutdoorsusvi.com.
Until then, you may register for any of the following recreational licenses free of costa at usvifishinglicense.org/register
In December of 2021, DPNR-DFW announced its intent to promulgate rules and regulations for the establishment of a recreational fishing program pursuant to 3 V.I.V.§401(b)(16) and 12 V.I.V. §105. This would include the establishment of a mandated recreational fishing license. A public hearing and comment period concluded in February 2022. Govenor Albert Bryan, Jr. signed the V.I. Recreational Fishing Rules and Regulations into law in October 2022. DFW is currently in the process of creating the infrastructure needed provide recreational fishing licenses to the public.
You can find the Rules and Regulations Here.
Information on fishing activity and landings is essential to fisheries management. While the Division of Fish and Wildlife collects trip-specific data from commercial fishers, we rely on catch reporting and tournament data to monitor the recreational fishery. Therefore, we encourage all recreational fishers to report their catch every time they fish. This confidential data contributes to better management of our fisheries now and for generations to come!
DFW constructs and maintains fish aggregation devices or FADs. These FADs are secured offshore and serve as both recreational and commercial fishing spots. FADs create new habitats that attract coastal and pelagic species such as dolphinfish, wahoo, tuna, jacks, and more!
Currently, there are no operating FADs in the Territory waters. A FAD working group consisting of representatives from local and federal agencies as well as the recreational and commercial fishing sectors, is working to update the FAD program – so stay tuned for more information!
DFW partners with the Dolphinfish Research Program (DRP) and Beyond Our Shores Foundation to promote dolphinfish research. Volunteer fishers, recreational or commercial, may pick up a free tagging kit from any DFW office. When a dolphinfish is caught at a FAD, the fisher may tag the fish, record its length, and release it unharmed back into the water. The fisher then submits the tag and fish information to DRP at https://dolphintagging.com/report-recaptures/.
If the dolphinfish is already tagged the fisher may report the recapture with the same form. This program allows DFW and DRP to collect important information on dolphinfish movement patterns, range, and recreational fishing activity in the Caribbean and Atlantic.
Please use the button to the right to access the Resources page for all recreational fishing resources.
Got extra fishing line? Recycle it with us! DFW offers several monofilament line receptacles throughout the Territory to drop off your old fishing line. DFW personnel collects the line from the receptacles and sends it off to our project partners at Berkely Fishing.
Recycling fishing line is a great way to avoid it entering U.S. Virgin Islands waters where it can cause significant injury and even death to marine fish, wildlife, and seabirds. We encourage all fishers, recreational and commercial, to recycle their monofilament fishing line with us!
