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Catch Limits

Lobsters

  • Closed season: 1 March through 30 November. No one may take, purchase, receive or possess lobster from Cayman waters.
  • Catch limit: Three per person or six per boat per day, whichever is less.
  • Size limit: Six inch tail minimum size.
  • Only spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) may be taken.

Conch

  • Closed season: 1 May through 31 October. No one may take, purchase, receive or possess conch from Cayman waters.
  • Catch limit: Five per person or ten per boat per day, whichever is less.
  • No one may purchase or receive more than five conch from Cayman waters in any one day.

Whelks

  • Closed season: 1 May through 31 October. No one may take, purchase, receive or possess whelk from Cayman waters.
  • Catch limit: Two-and-a-half gallons in the shell or two-and-a-half pounds of processed whelks.
  • No one may purchase or receive more than two-and-a-half gallons in the shell or two-and-a-half pounds of processed whelks from Cayman waters in any one day.
  • Chitons, periwinkles and bleeding teeth may not be taken from Cayman waters at any time.

Echinoderms

  • Echinoderms (includes starfish, sea eggs/urchins, sea cucumbers, sand dollars, etc.) may not be taken from Cayman waters at any time.

Nassau Groupers

  • Size Limit: Twelve inch minimum size limit applies throughout Cayman waters year round EXCEPT:
  • Designated Grouper Spawning Areas are protected.
  • No one may take Nassau grouper from any of the Designated Grouper Spawning Areas.
  • No one may spearfish or set a fish-pot within a one-mile radius of any Designated Grouper Spawning Area from 1 November through 31 March.

Turtles

  • No one may disturb, molest or take turtles in Cayman waters without a licence from the Marine Conservation Board.
  • Possession of turtle eggs is prohibited.
  • For licensed fishermen, closed season runs from 1 April through 30 November.

Sharks

  • No one may feed, attempt to feed or provide or use food to attract any shark in Cayman waters.

Other Fish

  • Protected fish: Jewfish, tilefish (whities), filefish (pipers) and angelfish, including Grey, French and Queen angels (old monks), may not be taken from Cayman waters at any time.
  • Size limit: Eight-inch minimum size on all other fish except goggle eyes, herrings (including sprats), anchovies and silversides (including loggerhead and fine fry).