Things to do in Exuma
Exuma is world-famous for various experiences ranging from Swimming Pigs to Pristine Beaches to World Class Golf
Explore them below
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Excursions
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Golfing
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Sand Flats
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Chat 'n' Chill
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Fishing
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Diving
Excursions
Many local companies offer tours and half-day or full-day long excursions, stopping at the famous Swimming Pigs, Iguana Island, Blowhole Beach, Thunderball Grotto, the Mile-Long Sandbar and other amazing sites. In most cases, you can book one excursion that will visit all highlighted areas below. These trips are very worthwhile and we would suggest booking in advance to ensure availability.
Pig Beach
Pig Beach is a beach on an uninhabited island (or cay) located north of Great Exuma. The island takes its unofficial name from the fact that it is populated by a colony of pigs which live on the island. It has become a tourist attraction in modern times. The pigs are now fed and taken care of by residents from neighbouring islands and tourists
Thunderball Grotto
Located just west of Staniel Cay, this fantastic underwater cave system is great for snorkeling, diving, and wading. It is teeming with exotic marine life and a kaleidoscope of brilliantly coloured coral reefs and fish, like yellow-tail snappers, Angel fish, Sergeant Majors and the like. The grotto's mystique is heightened by the small, almost hidden entrance.
Thunderball Grotto is named after the 1965 Bond film “Thunderball” as some scenes were filmed here.
Sandy Cay
Sandy Cay is a remote island off of the south side of Little Exuma. This is one of our favourite Cays, as it is fairly private with shallow sandbars for exploring. In fact, some scenes from the Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed here.
Iguana Island
Iguana Island (properly known as Bitter Guana Cay) is located in the Exuma Cays north of Great Exuma and is home to what seems like hundreds of Bahamian Rock Iguanas. Because of their isolation on the island, they are indigenous and not found anywhere else in the world. A trip to this island is normally paired up in the same day trip to the other attractions in this list.
Blowhole Cay
Blowhole Cay/Beach is an island north of Great Exuma that is known for spectacular geysers of water that seemingly explode out of the beaches and rocks. While on your way to other attractions such as the pigs, you can stop here on the sandy beach area to observe and take some spectacular photos!
Golf at Sandals Emerald Bay
The award-winning 18-hole, 72 par course at Sandals Emerald Bay is recognized as one of the most scenic ocean-side golf courses in the Caribbean. A golfer’s paradise, six signature holes hug the coastline of a scenic peninsula, and prevailing trade winds promise new experiences with each game.
The front 9 holes wind through a mix of seaside dunes and scenic mangroves while the back 9 play along the rocky peninsula of Emerald Bay.
Sand Flats at Moriah Harbour
The Moriah Harbour Cay National Park is an assemblage of small islands, cays, rocks, and shallow reefs, all serving as natural barriers protecting the mainland from the relentless wave energy of the Exuma Sound. Moriah Harbour Cay National Park and its marine environments are a vital part of the ecosystem between Great and Little Exuma. It encompasses 27,286 acres of pristine beaches, sand dunes, mangrove creeks, seagrass beds, blue holes, and coral reefs. A variety of birdlife nests in this park and the mangroves are a vital nursery in their own right for many species of economically important fish. Moriah Harbour Cay is an outstanding example of the Bahamian coastal zone and is an important addition to the park system.
When arriving at Moriah Harbour (via Ferry Bridge) you will see incredibly blue water and the openings of two mangrove creeks. This is the lazy river and depending on the tide, it will either carry you in or out with no effort. At the end of the creek is the Cut and Lazy River Beach. This is where the main ocean meets the quiet waters of the harbour. If the waves are not too big, you can ride the current through the cut, either in the kayaks or swimming.
On the ocean side of Lazy River Beach, enjoy the big waves. On the river side, enjoy beach combing and snorkelling. You can leave through The Cut to get to the ocean but be cautious if waves are large. There are many beautiful oceanside beaches to explore.
Chat ‘n’ Chill
Chat ‘N’ Chill was born in 1998 as a day camp for people who lived on their boats in Elizabeth Harbour. Now, worldwide visitors come to escape the crowds and enjoy the authentically island vibe, grilled native foods, tropical drinks, volleyball courts, and more than 1,000 feet of pristine-white sand beach with magnificent sunsets. Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine says the conch burgers are worth swimming ashore for, and the Sunday Pig Roast has been Stocking Island's biggest social event since 2001.
There are many things to do and explore at Chat ‘N’ Chill and the surrounding area on Stocking Island such as:
Snorkelling
Fresh Conch Salad Bar
Beach Volleyball
Stingray Feeding
Souvenir Shops
Lunch Time Pig Roasts (Sunday’s Only)
To get to Chat ‘N’ Chill on Stocking Island, you will need to take a water taxi from the government docks downtown Georgetown. Chat ‘N’ Chill is open daily 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday only.
Fishing
Fishing Guides
Deep-sea fishing, reef fishing, fly-fishing and spear fishing await you in the amazing waters of the Exumas. The flat waters on the South-side of the island are world-renowned for bone fishing; while the deep waters of the Exuma Sound on the North-side boast an abundance of marlin, tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, red snapper, and grouper as well as Spiny Lobster and conch. There are a number of certified local fishing guides on the island and they typically charge based on a half-day or full-day rate. We have listed them below for you to easily obtain a quote and set up your adventure!
Bone Fishing Guides
Alston "Rambo" Rolle: (242) 554-3606
Drexel "Drex" Rolle: (242) 345-5025 or (242) 357-0243
Garth Thompson: (242) 345-5062 or (242) 439-7172
Harris Smith: (242) 524-2607
JJ Dames: (242) 345-5049 or (242) 357-0649
Reno Rolle (242) 345-5014 or (242) 524-4215
Stevie Ferguson (242) 345-0153
Reef and Spear Fishing Guides
Dallas Knowles: (242) 336-2246
Doug Rowe: (242) 357-0870
Drexel "Drex" Rolle: (242) 345-5025
JJ Dames: (242) 345-5049 or (242) 357-0649
Harris Smith: (242) 524-2607
Peter Burrows: (242) 357-0390
Robert Thompson: (242) 357-0224
Evvie Munnings: (242) 357-0459
What’s Biting?
Depending on what time of year you’re visiting Exuma, you may have better luck with particular species of fish. Use the chart below to identify what fish you can expect based on the timing of your visit.
Note: Due to migration and temperature patterns, this scale can change, usually only slightly. This chart indicates the most common time periods. Content and chart courtesy of Casa del Mar & Fish Rowe Charters: WWW.FISHROWECHARTERS.COM
Fishing Regulations
Rules and regulations subject to change at any time - please contract the Ministry below to obtain up to date information.
Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources
Out Island Traders Building - East Bay St.
P.O. Box N 3040 Nassau, N.P; The Bahamas
E-mail: minagriculturemarine@bahamas.gov.bs
Tel. (242) 397-7000
Fax. (242) 325-3960 or (242) 322-1767
Any person who is not a Bahamian citizen needs a permit if they wish to engage in fishing from a vessel that is not Bahamian owned.
The vessel must clear Bahamas Customs at a Port-of-Entry and obtain the permit at that time. You should not engage in any fishing until this has been done.
Vessels with a valid fishing permit are allowed 60 pounds or up to 20 demersal fish such as snappers and groupers whichever is the lesser, 6 conchs (legal size), 10 lobsters (in season), and 18 pelagic fish (any combination of Dolphin, Wahoo, Kingfish or Tuna) at any time.
No turtles are allowed aboard a vessel at any time.
All other migratory fish shall be returned to the sea alive unless it is to be used immediately.
No grouper or rockfish weighing less than three pounds may be taken.
A vessel is limited to angling with a hook and line held in the hand or attached to a rod and reel. The Fisheries Regulations prohibit the use of a spear, trap or net (other than a landing net), unless such use is specifically authorized. The authorization to use a spear is easy to get.
A person wishing to use a spear should put this on their application form for the fishing permit. Permission may be granted by the officer issuing the permit for the use of a spear with a hand-held sling, referred to as a Hawaiian sling in The Bahamas, or a pole spear. When permission is granted for the use of a spear, this must be endorsed in writing on the permit by the issuing officer.
No spearfishing within 200 yards of any Out Island in the Bahamas.
The use of a spear gun is not allowed in The Bahamas.
It is illegal to use any type of underwater air supply for spear fishing or collecting of any marine life. This includes scuba gear as well as air compressors.
There is no limit to the number of rods you may have onboard the vessel. You are limited to the use of six or less at any given time. The use of more than six rods moves you to another category of sports fishing vessel.
The use of an electric reel is allowed.
There is no catch limit for bonefish. Catch and release is strongly encouraged.
Unless you are fishing in an approved tournament, all billfish (Marlin, Sailfish, or Swordfish) caught must be returned to the sea unharmed.
Visitors to The Bahamas are not allowed to sell or trade any fishery products. This constitutes commercial fishing and would be a serious violation of the law.
The use of a net must be specifically authorized. If you wish to use a cast net to gather bait, you must specify that you want to use this kind of gear on the permit application form.
It is illegal to take coral, tropical fish or sea fans.
Nothing may be taken from Bahamas National Underwater Parks.
No vessel shall have on board any fish unless its head and tail is intact.
A vessel is allowed to gather conchs. The maximum number that you may have aboard the sport fishing vessel at any time is six (6). Remember that there is a legal size limit for conch in The Bahamas. The shell must have a well developed flaring lip. This is a sign of maturity.
Sharks are now protected in The Bahamas, and must only be taken under special permits for very specific purposes. A shark that is hooked during any fishing activity is to be released unharmed.
Diving
The main provider of diving experiences in Exuma is Dive Exuma, located downtown in Georgetown by the Government Docks. They are a PADI resort offering daily dives, snorkel tours and private charters. Dive Exuma can take you to many sites around Exuma. Dive Exuma also offers cou
Wrecks
The Tug is the location for Dive Exuma’s local wreck dive. It is a 65-foot long tugboat that was sunk in 2005 by the company. The goal when sinking the tug was to create an artificial reef to provide more habitats for declining species. Sponges and corals have now encrusted the tug and it has become “home” to several Nassau grouper and Caribbean spiny lobster (crawfish) and a 5-6 foot long green moray eel. Schools of horse-eye jacks and bar jacks are regularly seen at the sight along with barracuda, colourful blue chromis, parrotfish, spotted drums, French grunts, and schoolmasters. Less common sightings include permit and mackerel.
Blue Holes
The blue holes of the Bahamas are unique geological features as they are the only tidal blue holes in the world. The current theory is that these underwater caves were formed above sea level a number of ice ages ago when sea levels were about 400 feet lower. When sea levels rose many became submerged. Around Exuma there are a number of blue holes that are connected to inland sinkholes.
Reefs:
There are many spectacular reefs surrounding Exuma. Like all of the Bahamas, shallow waters surround Exuma, making it perfect for divers who want relaxing reef dives. A plethora of ocean life can be seen at our sites, the beautiful coral gardens are home to many species of fish.
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