Bahamas detecting alert ....

[Ed SW Fla]

Just got back from a 3 day Nassau cruise. Had planned to go out to Blue Lagoon Island to detect the snorkle area but that part of the island is closed / shut down .... only the Dolphin encounter is operating.

Instead took a taxi to Cable Beach to water detect. A guy was kicked off two hotel beaches (one was the beach of the hotel he was staying at) for "poaching" ... which is detecting without a $25 annual detecting permit available through the Dept of fish and wildlife.

Got about 3 hours of water detecting done before me and my buddy were told the same thing by a hotel security guard.

 

[scoopinloot]

Wow Wow Wow Wow. Well then, that about says something. Well, let me think about this. Hang on and let me see. Have not heard this one yet. Are you at work today???

 

[scoopinloot]

In the three hours did you find anything???. They told you to leave asap? Did they give you any other problems??? I amazed because the hotel I booked told me it was not a problem. Did they escort you out?

 

[greenmeanie]

So for that 25 do they go out and plant targets for you to find LOL.

 

[Beachcomber]

from what others have posted there are other Carribean locations that you can go to that won't give you a hard time about detecting. Better to spend your hard earned vacation dollars at a place that will allow you to enjoy your vacation!!!!! JMHO

HH

Beachcomber

 

[Ed SW Fla]

.... cheap bracelet, two silver rings, some pull tabs, and crown caps and a some clad change. They expected us to leave detecting right away. When we left we were not followed nor harrassed. we did not give the hotel security guy any crap ... would have had I been staying at the hotel instead of being on a cruise ship.

 

[Ed SW Fla]

... we spenat a lot of money to come here and were not coming back due to their stupid law .... and would alert other water / beach hunters via the forums ... the security guys likely didn't give a crap nor know what the internet is all about.

 

[Ed SW Fla]

... you got news / info we needed and didn't have? Are we missing something?

As far as I'm concerned, we'll not go back to the Bahamas just in case we may have some time for detecting. E-mail famhard@aol.com if you have info to offer that I should know.

We were not the only one asked to quit detecting.

 

[Ed SW Fla]

n/t

 

[Bobbie]

n/t

 

[erikk]

Screw the Bahamas. I went over flyfishing for bonefish and upon departure they tried to take all my flys (about $500.00 worth). Had to put them in cargo and then only after a big hassle

 

[therick]

n/t

 

[Gulf Hunter]

How much trouble would it have been to spend the stupid $25 bucks for their wormy permit and keep hammerin' it. I mean, if you happened upon 1 gold ring or the Holy Grail platinum, would it all have not been worth it? I can understand that you felt harassed, but I guess I miss the point. How long did you have to spend at this location anyway Ed?

 

[Scott in PA]

I was there last April and received a written letter from the Head Dogs Office !!!
The Royal Bahamas Police Force
Attention: Chief Superintendent Basil Rahming.
P. O Box F-40082
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Bahamas

the law states that No permit is required to hunt from the water up to the high tide line on the sand--(cannot hunt certin parks) The hotels do not own the beach from the high tide line down,, but do own above the line and it is private property.. You only needed a permit at that time to hunt Historical Artifacts on the Islands, or possibly if you are wreck diving?? Because these treasure are covered under the dept of the interior -- and they are going to keep most of the finds with Historical Value.
they were very nice and helpful when I contacted them--I keep the letter with me and was never even asked or bothered.
HH
Scott

 

[Ed SW Fla]

n/t

 

[Ed SW Fla]

Our ship arrived there Saturday morning, left early Sunday morning. All Govt offices closed on weekend .... no place / no one to obtain permit on weekends. Would have gladly spent $25 to detect any beach I wanted in the water.

As we were walking back to where our wives and stuff was after asking to quit detecting, we were picking up coins every few feet in the wet sand where the waves were washinf coins ... perhaps jewelry up.

 

[scoopinloot]

Thanks so much for the help. Great help, and hats off to you. We got the name of some others as well and the resorts say we can. I beleive the problem, may be that the resorts are able to keep poeple out of their 1000 foot easement but the water is purely open for this. I will cll the Bahams today to find out. Thanks for the help.

 

[scoopinloot]

Scott, If i give you my fax number, could you be so kind to fax me a copy of that letter. I would be so greatful.


Gary

 

[scoopinloot]

Gulf Hunter, I agree 30000% but the only obstacle is that what if you fly in on a Friday and you are leaving on Monday night. The office of the interior in the Bahams might give you the goaround and to have to drive (TAXI) each way is $25.00 to and back from the resort. $100 could easily add up and by the time the day is over, that office that gives the permit might be closed and then you have to do the same thing over again. I agree pay $50 if I had to but its the run around that puts a sting in it. Taxi's are expensive there. In other words, if there was a definate place to go and buy the permit, NO problem, but to have to travel to grand Bahama Island is $100 from Nassau by plane. Now your out $$$200. Half the plane fare for Aruba where you can hunt all day and night without the bullcrap.

 

[Gulf Hunter]

I guess obtaining the permit prior to going on the trip is completely out of the question. If the permit could be purchased from the office and mailed to you then no worries right? Perhaps even a very savvy travel agent could help overcome this little obstacle, just a suggestion. I'm not 1 to let things get in the way of t-hunting. Tenacious Perseverance!