Total newbie Green Turtle Questions

[Coryphaena]

I'm heading to a friend's pad on Green Turtle Cay next week and need some fishing advice. I have fished offshore from Charleston, SC for a number of years, but have little (i.e., no) experience in the Bahamas.

We will have access to a 25' Contender, and I'm not sure about what gear and tackle he will have. He doesn't sound like a trolling kind of guy, plus I hear this isn't the season for that anyway, so I assume we'll be bottom fishing, at least most of the time. Note that I am not a flats/bones/permit fisherman - would rather meatfish trolling or bottom.

Questions:
Rigs/bait for bottom?
Species to target on bottom and in what terrain?
If trolling, rigs like we use here (ballyhoo/skirts/seawitches) or ?
A good website or other source for legal regulations?
Bringing fish back to USA? (Customs, etc.)

Non-fishing questions:
Availability of basic groceries on-island?
Restaurants/bars besides Green Turtle Club on GTC?
Best things I can pack with me I will want and shouldn't or can't buy there? (booze, tackle, foodstuffs, etc.)?

All advice appreciated-

c.

[ModeratorTwo]

http://www.drralph.net/FishininAbaco2005.html

Hope this helps..

[DrRalph]

Nice username, Coryphaena (the taxonomic genus of the dolphin-mahi mahi); there are two nice grocery stores in New Plymouth, and at least on good liquor store. Also, spend some time working through Everyone Asks About..., (http://www.drralph.net/Askdex.html)and make sure you score a Dodge (http://www.wspress.com/detail-cga.htm).

[Island Daze]

Cory i have a house on GTC and if you have no experience down there then you may want to hook up with a local to show you the ropes.Willis Levarity or Eddie Bodie may be able to help you out if not check with Bryan at Sundowners he knows fishing backwards and forwards down there.Good luck and by the way are you staying at Moringstar house friends of mine that live in Charleston?Private mail or email if you need more info.

[Steamboat]

If you troll north or fish north of Green Turtle Cay, come in at the north end of Manjack Cay and enjoy the beach there - you'll probably see nurse sharks and rays in the coves since this is where Lincoln Jones takes his fishing trips for a BBQ and he cleans the fish and feeds the local shark/ray population.