I've seen some brief comments on catching lobster and fishing - can a visitor catch lobster or spearfish for personal consumption? Any licenses/regulations that I need to be aware of?

You can definitely not catch lobster or go spearfishing without a guide. If you pay for a guide with a tour guide licence you can catch all.

Thanks Pedro - any particular one(s) you recommend or believe have more experience with this than others?

www.fishingsanpedro.com - Capt. Bicho and his son are fantastic.

Just got back from San Pedro. The skinny is that you can't catch any type of game on scuba. Free diving/snorkeling only, which basically rules out anybody but the local professional freediver that can get to 40+ft and knows the areas that aren't worked over by the other locals and constant stream of tourists.

well what you said is some what true ,but spearfishing with scuba is what some people would say is not much of a sport , and not done here ... but spearfishing with snorkel is fun and sport and if you get a guide that knows the local water you do not have to go down 40 feet ,I have been with my buddy bicho and his son we have gone north to rocky point and he spearfishes in 10 to 15 foot of clear water and has a great time so if you want to do that . you could have called fishing sanpedro.com like pedro from the board recommened to you when you asked .capt bicho son would have taken you to his shallow spots and personally shown you where some big fish are ..you could have tried that experience .. if you go back try to do that you will not go wrong and will enjoy yourself ..live the dream enjoy

If this guy is so good why do you have to overpromote him? He should be booked up solid by now.

chismera just for the record ,here is the deal bicho is the owner of fishingsanpedro.com a web site I,helped build for him free ..he started this business 9 months ,he keeps the boats he has two behind the house in the lagoon he rebuilt himself the other house was blown down ,from the hurricane .he has six kids two deaf ,works his ass off bulding a name for himself as he always worked as a capt for other poeple . now on his own , this is his company he is building and most important all who use him as a guide for fishing ,love him he is a great guide and fishing capt . and catches lots fish but most important a nice guy .so when I recomned him I feel good for the people who use him ,becacuse they will have a great day and enjoy themselfs see trip reports from all who used him they love him .I like helping him it makes me feel good so what we have here is a win win ..if you ever want to go fishing you should try him, be my guest ,and you to will belong to the love bicho club .hope this clears up why I like to promote him... it is nice helping wonderful deserving people . like capt .bicho...

Capt Jeff - good points - I will definitely consider Bicho on my next trip!

captjeff - While I believe your intentions are are on the whole good, you fail to realize that there are MANY good underutilized fishing guides in San Pedro eager for business. Your incessant promotion of one particular guide does nothing to provide an income for those not fortunate enough to have a benefactor like yourself. The recent run of bad weather resulted in cancellations of bookings. Unlike the hotels, guides do not get paid when there are "no-shows". It has been a slow season. To direct business away from other guides with your endless free advertising for one individual is unfair. I would hope you could temper your enthusiasm a bit.