BY SKIP ALLEN, SR.

Perusing “Port & Starboard” this month reinforced my awareness that the hike in the Bahamian cruising and fishing permit prices has had a profound impact on the attitudes and behavior of some foreigners visiting the islands. Certainly, there have been fewer “commuters” popping over to Bimini or West End for a weekend of fishing since the higher fees have been initiated. I can easily understand that the expense for these types of trips has become prohibitive for many boat owners. Whether the potentially negative effect on the Bahamian economy is offset by the regeneration of their fish populations can only be gauged by the Bahamians themselves. The fishing industry is, after all, the livelihood of many Bahamians.

However, using my own family as an example, I can speak with some authority on at least three types of cruising activities that remain relatively unaffected by the increased costs. My wife and I make one round trip across the Stream each year and spend virtually the entire summer in the Exumas. We do stopovers in the “nation’s capital” at the beginning and the end of each season so we can get our Café Matisse fix and catch up with our many good friends we may miss seeing down the Exuma chain.

The serene beauty of the Out Islands remains, to our minds, unsurpassed by any of the other places we’ve visited worldwide.

The article on the Bahamas Boating Flings refers to my leading these junkets many years ago for several years–my entire young family in tow. These trips, eagerly awaited each summer, sparked in my kids a lifelong love affair with all things Bahamian. As a result, one of my daughters organizes three-week adventures each year with a flotilla comprising her family’s boat and the boats of four or five friends with their children. This constitutes a family vacation that cannot be duplicated anywhere else and is a bargain by any standards.

My sons’ excursions take another form as they run their center consoles over for a couple of weeks of fishing (or diving) in the indescribably aquamarine Bahamian waters. They eat what they catch, don’t hoard it and enjoy the sheer sport of it in a fishing environment hard to match this side of Paradise. For them, the permits are built into the budget for their vacations and provide an unforgettable experience each year.

A cautionary note: Read the fine print on entry regulations before you go. The entry fee covers the boat and up to four passengers. Additional passengers per boat are charged $20 per passenger.

As you read these words, I hope we’ll be Exuma-bound, if not already there. Hope to see you there, too!