Fisherman's Day

Boats moored at Conch Ground for Fisherman's Day.

Fisherman’s Day is a free festival held each August on South Caicos, an island located in the southeastern end of the Turks and Caicos archipelago. True to its name, the festival is centered around celebrating and honoring fishermen and the bounty of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ surrounding ocean.

Fisherman’s Day is a popular social event, and people from throughout the islands come to South Caicos to experience it. During the day, the rum punch is flowing, local bands are playing, fishermen are competing in events, and a wealth of fresh seafood options—such as conch and lobster, if the season permits—is available for purchase from vendors.

Getting to South Caicos from Providenciales or Grand Turk does take some coordination, so you’ll want to organize transportation well in advance.

Fishing and South Caicos

For many years, fishing has been a dominant profession on South Caicos, which exports conch, lobster, and fish to the international market. The island’s proximity to the deep Turks Islands Passage and several marine banks make it a great place for catching species like bonefish, tarpon, and barracuda, as well as deeper water fish like wahoo, mahi-mahi, and kingfish.

Given that South Caicos has historically seen very little tourism, these fish are primarily caught by local fishermen, not tourists. The construction of a few luxury resorts that are introducing tourism to South Caicos may change that in the future. At present, most fishing charters on South Caicos depart from Providenciales.

What Happens at Fisherman’s Day

Food and beverages are available for purchase at the dock.

Fisherman’s Day takes place at Conch Ground in Cockburn Harbour, the main settlement on South Caicos. The event, hosted by the East Harbour Seafood Festival Committee, also honors skilled active and retired fishermen and fisheries workers who’ve contributed to the industry.

Throughout the day, attendees can watch the several competitions that attract competing fishermen from across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Competitors test their skills in racing conch boats, diving for conch, and playing dominoes and darts.

Most visitors spend the day enjoying the local food and drinks available for purchase and the talents of bands that play reggae, soca, and ripsaw (a genre of music that's native to the islands).

The setting itself is quite scenic—Conch Ground is right across from Long Cay, an idyllic uninhabited island. Given that the event often starts late at around 2:00 PM, you may want to consider spending the morning exploring the cay.

How to Attend

One of the nicest ways to travel to South Caicos for Fisherman’s Day is to charter a private boat or join a friend’s boat from Providenciales or Grand Turk. This option allows you to arrive and leave when you want and to beach-hop and enjoy the scenery along the way. Boating from Providenciales to South Caicos can take anywhere from 50 minutes to three hours, depending on the vessel.

Caribbean Cruisin’ typically organizes same-day charter ferries between Providenciales and South Caicos for Fisherman’s Day. Note that there’s not much of a price difference between the ferry and plane, and the ferry ride can take up to three hours.

The fastest way to get to South Caicos is by domestic flight from Providenciales or Grand Turk. Domestic airline interCaribbean flies between Providenciales and South Caicos daily. The average round trip journey costs about $150 (2024 price) and takes 30 minutes each way.

If you’re planning to arrive by ferry or plane, you’ll want to book a rental car well in advance, as companies often sell out for Fisherman’s Day.

The same goes for accommodation—returning flights to Providenciales depart South Caicos at around 5:30 PM, which only gives you a few hours at the event. If you plan to stay overnight, Sailrock Resort and Salterra Resort & Spa are luxurious options.

What to Bring and Other Considerations

Given the limited infrastructure of South Caicos compared to Providenciales and Grand Turk, it’s best to be prepared and bring what you need with you. Take plenty of water, drinks, and ice, as shops sell out quickly.

Most vendors at Fisherman’s Day only accept cash—$150 per person for the day should suffice.

Finding a place to dock can be challenging, so if you’re arriving with your own boat, you’ll likely have to anchor offshore. Remember to bring extra gasoline for the journey back—while it’s available on island, it is in high demand during the event.

Located in Cockburn Harbour

Cockburn Harbour is the primary settlement on South Caicos, and the center of most of the island's activity. The region is located on the southwestern coast and near a beautiful and sheltered natural anchorage. The area is home to the majority of the island's residents, shops, and services.