2011 Bluefin Regulations

[KP161]

The guys with recreational/charter licenses down south (NC now and soon to be VA) are hitting the fish hard right now like they did last year at this time. Now through March and into April. Most fish 65"+ and alot of 76-78" fish. What do you think NMFS will do this year? Will they again close trophy fish at some point and 59-73" fish for the recreational category? With the trophy fish category being as small as it is (only a couple of metric tons) it sounds like they should be thinking about closing it soon with as many 73" + fish hitting the docks down south. Thoughts?

[mlc20]

I from still a newbie stand point think that they should place the guys down south in a slot if they keep catching alot of fish. I don't really think its fair that they can catch enough fish to have the trophy fish category close when we only had like 2 weeks i think to fish for them last year before it was closed. I just think they should try to keep the regs the same for everyone, or give the guys down south a limit of trophy fish they can catch so the guys up north can have a share of trophys too. This is just my idea on the subject

[Block and Tackle]

My info is that there are quite a few 76 to 78 inch fish and also some over 80. I am sure they will close at least the trophy and I am sure they will use a slot limit again. Bigger trophy fish will close that category much faster. Northern boats may not even got a shot at the trophies. If you look at how they let the general category run and if there is not any left for NC then so be it. I don't see why they would do things any different for the rec category. After all it is just more work for the paper pushers.

[Animal 1]

As of December,this was it.Unless it changed since then.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/new...Adjustment.pdf

[CaptainAlex]

A helluva lot of market-viable fish aren't going to live to see June 1 ...

[KP161]

I from still a newbie stand point think that they should place the guys down south in a slot if they keep catching alot of fish. I don't really think its fair that they can catch enough fish to have the trophy fish category close when we only had like 2 weeks i think to fish for them last year before it was closed. I just think they should try to keep the regs the same for everyone, or give the guys down south a limit of trophy fish they can catch so the guys up north can have a share of trophys too. This is just my idea on the subject

One problem with the trophy fish quota and splitting it up is that the quota is not very big. And for a reason. I think the trophy quota is about 2 metric tons. Whatever it is there are 10/11 200lb fish (do they go on dressed or round weight?) per metric ton. So if the quota is 2 metric tons that's only 20 fish. If it's 4 metric ton well you can do the math. And what about the guy who lands an 800lber trophy fish? That really hammers the trophy quota. Either way it doesn't mattter.

[twofinbluna]

The guys with recreational/charter licenses down south (NC now and soon to be VA) are hitting the fish hard right now like they did last year at this time. Now through March and into April. Most fish 65"+ and alot of 76-78" fish. What do you think NMFS will do this year? Will they again close trophy fish at some point and 59-73" fish for the recreational category? With the trophy fish category being as small as it is (only a couple of metric tons) it sounds like they should be thinking about closing it soon with as many 73" + fish hitting the docks down south. Thoughts?

The key is whether or not the guys down there are following the rules and reporting these trophy fish and whether or not NMFS is doing their job and monitoring what is being caught closely. If both things are happening (or even if one thing is happening completely) than they should be closing it down soon- the trophy quota is not big at all. While you would hope that all fish are being reported, with the trophy fish you really hope the fishermen and NMFS are staying on top of things. If they let it go over too much it will end up impacting the fishery up here. I will ask around to see what I can find out, will report back if anything concrete.

As for what will happen with the regs up here this season, that is still up in the air and only time will tell. Things are going to be real tight for everyone given how NOAA (and ICCAT) has cut our quota now three years in a row...but whether or not that means the slot or something else will be officially decided in the coming months.

And as per your other post, they go by round weight whenever dealing with quotas.

[Captain Greg Sears]

The key is whether or not the guys down there are following the rules and reporting these trophy fish and whether or not NMFS is doing their job and monitoring what is being caught closely. If both things are happening (or even if one thing is happening completely) than they should be closing it down soon- the trophy quota is not big at all. While you would hope that all fish are being reported, with the trophy fish you really hope the fishermen and NMFS are staying on top of things. If they let it go over too much it will end up impacting the fishery up here. I will ask around to see what I can find out, will report back if anything concrete.

As for what will happen with the regs up here this season, that is still up in the air and only time will tell. Things are going to be real tight for everyone given how NOAA (and ICCAT) has cut our quota now three years in a row...but whether or not that means the slot or something else will be officially decided in the coming months.

And as per your other post, they go by round weight whenever dealing with quotas.

Chris do they Estimate the round weight? When they dress the fish in the truck with no scale? Or when the fish are boat dressed at sea? I guess this must be another fudge factor number to the applied science of counting tuna?

As far as a Trophy it is just that, why don't we make it a trophy a reel trophy like 100 inch or more. anyone can catch a 73" even me. I lost every 100" tuna I hooked last year. Way different fish than a 73. If we did this than the guys who catch one before the trophy class closes deserve it. Also if they did this I think these fish should be able to be sold. Kind of like winning a prize maybe even make the angler split the money with ABTA or some thing like that.

In my opinion we all want a chance to catch them and we should have a chance. But we don't want sector quotas or we will end up like the commercial ground fishermen. What we need is; All the fishermen to work together to create bag limits regulated so the season is fair for all. If the southern guys are catching a lot Based on 12 months divided by Quota. Slow it down or stop per month. Same goes for the northern fleet in the fall. Make sure there is quota divided by 12 months or 52 weeks. This would require NMFS to keep up to date on the quota and bag limits.
Idea for keeping up....
Someone had an Idea to use one of the weather channels as a NOAA fishing report channel to announce regulations and Bag Limits. and also create Local channels or phone numbers for catch reporting like the Canadians have or in Alaska for salmon ( for Commercial). Making it easy to report and to contact the buyers. This could work by having local government people already involved in fisheries located at different harbor masters and coast guard stations and Marine police taking catch reports. Some of these people could be the buyers who have locations close to the fishery. This also makes it easier to enforce regulations if you are unloading a fish or transporting all an officer has to do is call the local reporting channel to make sure you are good. No Tags, No Sector Quotas, Real Time reporting and Real time enforcement. It doesn't change anything for the commercial guys but it changes a lot for recreational fishing and poaching as we all know this is the hardest part to overcome.

Just food for thought for any of you guys who like this idea and have some power to suggest it.

[AndyP]

Agree with Block and Tackle. NMFS will probably do what they did last year. Would be nice if they kept the 59-73" category open for us rec anglers, but I expect them to close that down no later than they did last year. Let's just hope that there are more 50-59" bft this year.

[FullStrikeAngler]

Looks like we will have some answers to the question come April....

....The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) intends to hold a meeting of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP) on April 5-7, 2011, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Information on the venue and agenda will be provided at a later date. The intent ofthis meeting is to consider alternatives for the conservation and management of Atlantic tunas, swordfish, billfish, and sharks.

...NMFS plans to discuss Atlantic bluefin tuna management, implementation of2010 ICCAT measures, an update on recreational monitoring methods for HMS fisheries, vessel monitoring systems and potential regulatory changes

LINK

Also,

I didnt think they were currently allowed to keep a trophy fish in NC according to Animal 1's link which contained...

....NMFS reminds BFT anglers that the default Angling category retention limit of one school, large school, or small medium BFT (measuring 27 to less than 73 inches) will apply effective January 1,2011, and remain in effect, unless and until changed. The Angling category daily retention limit applies to vessels permitted in the HMS Angling category and the HMS CharterlHeadboat. category while fishing recreationally.·