Important!

[ironskippy]

There is a Blue and White plane "measuring" the impact of boating activity on the whales. NOAA folks are on board the aircraft. They are taking proximity and speed measurements of boats (mainly us tuna nuts) to the whales.

This is being done for Justification of the one and only Paul McDonald's plan to limit vessel speed in the sanctuary to 6 knots. Make darn well sure you slow down (as should be done anyway) around the whales. Follow all the whale regs to the T and then some. This plane's planned activity was not publicly anounced.

On another note, I am getting an earful from the rod and reel guys and the harpoon guys. The harpoon boats are being beat around a little by the run and gun guys and the bait guys have had some harpoons nearly pop their balloons Harpoon guys have used up there quota of balloon stabbings and the run and gun fleet agrees to never pass a harpoon boat. These are the new rules of the ocean - Agreed? I guarrantee that harmony between the different methods is the only way the fishery will work. Just think ESA and the recent longliner discard issue - never would have happened if we didn't yap as one.

[hotreels]

Great post and one we should all take note of. Stellwagon is a privilage not a right and we should all do our best to protect what we have. There is no better place to fish IMO. There is a lot of water out there, so give each other some space and enjoy.
If you see a harpoon boat working, stay away. These fish are pushing water and won't hit a bait anyway.
If you stick for a living then don't run into a pile of breaking,feeding fish. That's BS too.

[amarshall]

never mind... I don't want to give anyone ammo

It's Craig MacDonald.

[28Conquest]

Someone should also remind the whale watching boats of the rules. I've seen those guys screaming in on whales and approaching them far closer than the regulations allow. They have no compunction against cutting right in front of a small boat who is enjoying the show, coming in less than 50 feet from the whales. I'm amazed they don't hit whales on a regular basis.

[KP161]

Someone should also remind the whale watching boats of the rules. I've seen those guys screaming in on whales and approaching them far closer than the regulations allow. They have no compunction against cutting right in front of a small boat who is enjoying the show, coming in less than 50 feet from the whales. I'm amazed they don't hit whales on a regular basis.

Good point on the whale watch boats. They are by far the worst culprits out there.

As far as tuna goes, a little different out there now that most the fish are over 73".

Has anyone heard when they are going to close the northern trophy quota? I'm hearing rumblings of soon because the 1.3 metric ton quota has been exceded.

[MACSON]

Thanks John.

John knows what he is talking about. There is strong movement to significantly restrict activities, especially fishing in the Stellwagen Bank Sanctury. Do not underestimate. This is less about whales than it is to keep the public, and especially fishers, out of Stellwagens. McDonald just dosen't want to reduce speed, he wants people out. Observe the rules regarding whale interaction--distance and speed restrictions are available on the internet and state/gov agencies publications such as-- [url]http://www.nero.noaa.gov/prot_res/mmv/approach.html do it because its the right thing--do it also to take away inflamatory justification that others will use to restrict Stellwagen. You guys ever see the squid bar hanging off a whale photos prominately displayed in the Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary Brochures? Expect to see photos of speeding boats too close to whales.

Do the right thing for whales and for our continued ability to fish Stellwagen's.

[MACSON]

http://www.nero.noaa.gov/prot_res/mmv/approach.html

[scottne]

http://www.nero.noaa.gov/prot_res/mmv/approach.html

Thanks. If they've been observing PH for the last week or two we're all screwed.

[amarshall]

http://www.nero.noaa.gov/prot_res/mmv/approach.html

that's eye opening. Of course I don't have to worry since I'm always going 7-12 knots.

[aloop]

I found out there is a pilot program of tagging Humpbacks off P-town with critter cams and gps securing the apparatus with suction cups. They are not looking at the other boats except for their own. They also got many pics of the dead whale in the area with lots of sharks surrounding it and spotted Whiteys in water less than 10' including other Whites attacking a Gray seal.