Migration from Angling to General questions

[AT Grimaldi]

Hello all.

Currently my vessel, the Jenny Lee, has a NMFS Angling permit.

IN light of the current change in regulations and the size of the fish we are seeing, I am considering upgrading to a General permit. I already have all of the safety gear current and exceeding regs.

My questions are as follows:

1. If I get a General category permit, and I catch three legal fish in a day, can I sell two and keep the third? In otherwords, just because I am in the General category, does that mean I have to sell all the tuna I harvest?

2. For licensing, I assume I need a MA landing permit in addition to the upgrade from NOAA, correct? Anything else?

3. Just to be safe, regardless of what permit my vessel keeps, I can catch as many BFT as I like assuming I release them all, except what I am alloted to harvest for that category, correct?

Last year was the year of blood. This year may be the year of a fish or two and tagging.

Not sure what I am going to do.

Any and all input appreciated.

- ATG

[Junior11]

I don't know about #2, but I know the answer to 1 and 3

1. You must sell all fish you keep. You cannot take a fish commercial and not sell it. The general category is a COMMERCIAL permit which means you are intending to fish as a business.

3. You may catch and release whatever you want. The permit only affects retention of the fish.

2. I am pretty sure you only need the landing permit. As of now you don't require an operators permit to fish for pelagics, (that is the only "commercial" fishery that is not required for the captain to have an operators permit.

[MarkP]

There is no "upgrade" to a General permit; it's a category change and unless you are within 10 days of having received/printed your permit, you are shit out of luck. Of course you could "sell" your boat to your wife, kids, a new corp you started and then get a permit in that manner. Why do you think they waited so long???

MarkP

[Clint3240]

Need a general category and a commercial license from the state

[twofinbluna]

Yes you need a state landing license.

[Albiemanmike]

I don't know about #2, but I know the answer to 1 and 3

1. You must sell all fish you keep. You cannot take a fish commercial and not sell it. The general category is a COMMERCIAL permit which means you are intending to fish as a business.

3. You may catch and release whatever you want. The permit only affects retention of the fish.

2. I am pretty sure you only need the landing permit. As of now you don't require an operators permit to fish for pelagics, (that is the only "commercial" fishery that is not required for the captain to have an operators permit.

Why couldn't you sell one of the fish to yourself??? You could sell it to yourself at rock bottom prices per pound........

[Junior11]

I think that is sarcastic... so I'll let that one go I guess?

[sashamy]

you can keep the fish as long as it gets tagged and reported...Doug

[blackhullcharters]

Can't make the change in the same year if you renewed the angling.

[tunatamer73]

[QUOTE=Junior11;1505876]I don't know about #2, but I know the answer to 1 and 3

1. You must sell all fish you keep. You cannot take a fish commercial and not sell it. The general category is a COMMERCIAL permit which means you are intending to fish as a business.


This is not correct. In the general category you can keep for yourself as long as you tag them and obide by the catch limits. The HMS # is 978-281-9260, ask to talk to Sarah Mclauglin. To call them in and get them tagged the Boston office number is 617-884-5754. There is also a New Bedford number to call and tag them but I do not have this.