Question about BFT landing regulations

[beeracuda]

Sorry for the rookie questions (from a board rookie no less) but my fish bag is only 55" and don't want to buy a new one for my upcoming trip if I don't have to.
Question 1: is it always illegal to collar a recreationally caught BFT?

Question 2: if I cut half way through the tail of a 65" BFT and bend it over to make it fit in the bag am I still legal?

Question 2.5 (if the answer to question 2 is no): what if I'm reeling in a 65" fish and the tail gets bit off by something (with very sharp teeth , would I be required to release it?

[hotreels]

No and Yes. You can remove the head and you can cut the tail as long as it remains attached

[chumtini]

No and Yes. You can remove the head ...

Like HR said, you can remove the head. But the leave the pectoral fins.

[beeracuda]

Thanks for the response but I'm still not clear and the published regs are sort of vague. What's the deal with collaring a recreationally caught BFT, is there a minimum length of body minus the head or how do they calculate/factor what is legal and what is not? I assume that if I only have one fish in possession and as long as I only have one fish and the TFL of the body minus the head is above 47" I'm still legal.

It doesn't matter to me whether I collar it or break it at the tail, I just want to know what to do to stay within the law and fit within my 55" bag.

Any additional clarification would be appreciated.

[twofinbluna]

You can cut off the head but need to make sure the pec measurement is legal before you do it. There is both a curve and pec measurement for the size classes and whenever you cut off the head you then make it so the pec measurement is the measurement that matters. Unfortunately, the pec measurements are wrong much of the time. You can catch 78 or 79 inch fish that dont make the pec measurement that corresponds to the 73 inch curve measure. Basically they did a horrible job at defining the pec measurements. The point is, make sure you measure the pec to make sure your fish makes the mark before you cut the head off. Once that head is off, the pec measurement is the one that counts.

I dont have the measurements in front of me but you can probably find them online. I think I may have them lying aorund the house so will look for them but not sure.

In terms of cutting off the tail, you cannot do that in any case at sea. If the tail is cut off, there is no way to measure the fish. If you were to cut the tail enough so that you could bend it back to fit in your back, you would have to cut all the way through the backbone and the thing would be hanging by a slit. You may be able to get that pass a nice enforcement person but you could probably get bagged if they really wanted to get you. I am not sure what the specific language is, I just know I would never try that. Check with NMFS if you want the specific language on this one though.

In terms of what would happen if the tail got bitten off before it got in the boat- thats a tough one that could go either way but more often than not I would have to think they would not be happy with you if that was your excuse. Again, without the tail you cannot measure the fish and if they were to allow exceptions like that, anyone could catch a short fish and then cut the tail off and if anyone asked, say that something bit it off.

I have seen guys who have had fish come alive in the boat and gone so nuts that they beat their own tails off, but thats relatively rare and if that happens you can retain the tail so you at least have some proof as to what happens and they can in theory measure the fish by holding the tail there. But if it were to be bitten off, you would have no proof of what happened and no way to measure the fish. Maybe if it had some really well defined shark teeth marks that would help your cause....But in all seriousness, I would check with someone at NMFS if you want to know the exact rule on this matter.

Bluefin regs (and pretty much all other fish regs) are taken extremely seriously nowadays so you want to be real careful. If something you are doing feels like its not allowed, it probably isnt. If you are going to contact NMFS about any of this, the one to contact is Brad McHale. I dont think I have his contact info here but I am sure you can google it.

[twofinbluna]

All measurements can be found at bottom of the pdf at this link:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/bro...e_06_11_09.pdf

[Captain Greg Sears]

I have special leak proof bags made from thick vinyl rubber with handles and zippers for $65 for the Medium size up to 80" fish. they fold up to 18" x 18" x 2 inches thick easy to store. you just fill them with tuna ice and saltwater. Carry handles built in hold 750 pounds. We also have bags for up to 110 inch fish. Not insulated but 1 bag of ice and saltwater 8 hrs and the water freezes your hands.

[beeracuda]

All measurements can be found at bottom of the pdf at this link:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/bro...e_06_11_09.pdf

Thanks guys, I think that's that's what I was looking for. If I read this correctly the best way to go is cut the head off and as long as the PFCFL length is more than 20" and I only have 1 in the boat then I'm well within the law.

From 2FBluna's link:
LANDING FORM
"Atlantic tunas may be landed round with fins intact, or eviscerated with the head removed, but with one pectoral fin and the tail remaining attached. No person may retain or possess a BFT with the head removed that is less than 20 inches, PFCFL. No person may remove the head of a bigeye tuna or yellowfin tuna if the remaining portion would be less than 27 inches from the fork of the tail to the forward edge of the cut."

Not sure what I'd do if I was in an over under situation... I guess throw the schoolie in the cooler in tact as long as the PFCFL of the larger of the two was greater than 47" I'll probably be ok. If I get one "over" for the table I think I'd be VERY happy at this point.

[twofinbluna]

Not sure what I'd do if I was in an over under situation... I guess throw the schoolie in the cooler in tact as long as the PFCFL of the larger of the two was greater than 47" I'll probably be ok.

I am not 100% if I am reading you right, but I think what you are saying is correct. The small one will fit your bag/cooler with head on, so as long as the other one is over 47 at the pec, you would be OK in cutting the head off that bigger one of the two. And if the bigger one makes the curve length measure, and not the pec measure, than obviously keep the head on both fish.

And again, when in doubt, keep the fish intact, and you wont have any problems.

[beeracuda]

Thanks guys, this forum is awesome!