When does the commercial BFT season end?

[Nauti Natured]

I am interested in getting out there and taking part in the quest for this amazing fish but the last thing I want to do is get in the way of those that are depending on this fishery for their living. I am unfamiliar with the etiquette involved with fishing in a parking lot of boats so I know I would inevitably piss someone off or, even worse, cost someone a fish. So my question is ... when does the season end? Is there still a window to catch a fish after the season is over? Thanks in advance for your input!

[calebw]

Are you interested in actual commercial fishing or just rec for these giants? With that being said just because the commercial season ends doesn't mean that the fish have left. Now many boats won't be out there targeting them simple because there is no money to be made but they usually hang around for another month or so. I also heard from that this years commercial season was extended until the end of February

[Custom Canvas]

Chris,

Even when the commercial season is in you can find a patch of water where the fleet is not....

It's still a big ocean.... I have only tangled with 2 of these beasts and both time there were a fleet of boats fishing some areas and we were not ever within 3-4 miles of them could see them on radar.....not even close......

The BITE off Hatteras is good good good on the smaller class fish though March with a yellow, and Blackfin possible.

Z

[swell rider]

Commercial season closes Jan 31. Febuary can be a very good month for BF, troll in the AM and catch a cooler full of Sea Bass in the afternoon.

[Sea Draggin]

Who all caught fish today? Been sort of quiet-ish.

[Capt. Jon Tennant]

public comment on the proposed rule changes extended till March 31, 2010... thus ensuring the season closure Jan. 31......
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/fis...4_FR_68414.pdf

In the proposed rule, NMFS
announced the end of the comment
period as December 21, 2009. NMFS has
received several comments requesting a
90-day extension of the comment
period. NMFS has also received
comment from fishery participants that
final action should be taken on this
proposed action as soon as possible to
allow any final actions selected to be
implemented for the 2010 General and
Harpoon category fisheries. NMFS has
determined that it is reasonable to
extend the comment period to allow
additional opportunities for public
comment, and is extending the
comment period until March 31, 2010.
This revised comment period end date
should allow sufficient time for any
final actions selected to be effective
prior to the June 1, 2010, resumption of
the General category season and the
start of the Harpoon category season.


but if your wanting to catch one feb-march might be your best shot... just check out the fishing blog from tag-a-giant last feb-april...

http://tagagiant.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html

[Sea Draggin]

Check out this lure color combo from the blog.

Black head, blue & white on one side and chartruese on the other. That pretty much covers everything.

[WAHOONBOX]

IN YEARS PAST I HAVE CAUGHT THESE FISH IN 50 FATHOM...IN MARCH

AND YOU MENTIONED YOU DID NOT WISH TO FISH IN A MOB OF BOATS.....WELL ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO DO THIS.....I RECOMMEND ONE ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND ACTUALLY HUNTING FOR THESE FISH..... AND LOOK FOR ONES OWN BAIT PILE TO CIRCLE....LOOK FOR THE TUNA MARKS AND THEN POUND THE HECK OUT OF THIS AREA....AND JUST BECAUSE IT IS BLOWING 18-23 EVERY DAY , COLD, RAINING, SHOULD YOU STAY AT THE DOCK, NOSIREEEE.....GO MAN GO!!!! DEPART AT 4:30 AM AND RETURN AT 4PM....


THIS IS HOW WE DO IT....AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES DAYS ...EVEN WEEKS TO GET A BITE...

I HAVEN'T HAVE WITNESSED A BITE IN 8 STRAIGHT FISHING DAYS....SO


GOOD LUCK....AND GOOD HUNTING.

[Big Fish Billy]

Out on a dragger last weekend, and they are still pudging around the Isle of Shoals off Portsmouth NH., 43 degree water (warm for this time of year, of course that's only 20 cooler than it was in July up here) They left the Bank a month or so back, swung up to Canada, and are likely heading back your way. As BOX says, you got to put your time in, and away from the crowd is best......

[Nauti Natured]

Thanks everyone. I am not planning on killing a bluefin. I am not licensed to do so. I am simply interested in the chase / experience and the slim chance that I might feel one on the other end of a line if even for a brief moment. I know I can jump on a charter and have a much better chance of making that happen but there is just something about doing it on my own boat and making it happen from zero.