Giant Bluefin Tuna

[frankypettolina]

I read somewhere in another thread that the Giants might be closed this year in NC.

Well it does not look like that is the case. On The NMFS website they just updated today, that the restricted days are waived for the remainder of the year, and the limit is 3 per boat over 73" per day.

[Capt-D]

Thats good news for the commercial guys down there, Now let just hope they show and this years crazy weather pattern doesn't keep them well offshore. I guess well know shortly when the bait starts to show.

-D

[Sea Draggin]

the restricted days are waived for the remainder of the year, and the limit is 3 per boat over 73" per day.

I figured as much. They didn't really have a choice.

This on the surface would appear great....but the fish get pressured so much with an extended season, that it is honestly not good for them.

Anybody that has spent any time chasing them can tell you stories of 250 boats chasing them one week and catching 3 a day out of the fleet. Then a couple of charter boats go out after everyone is gone and really get into them.

This may be controversial, but I am in favor of tags. You use up yours and you can buy some more, or go fish for something else. In my heart I believe everyone would catch more fish that way. I'm betting you wouldn't have to fish 7 days to catch one fish using the tag system and with gas and diesel so high, even cutting is down to 4 or 5 days per fish would benefit the fleet.

[frankypettolina]

I don't disagree with you.

In all honesty that fishery probably needs to be shut down for a while. In all sectors.

But untill that happens I will be out there trying to catch my share.

[JaySmalls]

Theres alot of giants of off jersey right now a little short of the canyons. Got a comm. buddy who had one 450lb dressed there last week. Go Get'em.. by the way it was on rod and reel....

[megabite]

They are trying to pass a 5 year total fishing ban on Bluefin Tuna.That means you cant target them at all from any state.

[hotrodmarlin]

I wouldn't mind a ban on Bluefin for a while but I don't make my money by fishing- It would probably hurt some of you guys pretty bad.

Many of you remember fishing in the mid 90's in NC like I do and if we could catch & release numbers like that again, I would gladly not sell another BFT.

[Caveman Sportfishing]

I was wondering if it was purse seining that might be banned or all fishing for Bluefin? We rely on the smaller bluefin for our charter business every July and August until we get a yellowfin bite going later in the summer in the canyons. No matter what we do in the USA I do not think this will influence other countries to follow our lead as long as the demand for bluefin is there.
It may be the right thing to do overall for the future of Bluefin but it would hurt some of us that depend on bluefin for charters plus the winter NC season. I do not have a answer to this but hope it never happens and a way can be found other than a 5 year ban on all Bluefin fishing.

[92 feet down]

I believe this is what you guys are talkin' about:

http://content.hamptonroads.com/stor...112009&tref=po

I'm for it, as long as other countries, a-hem, Japan, comply as well.