NMFS Change in retention for Charter/Headboat Cat for September

[Caveman Sportfishing]

Same as before July 31. Charter boats can keep three bluefin up to 73 inches per day. Two of them can be 27-47 inches if they are smaller and one has to be 47 to 73. This means that charters can get two of the smaller fish 27-47 inches to make up their daily catch of three maxium but one has to be 47 to 73 inches. If a charter boat make the long ride down to the Lumpy Bottom off VA there are no small bluefins down there a charter boat could keep three big ones as long as they are under 73 inches. This is my take on this and I could be wrong so anyone that has more accurate info please jump in and post the information so we all know what's going on.
Capt John

[VDAWG1]

Captain John ,THANKS !
I finally was able to pull it up (damn acrobat reader)
and what you stated is exactly how it reads ...........

If they ment different ,The sure didnt word it right !

Cause the way its worded is the same way that you and i understand it to be .....

anyone have a Different take,Please lets hear from ya ...............Thanks,vinny

[Reelhope]

Sorry guys--Note I edited my first post it is now right!
Hope you forgive me!
Todd

[74Formula233]

Im confused i thought everyone is allowed 1 bft right now formula ? over 27 and under 73 .

"General" is different from "Charter/Headboat".

"General" is commercial, and allows sale of the fish.

"General" permit holders, according to the retention charts are Prohibited from any BFT EXCEPT those 73" or larger.

Look at this link here and scroll down to the "General Category"...

http://www.nmfspermits.com/other/2005RegBroc071205.pdf

You'll see that all size classes of BFT OTHER THAN "Large Medium/Giants" (73" and greater) are "Prohibited".

"General" and "Charter/Headboat" are confused often.

Not like their regs are EASY to figure out LOL And real bad when someone working FOR NMFS tells a guy with a "General" permit that he can take any BFT over 27" How would that have been when he got back to the dock and got checked???

[74Formula233]

As I have read, and understand from talking to others, you also can't keep a shark or even have shark GEAR on your boat with a "General" permit. You need to obtain a separate federal permit (Shark Limited Access Permit?) to Shark fish when under this category. Apparently they no longer give this permit out, you need to obtain one thru a Transfer from another vessel, also with restrictions.

UNLESS fishing an HMS Tournament, in which Recreational retention limits apply.

CLEAR AS MUD YET???

[teamtuna]

Charter head boats are allowed to catch and sell giants just like general. Get a capt. lic. and put your angling boat in chater head boat cat.

[74Formula233]

Charter head boats are allowed to catch and sell giants just like general. Get a capt. lic. and put your angling boat in chater head boat cat.

Yes, with certain conditions being met as far as whether you are "for hire" that day, and if you are considered fishing "recreationally", etc (which you are if you are on a Charter, etc.)

You'd think they could make it easier to understand, LOL.

The Guide is like 39 pages of "however" and "only if" and "providing that" and "as long as" and "only during".