There are 10-30 lb with some in the 40-50 lb range estimated Bluefin tuna in 20-40 feet of water in Rhode Island. I was in a boat today chasing them hooked up 3 times none landed just about spooled my Vanstal 200 straightened hooks, we were under gunned. . Went looking for stripers and ended up chasing tuna.

What is the law on tuna?

If we are out there, and hook up to one, say by accident... whatever..

Does it have to be released? Permits required?

permit required, must be released if no permit.

You not even supposed to cast or fish for them from a boat without a permit, nevermind land or keep them. On top of that, if you're on shore, you can't cast at them OR get a permit.

http://www.nmfspermits.com/ for permits. They're easy to get, you can buy them online and print them out on the spot.

omg I'd chit myself hooking up with one from shore! I'd b damaged for eternity!!!!!!!! :hihi:

omg I'd chit myself hooking up with one from shore! I'd b damaged for eternity!!!!!!!! :hihi:

A guy from Humarock got one from shore about 3 years ago. Can't remember the weight but it was around 65-70 # I think. He kept it too.

Here it comes..... :lurk:

ok, I should say allegedly caught ;)

You know! :hihi:

i tell you what, i would sacrifice not ever catching a 50 lb bass from the surf to catching a 50 lb tuna from the surf. What a battle.. i bet you would need alot of braid on your reel to stop a BFt... i'd say 300 yards minimum.

D00d I got the howitzer setup.. :buds:

Just ask Mickey....

http://www.stripermike.com/102699.htm

got spooled baitrunner 6500b with 25# hybrid with mackerel chunk... was way too fast for a bluefish and bass... palmed the spool once i knew it wasn't comming back maybe 40yds left or so....

D00d I got the howitzer setup.. :buds:

we both do :devil:

one day... one day.
:hihi:

Got one Striperhound. A little over 18#'s

Similar area to where you saw them. Lots of fish but they just weren't blitzing the surface hard yet. Multiple schools would surface at once but only for several seconds at a time so it was real tough to get close to them and take a shot fast enough. I trolled cedars around till I saw a school, then charged them, fired a 2 oz. tuna-spec Crippled Herrring into them and we were off to the races...

VS 200 and a light 7ft boat stick brought him in quick after an initial run of maybe 75 yards; I was over gunned for this little guy. Saw some of the bigger ones you saw as well and I agree with your size class assesment.

Although I never saw exactly what they were feeding on, this fish had a half-beak and several other tough to ID baitfish in it's belly. Looked a little like big anchovies.

Tough day overall, but with that many tuna around it could get real interesting.

i saw them as well last weekend off of RI in about 50 ft. of water, no more than 1/4 mi. from shore, crashing through schools of bluefish. caught blues but did not have heavy enough gear to liveline them. oh well. that won't happen again. looked to be around 30 lb'ers, not sure, though.

_Z_

Good going Pete, Did you get some photo's. I didnt make it back out yesterday. Things are going to get interesting in that area!

I have pics. :)

Not yet though, still waiting for them to show up in my e-mail.

I remember a guy landing one at nantasket beach in the surf a few years back... :eek:

i tell you what, i would sacrifice not ever catching a 50 lb bass from the surf to catching a 50 lb tuna from the surf. What a battle.. i bet you would need alot of braid on your reel to stop a BFt... i'd say 300 yards minimum.

You'd need about 1,000 yards of 50lb braid to stop a 50lb BFin. You'd be spooled before you could say "sushi." :laughs:

Nah, with a real heavy surf stick and 50-65lb braid you could stop them, the trick would be putting maximum pressure on them and would probably bust them off, but it can/could be done

i got 500 yards :huh:

Sushi, did someone say sushi? Lets go! I know the ideal place!

A. I love sushi....count me in.
B. That is a GREAT name for the restaurant.....
C. I can think of over (10) great ways to answer the phone.

Who is Mi, and is she hot? :hihi: