The BFT retention limits are as follows: The coastwide General category Atlantic BFT fishery will reopen on June 1, 2006. The daily retention limit will be three large medium or giant BFT (73 inches or greater) per vessel per day/trip from June 1 through August 31, 2006. The coastwide recreational Atlantic BFT fishery is currently open in all areas. The recreational daily BFT retention limit through May 31 is 1 BFT/vessel/day/trip, measuring 47 to less than 73" CFL. Starting on June1, the daily retention limit will be 2 BFT (47 inches to less than 73 inches) per vessel per day/trip, effective in all areas, for the entire fishing year. In addition, vessels fishing under the Angling category may retain 1 BFT (73 inches or greater) per vessel per year as a “trophy” fish for the boat. Also, There will be 2 windows of opportunity to harvest school BFT (27 inches to less than 47 inches) during the 2006 season. The school BFT fishery will be open in the southern area, defined as south of 39° 18' N. lat. or approximately Great Egg Inlet, NJ, from July 1 to 21, 2006, during which time a retention limit of 1 school size BFT per day/trip will be in effect. In the northern area, defined as north of 39° 18' N. lat., a retention limit of 1 school size BFT per day/trip will be in effect from August 25, 2006, to September 14, 2006. The school retention limit is in addition to the retention limit for large school/small medium BFT. The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person. The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27" curved fork length. There are no recreational limits for bigeye, skipjack or albacore tunas.



I wonder if they could make it more complicated for the rec?
IMO this program is a waste of human time and money. It does nothing.

Most of the school BFT in this area were caught in early august. By sept most of the action was north of us. This is going to be a nightmare.

Having six weeks of a school fishery is better than what was originaly proposed, i.e., none. Plus the rec. is not that complicated 2 fish 47" + all season and an early and late school fishery.

Here in RI the nearshore sbft fishing was pretty much wrapped up by the last week of august. I hope they are either bigger or stay longer this year because i have the taste for some bluefin!!!!

the sbt will be 60 miles north by the time the window kicks in and there were very few fish > 47" caught inshore along RI/MA.

I don't plan to renew my permit unless the fish are keeper size. it is not worth running 50+ miles for a single fish @ $4.00/gal.

The really sad thing is this fishery group has YET to work with other gov'ts to come up with global rules for hms. In spain they take 9" tuna, in RI you need a 47" fish from the same school.

Moreover, I question the entire point of these permits. What is the point? The data collect from recs is poor at best and from this they make rules? Further, they say the permit cost only covers the cost of issuing permits. WHAT GOOD IS THAT? Permits for permits sake?

You guys are basing everything off last year. It would be far from the first time if there are sBFT here during the window they have allowed. 3 years ago (or 2 or 4, I can't remember) early September was the hot timeframe. The very best day though there was a tropical depression approaching and the seas were giant so like normal, no one knew it happened. Very few boats were bold enough to go out although if you were onshore in Jamestown you probably could have hooked one.

We also could get entirely screwed and not see one inside of 20 miles at any point this year. Food is the overiding factor. Temperature really doesn't mean much inshore, imo. Food is why they stayed when they came through last year.

I say get out there and enjoy it while and if it lasts, whether you can keep them or not. Despite what the magazines are saying it could be back to normal this year. Just a few fish for a few days or even worse nothing in the RI inshore scene at all.

Actually those dates are when the run of SBFT tradionally happens, last year was an abberation. Usually it starts in late August somewhere down near the dump and then moves west slowly. The fish are often off of Block Isalnd in early September.