NMFS closes the northern area Angling category fishery for large medium and giant ("trophy") BFT for the remainder of 201 O. Fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium and giant BFT (measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater) north of39°18' N. lat. (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ,) is prohibited effective at 11:59 p.m., July 18, 2010.
The intent of this closure is to prevent overharvest of the Angling category northern area trophy BFT subquota of 1.7 mt. NMFS closed the southern area trophy BFT fishery effective June 12, 2010.
Anglers are reminded that all non-tournament BFT landed under the Angling category quota must be reported within 24 hours of landing either online at NMFS Permit Shop (http://www.hmspermits.gov) or by calling
(888) 872-8862. In Maryland and North Carolina, vessel owners must report their recreational tuna landings at state-operated reporting stations. For additional information on these programs, including reporting station locations, please call (410) 213-1351 (Maryland) or (800) 338-7804 (North Carolina).
Anglers may catch and release or tag and release BFT of all sizes, subject to the requirements of HMS catch-and-release and tag-and-release programs. NMFS regulations at 50 CFR 635.21(a)(1) require that all released BFT be released in a manner that will maximize survivability, and without removing the fish from the water. For further information on safe handling see: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfalPartnershipsCommunications/recfish/ethics.htm
NMFS may make further Angling category adjustments via inseason action, if warranted. This
notice is a courtesy to BFT fishery permit holders to help keep you informed about your fishery.
For additional information, ca1l (888) 872-8862 or (978) 281-9260, or go to
NMFS Permit Shop (http://www.hmspermits.gov). Official notice of Federal fishery actions is made through filing such
notice with the Office of the Federal Register.

Have to wonder how many people will bother with a rec permit next yr and just get the commercial permit.

As far as fish sizes I could see alot jump, but the cost of the commercial safty gear needed could limit some of those numbers.

No possible reason recs need to keep a 73 + in fish anyway !

No possible reason recs need to keep a 73 + in fish anyway !

Same goes for charters since they're basically guided rec trips.

No possible reason recs need to keep a 73 + in fish anyway !

Says who??????

Says who??????

Says people who have a financial interest in tuna. Every discussion regarding tuna regs are met with similar comments.

No possible reason recs need to keep a 73 + in fish anyway !

So that we all know, exactly what is your plan when you bring 73+ in fish boatside? I'm curious and will be looking into your answer for reasoning in making your statement. Because I sure as hell have a couple reasons........

So that we all know, exactly what is your plan when you bring 73+ in fish boatside? I'm curious and will be looking into your answer for reasoning in making your statement. Because I sure as hell have a couple reasons........


Kill & sell

Says people who have a financial interest in tuna. Every discussion regarding tuna regs are met with similar comments.



I agree 100%.
I have a financial interest and also have financial cost involved.

I agree 100%.
I have a financial interest and also have financial cost involved.

And the recs don't?

And the recs don't?


No

No

Several thousands of $$$ of gear even for a rec to go/start chasing tuna! No chance of recouping investment by selling a tuna, I think I have an investment!

That's laughable that you actually could think that way.

Several thousands of $$$ of gear even for a rec to go/start chasing tuna! No chance of recouping investment by selling a tuna, I think I have an investment!


"No chance of recouping investment by selling tuna"

I thought you had a rec permit ???

:lurk::lurk::lurk:

-spence

Its pretty rough to shut down the majority of our tuna fishery this yr the 2nd week in June and then also shut us off the 73+ inch fishery a month later. All of us should just get the 6 pack license so we can play both sides of the game,that seems the most logical. For the extra 2K +/- in survival suits,epirbs and a used life raft that will most likely be the next big wave. Most of the rec guys already have epirbs and survival suits if they are travelling offshore anyway.

Just the same ol' "Don't take it from me, take it from the recs." I guess that whole "shared resource" argument the comms use only applies for when the commercial quota is being limited.

"Do as I say, not as I do" right?

"No chance of recouping investment by selling tuna"

I thought you had a rec permit ???

I do have a rec permit. My earlier comment wasn't stated as clearly as I liked, meant only to say that recs have put a lot of $$ into equipment too to chase these fish (many $ thousands). Being a rec there is no chance to recoup investment other than the sport of catching a tuna.

When those lines are in the water you never know what sized fish is going to hit but I would like someday to say (personal pride) that I had boated a giant (I'll settle for 73"). I have also told many people that with my boat, skills, and need that I really do not want to hook up with anything bigger than around 300lbs. This fishing gods may or may not be listening.

And the recs don't?

Don't you know? Part time comms are more important than recs. :rotf2:

Sunday's (tomorrow, 18th) my only chance at getting a 73+", wish me luck!

Well said Likwid

Sunday's (tomorrow, 18th) my only chance at getting a 73+", wish me luck!

No. You could pay Ronnie his $1000 fee for a day of tuna fishing, get a 73+ fish, so he could sell it.......

I would be willing to bet that the angling category will be closed by the end of the season. :wall:

Mark my words, the next slice to be taken out of the pie will be the Charter/headboat retention of 73" + fish. Take something from everybody and leave scraps for all. We were all sold a bundle of lies and if the disaster in the Gulf has any merit in the tuna spawn everyone will be shut down.

No. You could pay Ronnie his $1000 fee for a day of tuna fishing, get a 73+ fish, so he could sell it.......

It is crucial to remember for Charter/Headboat Category permit holders, that while conducting a charter and fishing under recreational guidelines (e.g.: customers paying to go out fishing with you):

Effective June 12, 2010:

HMS Charter/Headboats fishing north of Great Egg Inlet, NJ, are eligible to retain 1 BFT (73"+) per vessel per year as a “trophy” fish for the boat.

I'm not sure how the Charter/ Headboat catagory now works!! The way they write the rules is retarded.

The charter permit rules are relatively simple but I still think all the rules are dumb. (and your right, the website sucks, it is very convoluted and confusing)

As I understand it...A charter permit holder can operate in either category..rec or comm and it is based on the FIRST fish you keep. If you take a small fish you are a rec that entire day and the charter/headboat retention rules for rec fishing apply that day. If you keep a 73+ you are a comm that day and the general category rules apply that day.
( you have to be a charter capt and have all the safety req like you would for comm fishermen to get this permit)


That said the measuring rules are downright dumb. First, it is not easy to accurately measure a live 72 in fish in water without bringing him into the boat and doing some damage to him. Yeah, if it is 50" you know he is too small and you let him go but as they approach 73, after a big battle, the waves, boat motion, excitement, and excited fish etc...it is not as easy to do a CFL measurement in the water in heavy seas.

Comms are bringing in a lot of short fish that are close but no cigar. One buyer told me he has rejected 35 fish this season so far. (he can not get caught with a undersized fish) OK..what then happens to this fish?

Rec's are fishing like mad in CC's and killing a lot of fish as well. Many are keeping illegal fish and cleaning them at sea and hiding their catch as a "who will know?" attitude. There is little enforcement out there.

I think they should stop with all the complex length measurements and just have a bag limit (what ever the number is) for all categories. Take 1, 2, 3 whatever makes sense of any size and say once you have your limit you have to stop fishing and head back to port. This would stop all the C&R (C&killing) that is going on and make it a lot simpler when a borderline fish is boat side.

As far as the equipment costs go...IMO every boat should have all that gear, not just survival suits, everything. This is no place for a small boat no matter what you see by the goons on the Saturday morning TV shows. What looks like a nice day can (and often does) turn into a nightmare in the afternoon for small boats. Inside the bay fine, but offshore is a different animal.

Comms are bringing in a lot of short fish that are close but no cigar. One buyer told me he has rejected 35 fish this season so far. (he can not get caught with a undersized fish) OK..what then happens to this fish?

Hoho you bringy fish to bak door. I rikey. You sell!

As I understand it...A charter permit holder can operate in either category..rec or comm and it is based on the FIRST fish you keep. If you take a small fish you are a rec that entire day and the charter/headboat retention rules for rec fishing apply that day. If you keep a 73+ you are a comm that day and the general category rules apply that day.
( you have to be a charter capt and have all the safety req like you would for comm fishermen to get this permit)



You got that part right. Good luck to anyone who thinks you can get all the required safety equipment for 2 grand. Basically the tuna permits are a trade off, you get the angling permit you give up keeping big fish but you can keep smaller fish <73 inches. You get the General permit, you can't keep small fish but you keep the bigguns. You takes yer choice. :)

You got that part right. Good luck to anyone who thinks you can get all the required safety equipment for 2 grand. Basically the tuna permits are a trade off, you get the angling permit you give up keeping big fish but you can keep smaller fish <73 inches. You get the General permit, you can't keep small fish but you keep the bigguns. You takes yer choice. :)

You don't need a captains license for Commercial and for around 4k you could get the stuff you need. I have priced it out. That being said, I don't think 4k is alot of money when you consider the cos of boat and gear. I was thinking it would be smart to have the stuff regardless. Alot of Recs go where and when the Comm's go anyway.

You don't need a captains license for Commercial and for around 4k you could get the stuff you need. I have priced it out. That being said, I don't think 4k is alot of money when you consider the cos of boat and gear. I was thinking it would be smart to have the stuff regardless. Alot of Recs go where and when the Comm's go anyway.

No one said you needed a Captains license for a general Category permit, what we said was you needed the Captain's license for a Charter/headboat permit. Two different permits. 4K for the safety equipment is a lot closer to reality than the 2K someone else suggested.

You got that part right. Good luck to anyone who thinks you can get all the required safety equipment for 2 grand. Basically the tuna permits are a trade off, you get the angling permit you give up keeping big fish but you can keep smaller fish <73 inches. You get the General permit, you can't keep small fish but you keep the bigguns. You takes yer choice. :)




"Good luck to anyone who thinks you can get all the required safety equipment for 2 grand"

A new solas required raft will cost you minimum $2500
My raft repack & inspect was $1238.00 alone this year. (once a brand new raft is 2 years or older inspections & repack are required EVERY year @ an average $600 - $800 per year and at 5 years it will be close to the amount I paid this year)
Epirb batter replace $310.00 (every 5 years)
New Commercial Solas flare kit $180.00 (every 3 years)
Not sure what most guys are paying for boat insurance but I can assure you once your ins co finds out you go commercial your rates will atleast double !
Every buyer pays by check, so then you can plan to get your accountant involved also !

"Good luck to anyone who thinks you can get all the required safety equipment for 2 grand"

A new solas required raft will cost you minimum $2500
My raft repack & inspect was $1238.00 alone this year. (once a brand new raft is 2 years or older inspections & repack are required EVERY year @ an average $600 - $800 per year and at 5 years it will be close to the amount I paid this year)
Epirb batter replace $310.00 (every 5 years)
New Commercial Solas flare kit $180.00 (every 3 years)
Not sure what most guys are paying for boat insurance but I can assure you once your ins co finds out you go commercial your rates will atleast double !
Every buyer pays by check, so then you can plan to get your accountant involved also !

Your right Ron, but then you can write off all your expenses and take a loss come January. That alone could wash the added cost.

Your right Ron, but then you can write off all your expenses and take a loss come January. That alone could wash the added cost.

Steve,
Being that my wife is a cpa I'm all set in the accounting lesson !
I was just pointing out the actual cost, someone threw out the $2000.
amount, thats not exactly close, and as I mentioned there are cost every year not just the initial purchase.

Take, take, take, take.... until it's all gone.

It's a shared resource, isn't it?. If there is a concern about trophy class fish, rec/charters/comms should all be reduced.

buckman, you forget that if someone makes money off of a resource, then you have an elevated level of entitlement to it and can say "screw everyone else."

buckman, you forget that if someone makes money off of a resource, then you have an elevated level of entitlement to it and can say "screw everyone else."


:rotf2:

I make money off the resource, no one else should fish for them except me :rotf2:

in this thread is why it was closed in the first place. The recreational "trophy" North quota for 2010 was only 1.7 mt or or 3,750 lb. If you were to use a 200 lb avg weight that is only 18 fish. Looking back over the years this "trophy" has always only had a handful of fish. This wasn't a biological issue, but an accounting one.

Take, take, take, take.... until it's all gone.

It's a shared resource, isn't it?. If there is a concern about trophy class fish, rec/charters/comms should all be reduced.

buckman, you forget that if someone makes money off of a resource, then you have an elevated level of entitlement to it and can say "screw everyone else."

The part that YOU forget,is that Comms can ONLY target fish over 73 inches.They can't take one home to eat,unless it's over 73.

"Good luck to anyone who thinks you can get all the required safety equipment for 2 grand"

A new solas required raft will cost you minimum $2500
My raft repack & inspect was $1238.00 alone this year. (once a brand new raft is 2 years or older inspections & repack are required EVERY year @ an average $600 - $800 per year and at 5 years it will be close to the amount I paid this year)
Epirb batter replace $310.00 (every 5 years)
New Commercial Solas flare kit $180.00 (every 3 years)
Not sure what most guys are paying for boat insurance but I can assure you once your ins co finds out you go commercial your rates will atleast double !
Every buyer pays by check, so then you can plan to get your accountant involved also !

Ronnie,where did you pay $180 for the solas flares?

Ronnie,where did you pay $180 for the solas flares?


Yes,
Hamilton Marine
http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/browse.cfm/flare-kit-comm-fish-3-50-miles-118182/4,239.html

The part that YOU forget,is that Comms can ONLY target fish over 73 inches.They can't take one home to eat,unless it's over 73.

Nope, didn't forget it at all. Also didn't forget that recs only took a reported 5 Trophy class fish in 2009.

If Trophy class fish are that much in trouble and considering Comms can ONLY target fish over 73", that's all the MORE reason that the Comms quota should be reduced or shut down.

Nope, didn't forget it at all. Also didn't forget that recs only took a reported 5 Trophy class fish in 2009.

If Trophy class fish are that much in trouble and considering Comms can ONLY target fish over 73", that's all the MORE reason that the Comms quota should be reduced or shut down.

Who says they're in trouble?The recreational quota has been reached.Therefore,it was closed.
5 trophy fish caught last year,huh?I saw a lot more than that posted on the various tuna forums last year.

Nope, didn't forget it at all. Also didn't forget that recs only took a reported 5 Trophy class fish in 2009.

If Trophy class fish are that much in trouble and considering Comms can ONLY target fish over 73", that's all the MORE reason that the Comms quota should be reduced or shut down.


5 "Reported" fish. There were more than 5 "trophy fish" taken by recs bragging on the internet with pictures.

I wouldn't take people's lack of reporting their catch as an indication of stock size.

Anyone think the recs need to organize and come together and fight the issues more the way the charter boat associations and commercials do instead of complaining on STUPID internet sites like this one and others !

As a new member of the charter/headboat category this year I'd put my investment in the $5k -$7k range for safety(raft, Epirb, suits, flares etc) , captains license (course) and all of the nonsense involved for charter license (TWIC, CPR, physicals).

So far I haven't recouped a dime. My hope was that I'd get a couple of commercial fish to help recoup the investment. Unfortunately the USCG licensing process took 6 weeks and I missed the good spring bite.

So yes, I have a vested interest in selling fish.

Anyone think the recs need to organize and come together and fight the issues more the way the charter boat associations and commercials do instead of complaining on STUPID internet sites like this one and others !

We do it's called the ABTA. I agree Ron.

Typhoon as for the real bite........ talk to me in mid October November. Its trophy seller city. The recs far outnumber the rest so it only makes sense to allocate likewise. Economicallly speaking recs spend way more than the rest in terms of tackle gear etc. due to the sheer numbers. Next year I'm going chartering.

Typhoon as for the real bite........ talk to me in mid October November. Its trophy seller city. The recs far outnumber the rest so it only makes sense to allocate likewise. Economicallly speaking recs spend way more than the rest in terms of tackle gear etc. due to the sheer numbers. Next year I'm going chartering.



"Next year I'm going chartering."
Matt,
I'll mate for you !

Sounds good to me.

The part that YOU forget,is that Comms can ONLY target fish over 73 inches.They can't take one home to eat,unless it's over 73.

Why should a comm be allowed to take home fish? You're not in it for food, you're in it for money.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Why should a comm be allowed to take home fish? You're not in it for food, you're in it for money.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Money=food=money does it not? Most commercial fishermen eat a lot of fish. Groundfisherman are allowed to bring home 20lbs of fillets that don't count against their quota.

Money=food=money does it not? Most commercial fishermen eat a lot of fish. Groundfisherman are allowed to bring home 20lbs of fillets that don't count against their quota.

If you don't like the rules, quit.

Why should a comm be allowed to take home fish? You're not in it for food, you're in it for money.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I only mentioned it,because,someone thought it would be a good idea to close the 73 inch plus,to ALL user groups.Someone who thinks that recs are somehow being treated unfairly.Even though the recs are the ones who went over their quota.

If you don't like the rules, quit.

Um,yeah,again,this closure is for recs.

I only mentioned it,because,someone thought it would be a good idea to close the 73 inch plus,to ALL user groups.Someone who thinks that recs are somehow being treated unfairly.Even though the recs are the ones who went over their quota.

They made a ton of money off permits knowing 12 days after the permit sale deadline they would change the rules to the game. They knew well ahead the qouta was over. I think that's what upsets me the most. The Rec qouta for trophy fish was set at 1.7mt. Thats like 10 fish for 30K permits. They need to reset the qoutas. The Comms can't catch their share anyways, so what's tha big deal?:)

They made a ton of money off permits knowing 12 days after the permit sale deadline they would change the rules to the game. They knew well ahead the qouta was over. I think that's what upsets me the most. The Rec qouta for trophy fish was set at 1.7mt. Thats like 10 fish for 30K permits. They need to reset the qoutas. The Comms can't catch their share anyways, so what's tha big deal?:)

This fishery and its permitting/quota/reporting process has been mismanaged for a long time. Is why my rec permit was not applied for this year. Was waiting to see what class of fish was here before deciding which way to go.
The most recent regulatory change has made the comm sector appear to be a special interest group of the Obama administration. The NMFS took the money and then made the non recs the "elite" darlings.
There are and will continue to be a number of boats fishing without permits this year, until the ground rules are set for Aug-October, which many consider to be the peak season.
I know of many recs who, if they landed a trophy, would have no problem getting it over the rail of a special interest permit holder and getting it to market...... Just saying, it is the reality. As is the inherent mortality the new regs are going to have on the fishery, even with C&R....which is a joke with 50% of the yahoos out there....

No possible reason recs need to keep a 73 + in fish anyway !

Do you agree thre is no possible reason a Charter Boat neds to keep a 73" fish either. Charter boats are not commercial boats.

People that have their quota cut get upset
People that do not, don't

People that stick together win
People that split up and make themselves diffrent from others lose

People that have their quota cut get upset
People that do not, don't

People that stick together win
People that split up and make themselves diffrent from others lose


that about sums it up right there.

Do you agree thre is no possible reason a Charter Boat neds to keep a 73" fish either. Charter boats are not commercial boats.

Charter boats are commercial if they keep a 73 inch bluefin! Let me explain further, if the first fish they catch is under 59 inches and they keep it they are recreational and cannot keep any more tuna. If the first fish they catch is 73 inches or better they are commercial and cannot keep any tuna smaller than 73 inches on that trip. If they catch a 73 or better fish it must be sold to a licensed dealer.