Rec or General Permit?
 

Not really considering it for myself, but if a rec did get a giant >73", it seems a shame not to be able to sell it... And if a rec had a general permit, it seems to limit you to fish >73". Am I reading this right? A couple friends of mine did get some market fish last year. I heard one guy sold his, but don't know the details of his permit. Anyone care to comment either here or through PM?

you have it right.

I originally signed up for the commercial but the thought of having to release a tuna <73" hurt more than not being able to sell a giant which forced me to change to rec. BTW: you also need a commercial license from the state (of MA) in order to sell a tuna which $$ is much more than the Fed $16. Selling a giant more than makes up for the license fees.

Here's what I know,and by all means,if I'm off somewhere,pipe up.
The federal permit is $28,whether you go REC,COMM,or Charter.Pick one.Charter is a license to print money,as you can take home(sizewise)whatever you feel like,or can catch.However,you need a Captains license.
General,you can sell fish,but they need to be 73 inches or greater.You CANNOT take anything home under 73 inches.Forget sashimi,or ceviche,dockside.
Angling(recreational)really has no upside,except that you can keep a fish between 28 and 47 inches,and a fish between 47 and 73,everyday,and 1 over 73 a year.No sale allowed.Also,you wont be hassled for twenty grand worth of safety gear,that the boat right next to you will need(if he's gencat)
The required safety gear is the biggest sticking point.I don't have a link to share,but it's available.
In addition to the safety requirements,the fed permit($28),you'll need a commercial fishing license in the state where you'll land (sell)your fish.In RI,it's $75 resident.In MA,it's $100 nonresident.Also,in Ma,there is a town fee for landing tuna.Much like shellfish,Ma.wanted to cash in on the payday.The fee is different in different towns,but not unreasonable(from what I've seen,so far,anyway)
If I'm wrong about anything,please feel free to set me straight.

Most of which you should have going (somewhat) offshore anyhow.

http://www.lrse.com/regulations/index.html

Other than the immersion suits and liferaft, you should have everything else.

Pains Wessex flares are mindblowing compared to the Olin crap and you should be running those hands down anyhow.

Couple of clarifications.

In the Charter/headboat Cat. you can only take a sub 73" fish with a paying charter on board. If I'm just out fishing with my Dad, shorts have to be released.

Angling this year looks like just one fish between 27" and 73" with one trophy for the year. Final rule isn't out yet, but I wouldn't bet on getting 2 fish this year.

Right on about the state permits, but check out the towns. Not too many towns require permits (none in Sandwich, as long as you offload to Joe, Barnstable, Sesuit, and p-town are also free), but some of the fees were crazy. Harwich used to get $500-not sure what the sticker costs now.

And re-packing the life-raft each year is $1400.

Where did I put my damn license to print $$$$???

Gotta pay to play.

edit: Inspection costs $300-400, who is quoting or charging $1400?

Don't forget about the income tax on any fish sold as well

If I print any more money as a charter operation I'm going to go broke! :)

You mean your Dad doesn't charter the boat? :shocked:

:smash::chased:

He does a lot of charters -- just says I don't count as one when it's only us. Old man is very serious about the regs.

$300-400 for an offshore solas raft inspect & repack is low , usually atleast $600 & up

Call LRSE.
It may be up and backlogged (Marion-Bermuda race is in June.) at the moment though.

You're right $1400 is way too high. That was the total bill last time around and it included a bunch of other stuff - epirb battery, etc.

I'll know for sure when it comes back Friday - but its ballpark 75 per man on the raft (we have an 8-man viking) and then they can get you for all sorts of other things - new hydro release, bottle inspect, $10 stickers, etc.

Absolutely right - pay to play. And it will seem like the best money ever spent if my arse ever depends on it opening properly.

Just slip him a buck before you board the boat, then its official! :angel:

I was curious about this, so I called NMFS. They said under the Headboat Cat. you could keep a sub-legal fish (per rec. cat) WITHOUT a charter on board, as long as there is a Licensed Captain on board......

So would the charterboat permit allow you to sell the fish without the required safetly gear? Im confused on the benefit of the charterboat permit over the recreational....

Charter / head boat you need to have all safety gear (life raft, epirb,survival suits, offshore solas flares, ect.......) to legally go with a charter or to fish commercially and sell.

Not true Ron. If you are fishing angling category no safety gear, other than the normal 6-pack stuff is required.