Here goes ...
1. What do people think the survivability of 100+lb bluefin on spin gear? Has anyone seen numbers? Just curious. Something I've never seen.
Having caught my share, I know they pull almost to death.
Their fate after release, my guess is if they swim away and out of site they're ok, if they're struggling, well that's more food for the f&%^*& bazillion dogfish, hopefully they feed a crab or lobster.
2. Whats the hook-up bust off ratio of your average angler?
I'm not really answering your question but, I think the hook up for all the boats out on stellwagen on a weekend is < 20%, lots of fishing but not much catching.
3. How many people are fishing trebles on the plugs. See #2, a fish busted off with a mouth full of trebles has a much lower survivability than one w/ single hooks (I feel the same w/ Bass FWIW).
Single hooks on my plugs and metals. I don't imagine they'll last long with a mouth full of hooks.
4. How do people feel about this fishery?
It is bringing a lot of people in small boats to tuna fishing, which is cool, but bluefin are not doing well as a whole, so any added pressure probably isn't good, right?
The fishery is not what is was (from what I've read and heard from old timers) but I don't think we rec's are putting much pressure on the fish, the seiners across the pond do more damage in one haul than the rec's do in one season. this won't come out right, but what the hell, .... why should they get the last fish.
Great post Riprockhound, attention is needed IMHO there is no need for more than 1 fish.
Not sure where this fits, but I hate dogfish, every drop of the jig gaffed one these nasty bastages. 600lb limit
make it 100000000000 lb limit.