HMS permit

[TSPS]

I just renewed my Lic. this morning . Not that I plan to do much fishing for tuna / sharks , but as I understand it if I'm bluefishing and happen to take a tuna I'm screwed. I'm not willing to lose my boat for a $22 fee .

Not that I agree with any saltwater Lic. This weeks Fisherman Mag. had a good atticleon Salt water Lic.

[Mr. Sandman]

There is no way they can enforce you losing your boat on an incidental catch that is released.

If so that would mean ***everyone*** must have this HMS permit to fish for anything and thus this is a sw fishing lic.

I hope they make it at 27" and a 3 fish per boat limit but I bet that stands about as much of a shot as buying fuel for a buck this summer.

[vineyardblues]

Mr Sandman,
You are correct, most of the tuna we got last year were small ones.
Yes we did get more then past years but they were small.

I have bought my striped license for many years and this year I did not because the price went up to 65.00 and I have not sold a stripa in years so it was a wast of money for me. Plus the cost of gas has gone up up and away!
VB

[Pete_G]

They were out there boarding boats off Newport last year.

They will DEFINITELY be watching closely again this year as it's fairly obvious there was a lot of abuse last year with many boats fishing without permits.

I have always bought a permit and reported most of my fish, and this was back in the day before inshore tuna was a normal thing.

The reporting also helps with enforcement, they can track where the fish are and focus their efforts.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

There is no way they can enforce you losing your boat on an incidental catch that is released.

If it is an incidental catch then it's perfectly legal.