Rules for tuna this year...

[Mr. Sandman]

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?

[Pete_G]

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.

[MakoMike]

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.