[fishon2407]

I am assuming that you keep what you catch but what are the regs as far as your limits?Bluefin for instance is that limited to one fish for the whole boat or can each angler keep one?I've never fished for tuna so my understanding of the limits and regs are vauge to say the least.

Also of the tuna species,what is edible and what is not?

This post edited by fishon2407 12:22 PM 09/06/2008

 

[ctwhitechin]

Bluefin I think is 1 per boat, but then it gets funky with the size, I'm not sure if it's 1 medium, maybe 1 smaller than that, but it is definitely NOT 1 per person.

Yellowfin are 3 per person, longfin if you catch any I don't think there is a limit...bigeye I'm not sure but if the boat catches 3 or 4 bigeyes that's pretty good.

All are edible, in fact all are superb eating.

 

[Peterk814]

person who catches the fish keeps it unless they want to share. Its two bluefin per boat one large and one medium. 3 yellows per person, as many longfins as you want, I believe its 3 swords per boat. No limit on bigeyes

 

[TunaBully]

All of the above is correct. However, I have found that when I have reached my limit of yellowfin, my friends have either had to tag my fish with their tags or they were given away to others that did not reach there limit or possibly they were taken by the boat. I have had many trips with 5 yellowfin or more on a party boat and was never personally allowed to walk away from the boat with more than 3 fish worth of yellowfin loins. This rule probably differs from boat to boat

 

[fluketamer]

giving away fish over your limit

technically i think its illegal for a person to give his 4th yft tuna to the boat or others.

that said, trading/giving fish etc is done on most trips ive been on.

for ex, i boated 1 albie and 4 yft on a night when the boat caught 30 something alabcore. i could have traded one of my yellows for a longfin and walked off the boat with 5 fish but that means at one point i had 4 yft in my possession which is illegal. i think the regs usually say something like "you cannot POSSESS more than ...etc

im not sure but steaking a crew caught fish to disperse among the skunked (lol) could also be a violation.

This post edited by fluketamer 03:28 PM 09/06/2008

 

[fishon2407]

So with only two bluefin per trip it is correct in saying that the angler that gets him in first is the one who keeps the boats limit?And probably the pool winner.

What is the weight of the class of bluefin lrg. med.?Albacore I'm assuming is longfin?

 

[tunafever]

PETEY, You're wrong about the swordies.

15 per boat!! open season baby!!!

 

[Peterk814]

Oh they changed the regs from last year?

 

[tunafever]

No, its been like that for a while a year at least I think:

Other HMS Recreational Limits
The recreational daily swordfish retention limit is 1 fish per person, with a maximum of 4 fish per private vessel, 6 for a charter vessel, and 15 for a headboat vessel. The minimum size for swordfish within the recreational fishery is 47 inches, lower jaw-fork length. You may not keep longbill spearfish. There are no retention limits for Atlantic sailfish, blue marlin and white marlin, but the NOAA Fisheries encourages recreational anglers to release all billfish alive. The minimum sizes for billfish are as follows: Blue Marlin: 99 inches lower jaw fork length; White Marlin: 66 inches lower jaw fork length; Sailfish: 63 inches lower jaw fork length; Spearfish: Retention prohibited. Lower jaw fork length is a straight line measurement from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the caudal fin. The recreational limit on sharks is 1 shark per vessel per trip with a minimum size of 54 inches fork length; plus on Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip (no minimum size); plus 1 bonnethead shark per person per trip (no minimum size). None of these fish may be sold. Swordfish and billfish landed must be reported. For swordfish and billfish reporting, call 800-894-5528. For NC and MD landings call 410-213-1531 or 800-338-7804 respectively.

 

[Captneilf]

Hi Guys,

It is IMPERATIVE that you contact the party boat operation before scheduling a trip and ask them. They are the professionals and should have all the correct answers. Find out how each pb you may be interested in handles each situation. Things are done differently on different operations. Know before you go!

Neil