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Anyone here have any thoughts concerning the closure of the General Angling season and the transfer of 150 MT to the "RESERVE" catagory.
The timing seems awful coincidental with the arrival of the fish here in NC.
I'm not schooled or terribly smart about the politics of Tuna but I seem to remember that the northern tuna fishermen were not real thrilled about the fishery off the coast of NC.......
"Fish got tails an' they go where they go"
" GET THE GRADY " "Theres two things SALTWATER won't SCREW UP . 1. SALTWATER 2. FISH.
They are talking now like they will open it up for us Dec. 15 and have a split season: some in Dec and some in Jan. Don't give up hope yet and call/support Pete Manuel out of Morehead. He is the main voice for us here in NC.
NO, You can not target Blue Fin even to release.However there is no law that says you can not fish for kings with a 50tw and a Islander with A large Hoo.
Yeah, but... it really blows for the charter guys. They walk a lot finer line than we do. They have pretty much shut them down and that just isn't right.
I spoke w/ Brad McHale's office this morning and here's how it stands as of today wioth respect to the GENERAL category:
The season will open Dec. 1 and we have 70 tons. There are still the rumors of a split season and opening Dec. 15. Brad will be in his office after lunch. I will speak with him today and post results.
Yes Tom I do feel for them. I also feel for me!
This will be my first year for BFT. I have bought 3 new 50tw reels and rods and a lot of other stuff just for BFT fishing.I have spent A lot of money for this stuff along with a lot tax money, if you know what I mean.I sure hope we get to fish for them this year.
Bernie, I'm not saying you can't fish with 50's but if you are catch and release it will be harder on the tuna because you will not get the fish to the boat as quick. We completely destroyed an 80tw on a fish last year.
Well at least I did spool it with 80lb. line. I hope this will do because I can not spend any more money. This setup was recomended by many people I know that fish for them.I hope the ones over 300lbs. will stay away.
I understand where you are coming from. If you are commerically fishing, it won't matter because you will kill the fish anyway. The fish last year that destroyed the 80 was estimated to go over 700lbs. I switched to 130's this year.
Tom: We talked 2 weeks ago re BFT on fly - I have a Pompanette Sailfish chair for sale and you gave me Everett's name. I'm headed to Mag Bay this Sunday for 2 weeks to get tuned up for the Morehead City BF. Keep up the good work with Brad and tell him I need the season to be open for at least a week in mid-Jan.
I agree 100% with rainmaker!! Never have I heard of the "reserve" catagory... but yet it just so happens that they transfer a majority of the tonnage about time we are about to start fishing for the tunas. I also give thanks to Pete Manuel for all the work he has done, and hopefully will continue to do so that we can continue to catch the fish. I support the Winter Bluefin Association and would encourage anybody who takes part in fishing for these tuna off the NC coast to contribute as well to help ensure that we are able to do this every year.
I agree with Alan, Pete and the bluefin assoc are the ones who got the tonnage for NC. Anyone who fishes for tuna in NC commerically should support the assoc by joining and they are also asking that 5% of the sale go to the assoc so that we may continue to enjoy and profit from this fishery.
I was out this weekend live bait king mackerel fishing, and a few guys out there hooked up with Bluefin Tuna on 20 lb. test. They took off and kept on going...lol...people have reported seeing them jumping out of the water and crashing bait, so I think we might have a pretty good year.
Hey Gang,
I agree with Kevin that we should all do what ever we can to voice our outrage to the NMFS through any and all means we have. The commercial guys have a strong political lobby, and this is a classic example of how NMFS turns a blind eye to the commercial dessimation of the oceans stocks, and the recreational guys always end up getting screwed.
This premature end to the BFT season which after Nov 30 applys ONLY TO RECREATIONAL ANGLERS is pure Bull $hit and is a direct slap in all of our faces. The NMFS estimates that all recreational anglers combined only account for a miniscule portion of the BFT harvest. Here is what they say:
As of November 14, 2003, fishing year landings of Atlantic bluefin tuna are as follows: Coastwide General category has closed until December 1, 2003, to date it has landed 463.7 mt out of a possible 534.4 mt. Harpoon category 53.2 mt out of a possible 77.5 mt. Longline North: 18.9 mt. Longline South: 3.5 mt. Purse seine category 265.7 mt. The Angling category is currently closed. Landings updates will be made as necessary, Monday through Friday. A week ago the recreational/angling category harvest was posted and as I recall there was less far less than one metric ton.
For those not familiar with Purse Seine "FISHING" here is a description of the technique the commercials use to take the entire school...
The fishermen put a mile-long net into the water that encircles the entire school of tuna. The top edge of the net is held at the water’s surface by large floats and extends down into the water several hundred feet like a fence. Using cables, the fishermen close the net at the bottom, similar to tightening the drawstrings on a purse--hence the term "purse seine." This prevents the school of tuna from escaping, and virtually the entire school is harvested.
The General/commercial category will reopen Dec 1.
Sadly, even though all historical reports demonstrate that recreational anglers only harvest a tiny/irrelevant portion of the combined BFT catch, the recreational/angling category is not scheduled to reopen at all this year. Once again, the beaurocrats punish the recreational fisherman in an effort to show the environmentalists they are doing something to help stop the dessimation of fish in our oceans. As anyone can clearly see, if the NMFS was really concerned about making an impact in the BFT harvest they would simply suspend the purse seine technique until the general category quota was attained, but that would outrage the commercials who have a strong political lobby.
We the lowly recreational anglers have a duty to protect our sport by voicing our outrage to this unprecedented action by the NMFS.
I am personally exceptionaly pi$$ed because I just bought a new 80SW and a new 70SW to go with my other 80Ws in preparation of some planned BFT fishing off Moorehead City this January. Now I may just have to spool those big reels with some spectra and use them for striper trolling instead!
"Get the US the Hell out of the UN, then get the UN the Hell out of the US"
1. Call the NMFS and voice your complaints and advise them you are calling your congressman...
2. Get the Exact #'s recreational fisherman harvest so we have the correct info...
3. Call your congressman and ask them why these actions are being taken, ask them to get answers from NMFS...
4. Ask NMFS why when it looks like on paper we are taking less than 1% (actually about .126% using their figures) of the harvest we are eliminated from the harvest...
5. Get the CCA involved...
6. Get Gov. Warners office involved along with NC, MD, DE, NY, NY and the rest of the Coastal Gov's involved pressuring NMFS into reversing its decision and thereby making them think twice about pulling this crap again in the future...
P.S. just called and voiced my complaints, emailed my congressman and senators, as well as the Govs office...Gov Warner is a Hunter/Fisherman...GET INVOLVED!!!!
"Get the US the Hell out of the UN, then get the UN the Hell out of the US"
Bluefin Tuna Season 
but yet it just so happens that they transfer a majority of the tonnage about time we are about to start fishing for the tunas. I also give thanks to Pete Manuel for all the work he has done, and hopefully will continue to do so that we can continue to catch the fish. I support the Winter Bluefin Association and would encourage anybody who takes part in fishing for these tuna off the NC coast to contribute as well to help ensure that we are able to do this every year. 
