Tuna

[Togfather2530]

I know there will be mixed opinions out there on this. I think with the great tuna fishing this year fisherman have been taking everything they can. I find that unfortunately we need very restrictive regulations because most recreational fisherman can’t control themselves. I think we should all think about this before we complain about the regulations getting tougher. Just my opinion. Humans have ran many species into extinction or all but because they just can’t control themselves. Just something to think about.

[rwp2101]

I hear you, and I’m sure we will have tighter regs in the future, but...

1) Even with the great yellowfin fishing the last few months, my family and I prefer the taste of bluefin, mahi, fluke and wahoo so I haven’t kept a single yellowfin all year. So, not everyone is being a pig.

2) If commercial fishermen from the US and other countries (these are a
HMS after all) posted photos on social media sites of their catches you’d be appalled year round

and...

3) You’re not wrong on your overarching point. It’s called a TRAGEDY of the commons for a reason, but the best thing you can do is join a group so your interests are represented at the bargaining table when the reduction decisions are made.

Btw, do you know how many pounds of YFT are harvested every year in the Atlantic both recreationally and commercially broken down both domestically and internationally? Yeah, me neither. That seems like good information to have before you and I keep drawing conclusions. I’m sure it’s out there...

[FishingSinceIWasThree]

I can't afford to go tuna fishing either financially or time wise more than 1 x per every 5 years or so. Can I keep a few tuna? Sounds to me like you are pretty well off if you can spend that kind of money several times a year. Maybe we should put extra limit on people with govt pensions or who are rich or who have govt jobs or people who are here illegally and don't pay taxes. I'll help you with those restrictions ok?

[Pennsy Guy]

I can't agree with you 100%. The tuna fishery isn't what it was as late as the 90's before the yft regs. It's my opinion that the majority of the blue water fishers observe the rules.One always has to think of the consequences of being over and having the black vehicle waiting @the dock. I really don't think one's station in life enters into the equation. I'm retired but have a job which pays for tips, inshore fishing and credit cards. IRS refund pays for my yearly tuna trips...as I've aged, the number's down to 4 from 6 & I'll go as long as I can.

[Capt. Debbie]

Well put! Worse thing that ever happened to fisheries was camera phones.


I can't agree with you 100%. The tuna fishery isn't what it was as late as the 90's before the yft regs. It's my opinion that the majority of the blue water fishers observe the rules.One always has to think of the consequences of being over and having the black vehicle waiting @the dock. I really don't think one's station in life enters into the equation. I'm retired but have a job which pays for tips, inshore fishing and credit cards. IRS refund pays for my yearly tuna trips...as I've aged, the number's down to 4 from 6 & I'll go as long as I can.

[Capt Sal]

Like DA!! THERE IS A LIMIT ON YELLOWFIN????????

[captbogan]

There are enough restrictions. Enough regulations.

Fishermen should be educated and taught to respect nature. I'm tired of our govt taking everything out of our hands.

We had a beautiful white marlin, fought to the boat yesterday. At that point of the trip, we had landed very few fish. We were allowed to take that fish --another customer said, they are "good eating" But the fisherman who hooked it said, No way, let er go. That was just about being taught and making a moral descison. People need to use common sense. We don't need more regs! Every time a new law is made, we lose one more freedom.

[Ol Pedro]

Capt. Bob's right. Look at what the anti's have done to hunting. Most of the time when the government steps in the sportsmen get the shaft. Bad science and political correctness has left our State and our Country in a hole that Small Business owners like Capt. Bob, the rest of the fleet, and the other related Shore Businesses may never recover from. Remember this when you vote.

[togzilla]

Capt. Bob's right. Look at what the anti's have done to hunting. Most of the time when the government steps in the sportsmen get the shaft. Bad science and political correctness has left our State and our Country in a hole that Small Business owners like Capt. Bob, the rest of the fleet, and the other related Shore Businesses may never recover from. Remember this when you vote.

Remember this when you vote. AMEN!!!!!!!!!

[captbogan]

Remember this when you vote. AMEN!!!!!!!!!

Amen

[Togfather2530]

Thanks for the reply guys. I haven’t been out tuna fishing. I’m as republican as they come. I appreciate all your views as I was curious to your thoughts. I on the other hand do not think most recreational fisherman can control themselves. Most will take whatever is allowed, especially with offshore species. We have all seen it. Look at the weakfish. I on the other hand would like less govt refs and would “hope” that would work but I don’t believe it would. I’m not saying all the current refs are right by any means.

[Capt Sal]

Thanks for the reply guys. I haven’t been out tuna fishing. I’m as republican as they come. I appreciate all your views as I was curious to your thoughts. I on the other hand do not think most recreational fisherman can control themselves. Most will take whatever is allowed, especially with offshore species. We have all seen it. Look at the weakfish. I on the other hand would like less govt refs and would “hope” that would work but I don’t believe it would. I’m not saying all the current refs are right by any means.

Many times you strike out. It is a good year. It is not cheap and and most guys get out once a year. The weakfish were not decimated by hook and line and have nothing to do with yellowfin tuna.

[Skolmann]

There are enough restrictions. Enough regulations.

Fishermen should be educated and taught to respect nature. I'm tired of our govt taking everything out of our hands.

We had a beautiful white marlin, fought to the boat yesterday. At that point of the trip, we had landed very few fish. We were allowed to take that fish --another customer said, they are "good eating" But the fisherman who hooked it said, No way, let er go. That was just about being taught and making a moral descison. People need to use common sense. We don't need more regs! Every time a new law is made, we lose one more freedom.

I agree 100% with your statement.

Unfortunately, I see way to many fisherman giving the middle finger salute to size/bag limits and go fishing with the philosophy of kill everything they put on deck-especially among anglers in the Northeast. From my experience when I lived in the Southeast, the philosophy is more akin to keeping what you need for that night’s dinner and releasing the rest (regardless if they are of legal size or not).

We need to do better at policing ourselves rather than having big brother Government stepping in.

[Redeemer Sportfishing]

IMO feds are usually 5 years behind the actual curve. Tuna don’t freeze well. 3 yellows per person is a lot when they are 50-80 pd fish. Look how bad bottom fishing and bass fishing is now. Can’t say they were wrong and can’t blame the commercials. Not many left. Just my opinion.

[rwp2101]

From my experience when I lived in the Southeast, the philosophy is more akin to keeping what you need for that night’s dinner and releasing the rest (regardless if they are of legal size or not).

What do you think drives that difference in philosophy? The prior decimation and subsequent rebound of redfish through careful management? The slower pace of life? The ability to fish year round? Catch and release bass fishing being so popular and that mentality carrying over?

[rwp2101]

Many times you strike out. It is a good year. It is not cheap and and most guys get out once a year. The weakfish were not decimated by hook and line and have nothing to do with yellowfin tuna.

Amen. When someone sees a picture of a limit they don't see the charter bill or if it's a private boat then they don't see the slip fees, winterization and storage fees, repair bills, tackle receipts, or the bills for bait, ice and gas from the previous two trips that were skunkfests. Especially for the YFT, hit or miss and so often not even around some years.

[Flygaff]

As far as keeping Tuna. If I go out tuna fishing and catch my limit of three. I will keep them all. My wife and I love the tuna. I freeze everything with a chamber vac. we will all of it. nothing goes to waste. Same with Fluke & Seabass. Just can't get enough fish to eat.

[Gerry Zagorski]

As far as keeping Tuna. If I go out tuna fishing and catch my limit of three. I will keep them all. My wife and I love the tuna. I freeze everything with a chamber vac. we will all of it. nothing goes to waste. Same with Fluke & Seabass. Just can't get enough fish to eat.

I'm totally with you here... Not one slice of tuna goes to waste and for the effort and dollars you sink into a trip that's your, your friends and families reward.

Pass the Wasabi please!

[PortlyRedhead]

Remember this when you vote. AMEN!!!!!!!!!

Remember when you vote, remember those that:

Protect the menhaden / bunker that feed the striped bass

Fund the NJ Game Wardens who target frequent poachers

Work to keep wind farms away from fishing grounds

Brought back Raritan Bay / NY Harbor from pollution hell

Fought off the pair trawlers that ended canyon tuna seasons

Know that beach replenishment torpedoes surf fishing success

Acknowledge that recreational fishing creates more jobs and tax revenue per lb or per fish than commercial fishing

Protect saltwater fish / fishing for future generations.

I can assure you those are NOT bipartisan issues.

[Duffman]

We are our own worst enemies.

Gov sets the limits.....then we bitch about those limits....then we keep what we can according to those limits.......then guys bitch about keeping what they say we can. Damn what a shitty cycle that is.

[Skolmann]

What do you think drives that difference in philosophy? The prior decimation and subsequent rebound of redfish through careful management? The slower pace of life? The ability to fish year round? Catch and release bass fishing being so popular and that mentality carrying over?

I think to start, as a whole they have a greater respect for the resource (this goes for hunting as well).

[Capt. Debbie]

The choices we get have been piss poor for decades. Most don't vote for someone. WE actually vote against the other one.


Remember this when you vote. AMEN!!!!!!!!!

[Pennsy Guy]

For me, I can only process two tuna quick enough to ensure their top quality before vacuum sealing/freezing. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love catching tuna---can't wait to go into the blue water but as I grow older I think I'm maturing enough to realize I don't need more than 2 tuna on any one trip. If I'm fortunate enough to hook up on a third, I'll probably pass it off to a fishless angler--but that's just me, or it's a boat fish for the Capt. & mates.
As far as sport fish, if you need to keep a white, blue or sail, go to the left coast where it's common place. They're all off my bucket list. I will say a lit up blue marlin is an awesome sight...
And yes, remember what "PortlyRedhead" & others posted when you vote!!!

[Flygaff]

Remember when you vote, remember those that:

Protect the menhaden / bunker that feed the striped bass

Fund the NJ Game Wardens who target frequent poachers

Work to keep wind farms away from fishing grounds

Brought back Raritan Bay / NY Harbor from pollution hell

Fought off the pair trawlers that ended canyon tuna seasons

Know that beach replenishment torpedoes surf fishing success

Acknowledge that recreational fishing creates more jobs and tax revenue per lb or per fish than commercial fishing

Protect saltwater fish / fishing for future generations.

I can assure you those are NOT bipartisan issues.

All good things, However, none of it matters if we can't keep the fish we catch