Current Bluefin Tuna Regs

[Gerry Zagorski]

What are the Bluefin Regs for a For Hire HMS Recreational permit?? 1 over and 1 under 47 inches and you can keep one trophy fish per year over 73 inches plus??


I saw this on the NMFS site and now I'm totally confused

3-fish General category bluefin tuna limit for Jun-Aug 2013

The National Marine Fisheries Service is adjusting the General category Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limit to three large medium or giant (73" or greater curved fork length) bluefin tuna effective June 1-August 31, 2013. This limit applies to vessels permitted in the Atlantic tunas General category (a commercial handgear category), and to vessels permitted in the HMS Charter/Headboat category while fishing commercially. For further information, please see the notice in the library (link at left of page) or at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/breakingnews/index.htm.

[Arbutis]

I would assume that to be correct as stated - However, the recreational angler still needs to have a permit and I believe if it is not a commercial vessel, the rec angler can only keep one fish on the boat per trip and one fish over 73" in the season.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Not sure what you meant by "correct as stated" ^^^

Let me ask this another way....

If I have an Highly Migratory For Hire (charter and party boat) Permit
how many fish can I keep at what sizes?

What is it for boats with a Recreational, not for hire Highly Migratory Permit ?

[My Retreat]

Recreational is 27" to less than 73" one fish per day/trip.

You are allowed one fish over 73" (Trophy) for the season.


The original 3 fish post is commercial regulations.


I hope that helps.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Retreat - Getting conflicting information.... As I mentioned in post above

"If I have an Highly Migratory For Hire (charter and party boat) Permit
how many fish can I keep at what sizes?"

The answer to this question from others is the boat is allowed an under 47 inch fish and an over 47 inch fish but not to exceed 73 inches. You can however keep one 73 plus fish once a year...

Is that right for the permit I have??

OK, now how about someone with a non not for hire permit which is a recreational permit?? They are only allowed one fish and it needs to be between 27 and 73 and they are also allowed to keep one fish over 73 once a year??

[Tenacious Sportfishing]

Gerry, a charter/headboat can fish either recreationally or commercially on a given day. When fishing recreationally the recreation limits apply. When fishing commercially the general category limits apply. Recreational boats with an angling permit can only fish recreationally and therefore the one fish limit applies.

[capt. carl]

Yes Gerry...
On the permit u have, u can take an over and an under each trip
..and 1 trophy per year.
And yes....the Angling Catagory can take 1 trophy per year also.

[GregW93]

What Bernie and Carl have said is correct. With your permit,You declare what you are fishing for by the first fish you kill. If you kill one under 73" you are recreational fishing. If you kill on over 73" you are commercial fishing, unless you claim it as your trophy fish. You can only sell fish over 73" if you have the commercial general category or the head boat/charter boat permit. It is illegal to sell any Bluefin under 73" regardless of what permit you have. Hope this helps!

[Suckafish]

Do I need a permit to catch and keep bluefin as a recreational fisherman on my boat

[Rob B]

Originally Posted by Suckafish

Do I need a permit to catch and keep bluefin as a recreational fisherman on my boat

yes, a rec permit