2011 Recreational Atlantic Tunas Retention Limits
The current recreational daily bluefin tuna (BFT) retention for limit for HMS Angling (private recreational) vessels one BFT (measuring 27 to less than 59 inches) per vessel per day/trip. The current recreational BFT retention limit for HMS Charter/headboat vessels (while fishing recreationally) is one school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches) and one large school BFT (measuring 47 to less than 59 inches) per vessel per day/trip. The southern area “trophy” BFT fishery (for BFT measuring 73 inches and greater) is CLOSED and the northern area "trophy" BFT fishery closes at 11:30 p.m. on July 29, 2011. The Angling category North/South line is at 39°18’ N. lat. (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ). The Gulf of Mexico is designated as a spawning ground for BFT and therefore NMFS does not allow recreational caught BFT to be retained while fishing in this area. The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person/day/trip. The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27" curved fork length. There are no recreational limits for bigeye, skipjack or albacore tunas.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Northern Area Trophy Fishery will close July 29, 2011
NMFS is closing the northern area Angling category fishery for large medium and giant (“trophy”) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) on July 29 for the remainder of 2011. Fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium and giant BFT (measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater) north of 39°18’ N. lat. (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ,) is prohibited effective 11:30 p.m., local time, on July 29, 2011. Limited catch and release is permissible. For further information, see
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/breaking_news.htm.
