Current Bluefin Tuna Regs

[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

[DMac]

Don't you have to be running charters to apply for charter or headboat license or if you have captains license can you just apply for that permit. Maybe I'm missing something. I thought you had to be coast gaurd inspected charter headboat to apply for that permit? Please clear this up I just want yo make sure I understand it and have correct info.

[TUNA.COM]

Originally Posted by DMac

Don't you have to be running charters to apply for charter or headboat license or if you have captains license can you just apply for that permit. Maybe I'm missing something. I thought you had to be coast gaurd inspected charter headboat to apply for that permit? Please clear this up I just want yo make sure I understand it and have correct info.

You must provide a copy of your license when applying for the permit, in addition there must always be a licensed captain on board, however it does not have to be the same captain that applied for the permit.

To be truthful about all this talk, if you ask the CG, EP or NOAA about the discussion on this board, they would be more confused than Gerry fighting a tuna...lol.

With that said, don't test the system.

[DMac]

Thanks for clearing that up dave. Much appreciated

[dfish28]

Originally Posted by Suckafish

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

You need an HMS permit, and if I read right which i probably haven't if your vessel is registered as commercial/charter fishing , recreationally of course... you can keep 1under and 1over other private vessels are only allowed one over 27 unless you get an over 73 trophy, one per year ...
Technically you even need one if you plan on trolling Albies and bonito... FYI , it's late I'm sure I'm wrong somewhere but I got heatstroke... That's my excuse!!

[barbarian]

call custumer service number on the permit, tuna office gloucester 978-281-9260 their more than happy to explain and answer any of your question

[Sharkyispy]

Originally Posted by 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!

Dave from Tuna.com outlines this for his trips. The charter has to make the decision whether to keep the small one, making it recreational or go for the larger size tuna and retain those. He would be a great resource for you Gerry.