Changes Affect Rod and Reel Fisheries for Bluefin Tuna Based on a review of dealer reports, daily landing trends, available quota, and the availability of bluefin tuna on the fishing grounds, the General category daily retention limit of two large medium or giant bluefin per vessel per day/trip will be extended through January 31, 2006. It is highly likely that the coastwide General category season will extend into January, and allow for a southern Atlantic fishery to take place on an order of magnitude of prior years. NOAA Fisheries has prohibited the retention of school fish (sized 27 inches to less than 47 inches) for both HMS Charter/Headboat and Angling category vessels, based on recent information indicating high catches and catch rates of school bluefin. Vessels in the HMS Charter/Headboat and HMS Angling categories are permitted one bluefin measuring 47 to less than 73 inches (i.e., in the large school or small medium size classes) per vessel per day/trip. Changes Affect Rod and Reel Fisheries for Bluefin Tuna Based on a review of dealer reports, daily landing trends, available quota, and the availability of bluefin tuna on the fishing grounds, the General category daily retention limit of two large medium or giant bluefin per vessel per day/trip will be extended through January 31, 2006. It is highly likely that the coastwide General category season will extend into January, and allow for a southern Atlantic fishery to take place on an order of magnitude of prior years. NOAA Fisheries has prohibited the retention of school fish (sized 27 inches to less than 47 inches) for both HMS Charter/Headboat and Angling category vessels, based on recent information indicating high catches and catch rates of school bluefin. Vessels in the HMS Charter/Headboat and HMS Angling categories are permitted one bluefin measuring 47 to less than 73 inches (i.e., in the large school or small medium size classes) per vessel per day/trip.
