School bluefin tuna are probably already available off the Mid-Atlantic coast, and anglers will be able to boat more of them this year as a result of a change in regulations announced today by NOAA Fisheries.

Private vessels with a HMS Angling category permit will be allowed two school bluefins ((27-47) inches) plus one large school/small medium (47-73 inches).

Charter boats with a HMS Charter category permit fishing recreationally are allowed three school and one large school/small medium.

Headboats are moved up to six school bluefins and two large school/small medium bluefins

The adjusted limits take effect immediately and extend through December 31, 2023, unless modified by later action

  • Summary of Change
  • Vessel
  • /Permit Type
  • Default Retention Limit per Vessel per Day
  • TripAdjusted Retention Limit per Vessel per Day/Trip
  • Private vessels with a Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling category from 2 school bluefin tuna (27-47inches) and one large school/smsl
    • 2 school bluefin tuna (27 to <47”)1 large school/small medium (47 to <73”)
  • Charter boats with an HMS Charter/Headboat permit fishing recreationally from
  • 1 school, large school, or small medium 
    • 3 school1 large school/small medium
    Headboats with an HMS Charter/Headboat permit fishing recreationally1 school, large school, or small medium from 1 school and to 6 school and 2 large school
    • 6 school2 large school/small medium
    Who is affected?
  • The changes apply to HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally. The daily retention limits are effective for all areas except for the Gulf of Mexico, where NOAA Fisheries does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin tuna.
  • Catch reporting
  • HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessel owners are required to report the catch of all bluefin retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip by: p.m.
  • Yesterday’s surprising striped bass news from the ASMFC is still being digested. Tom Fote noted that the Technical Committee hadn’t considered it, and the proposal wasn’t on the agenda. New Jersey was the only jurisdiction that voted against the reduction in maximum size to 31 inches in order to take pressure off the strong 2015 year class. Ironically, the May trophy season in Chesapeake Bay was exempted from the emergency regulation which must be adopted by July 2.
  • Yesterday’s opening of the N.J. fluke season was pretty dull. The Atlantic Star reported most anglers were scared off by showers, but they sailed the morning trip from Atlantic Highlands with a few fares that caught some shorts and a couple of keepers in Sandy Hook Bay. The Sea Tiger 2 from that port made both trips and actually had a couple of limits.
  • The forecast remains favorable, with north winds at 10-15 knots in the morning before going northeast in the afternoon — but at only 5-10 knots.

I published this shot of Paddy Sciortino with a large weakfish he released after it hit sandworms at night in Raritan Bay, but it may not have appeared due to another photo below it. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet says his son has been trying to find another big one, and has heard of some weakfish-like marks in the bay. The weakfish cycle has been down for years, but over the years they’ve come back from out of nowhere many times.

Leave a comment