Zero retention of shortfin makos continues.

The National Marine Fisheries Service reports that the zero retention regulation on shortfin mako sharks is continued this year. That applies to both recreational and commercial fisheries.

That species was the primary attraction to the once very important shark sport fishery which included many big money tournaments along much of the Atlantic coast. Despite all the pressure, makos remained fairly abundant before longliners started targeting them. As a member of the first Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, I was able to get a shark plan started and tried to get the longliners to accept a minimum size. Yet, they wouldn’t go for even 25 pounds. With a very poor reproductive rate, it surprised me that that the species stood up for so long before NMFS finally got involved. Don’t expect any change in status for some time in the future.

The great mid-winter forecast for Sunday was on target. The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported “Wow what a nice day on the water,ocean was beautiful..We had life on the bottom..Plenty of perch biting along with the other exotics….Also had a handful of keeper blackfish to, just no jumbos..No cod or pollock today either..Nice day offshore with great people..Looking forward to getting back out there.”

A small craft advisory is up until 7 p.m. Tuesday starts with southeast winds at 10-15 knots which increase to 15-20 in the afternoon along with a chance of rain.