NJ bite stokes late-fall bluefin fishery

MANASQUAN, NJ – Bluefin tuna fishermen from Maine to North Carolina dropped everything and bolted for New Jersey and Long Island ports in early December as word spread that the big fish were biting in Hudson Canyon.

In a stroke of good timing, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced the week before that it was increasing the daily retention limit from three bluefin to five effective Nov. 27 through Dec. 31.

NMFS increased the daily bluefin retention limit to five large medium or giants on Nov. 27, just before the fishery took off.  The change helped fishermen improve efficiency by reducing fuel and operating costs. (Photos courtesy of Steve Getto)

NMFS increased the daily bluefin retention limit to five large medium or giants on Nov. 27, just before the fishery took off. The change helped fishermen improve efficiency by reducing fuel and operating costs. (Photos courtesy of Steve Getto)

The bigger bag limit made the economics of the fishery work for the estimated 100-plus boats that participated in the late-fall fishery, as the additional fish helped pay for fuel and other expenses.

“The American Bluefin Tuna Association (ABTA) asked the agency to go up to five a day,” said Ralph Pratt, an ABTA board member who steamed 178 miles from Green Harbor, MA down to Manasquan for a few good days of offshore fishing.  “It was a great move, and we really appreciated it.”

 

CFN_1_14coverRead the rest and much, much more in the January issue of Commercial Fisheries News.

Read online immediately and download for future reference.

LoadingUpdating...