[swashbuckler]

Any Bluefin Tuna fishermen on this site?

Do you fish General Category?

What do you think of Friday, Saturday and Sundays being closed starting 18 Nov?

Do you think with weekends closed that some of the Northern fisherman might stay home?

Looks like the northern guys are having another tuff season, as of July 27 only 20 tons have been caught. Maybe NMFS will share some of the unfilled quotas with the southern fisherman. There are 908 tons in the general category. What's your opinion?

Last year there was over 300 tons that was not filled. None was allotted to the southern fisherman. As a matter of fact the NMFS closed the season in mid Nov and did not reopen until 2nd week of December. I spent my vacation time waiting around for the season to open. Then when the season opened, we had to compete with the northern fisherman. It was estimated that over 100 boats came down from up north. I met many of these guys from up north in Morehead and Beaufort and they were really nice. I was not one of the many that cussed them on the VHF. I blame the NMFS and NCDMF for all the extra boats fishing during the winter months. We also have the right to go up north and fish during the summer.

Here's my opinion;

I do not like the fact that the season will closed three days out of the week. During December, mother nature will do that for us. I do like the fact that tuna quotas are not equally distributed through out the year. I do not like the fact that 539 tons are allotted June - August and 269.5 for September but only 89.8 tons are allotted October - Janurary. Mid Nov is when these fish start showing up in NC. I do not competing with the northern fisherman, these guys get over 700 more ton allotted and then come down here and dip into our resources. I do not like the fact that the NMFS clearly violates the southern fishermans' rights under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisher Conservation and Management Act under the equal distribution description. I have emailed, phoned and faxed Senator Dole with my concerns and this has fallen upon death ears.

Enough said, that is my opinion. Can't hardly wait until the BFT season starts in NC. See ya on the water.

Capt Randy

 

[Dave B.]

Yes

Yes

And I dont like the closed season as well or the limits...

Like you said, weather at that time of the year pretty much leaves folks at the dock wishin except for the larger displacement vessel guys...

The NO FISH rule last year kept us fishin south NC and we didnt even bother...

Put it this way, we've "tried" at bluefin the last 4 years, each time weather kicked our butt's (granted fishin from a 21 ft cc at that time... )
We just couldnt hang in them winter 8-10's....

Actually closed weekends dates for us doesnt affect us,, if we see the weather might give us a chance we go,, work day or not (good to have a boss hook'd on fishin!)

Bad part for us is, if I dont leave the boat at my uncles place at Morehead/Atlantic beach, we cant fish it anyway unless it's on a weekend... if I leave the boat at his dock, then we can day trip without the tow worry on a moments notice.

True, I feel our northern brothern have it more lax and us here get such a short season... plus ALOT of folks come here just for bluefin season.... I'd hate to run a bluefin charter... I dont know how them guys do it other than love for that type of fishin.

This season we may try it just to hook one or two... but I have a feelin we'll pack it in again and gear up for whitetail huntin.... gauranteed meat in the freezer.

NMFS should lax the rules for NC is my opinion.

 

[swashbuckler]

Thanks for reply Dave.
Last season we fished seven days and caught five. Three were under 73 inches and were released. I've got three weeks vacation riding on this season fro mid Nov - mid Dec. Only thing I can hope for is pretty weather Mon - Thu and that the NMFSD does not change their minds and completely close the season plus hope the big fish show up. After catching a couple of these things I'm pretty wore out so a couple days break won't be too bad.

This is really tuff fishing and sharing information is not done too often but I'll ask the question any way.

Anyone got any Bluefin secrets that they would like to share?

Capt Randy

 

[Dave B.]

Troll troll troll.... listen to vhf for reports of catches and watch for bustin schools of them on top water.

The good thing is they come in close, so it's not like ya have to run out to Big Rock or deeper water to chase them and the trend nowdays is to catch them from smaller boats in shallow water,,, but man, it can be tough. Sounds easy.. but I'll tell ya this, I wont fish around Lookout shoals or that knuckle bouy again!!! we got slap beat up.

last year they were catchin them as close as 12 miles in 35-40 ft of water.

Take big gear, make sure you got good safety gear and clothin and lot's of rest for if ya do hook one.

We drag yumee's and cedar plugs with a squid daisy in the way-back position when we do go out for them. Denard at Portside Marine in the turnin basin is a good source for "where" they are usually, and of course Harker's Island tackle is another good place to check in with for what/where info.

Best of luck to ya Capt Randy,, that's some hard-core fishin right there!

 

[sinker man]

Amen! I think a little too hardcore. Especially if you have to travel before and after fishing.

 

[swashbuckler]

Another amen to harcore fishing. We usually get to dock at 3:30 am and hopefully leave before 4:00 am. In December we've had ice on the deck. Running the channels out of Harkers Island in pitch dark is pretty intense sometimes. We've got some skinny water. Then you hit the ocean and can not see the oncoming seas. Crossing the shoals is another story. Then you get caught up in the fleet of 200 boats which are all going different directions with running lights and deck lights on in the darkness. I'm always glad to see the break of dawn.

We troll three lines. One deep on OldSalty planner. One mid range with 1# trolling sinker. One off the outrigger. We pull Hawaiian Eyes on 30 feet 300# flourocarbon with 10/0 Mustad SeaDemon hook and a horse ballyhoo. We use 50WLRS Shimano Tiargra reels with 1350 yards of 100# powerpro tied directly to a 150# Sampo ball bearing swivel.

The last 30 feet is leadering by hand. Safety is an issue. We wear Mustang survival suit. I also keep a divers knife on my side in case of accident.

Then comes the flying gaff. Yes this hard core fishing.

My toughest trip was driving from Mooresville at 1300, getting to HI at 1900. Loading gear on boat and then launching boat at 0330, fished till noon, trailered boat at 1400, fueled, cleaned, winterized boat and was heading back home at 1700. Got home at 2330 and went to work next morning. Did not catch a fish on this day. I don't plan on doing this again. We had the fever.

Good Luck

Capt Randy