Bluefin Tuna

The killing of these magnificent fish should be a criminal offense... But then, plundering, destruction, and leaving a contaminated stinking waste land behind is the mark of our species...

I firmly expect there to be a total collapse of the fisheries within a decade... Many species have been killed off to the point that they will go extinct...
denny-o
 
Tom;

Albacore is the main tuna caught on the west coast. I'd be glad to take you if you want to travel down the coast. However, we do get blue fin mixed with them. The BEST way to eat them is sashimi style. But you can take a bluefin loin, roll it in sand and eat it raw and it will still be the best fish you have ever eaten.

Gene
 
I have caught 70 to 80 pound yellowfin and the last time I checked we were allowed three yellowfin per day. I never caught a bluefin but if I did I would keep a smaller one that was with in legal limits according to the regulations. I don't think I could or would kill a Giant BlueFin. Fishery management is politics in my opinion which is taboo here. But for me as a tax payer and a veteran I think me killing a legal bluefin to prevent it from ending up on a factory ship on it's way to Japan is not all that bad certainly not criminal yet.
D.D.
 
Will-C":ganz5up4 said:
<stuff clipped> Fishery management is politics in my opinion which is taboo here. <more stuff clipped>
D.D.
Click to expand...
Fisheries management needn't be political - but it seems it always is because those making the money from it (commercial guys) aren't willing to admit that things are going south until they can't make a living at it.

On the other hand, don't think that concentrated recreational fishing doesn't have an impact on fish stocks. Where I sometimes fish for ling cod, the legal length is 24" and most fish I catch are 23-23.5". To me that's clear data that us recreational guys are impacting the fish. Personally, I believe that just because something is legal, it doesn't make it the right thing to do. So in the extremely rare event that I catch a pacific blue fin tuna - it's going back.
 
I tend to agree that it should be a criminal offence to kill some of these magnificant animal like the Giant Blue Gill Tuna and SwordFish.... You are lucky to live on the West coast where these animals are still relatively plentiful and can see them in their natural environment. Would be great to see a Blue Whale , has any one taken pictures of a Blue Whale from their C-Dory.. Tug
 
I remember reading a short story, probably 30 years ago, about the Japanese fishing fleet targeting the last living blue fin tuna. I think there were competing groups in subs tracking the critter with sonar, closing in for the kill. They knew it was the last one, and whoever got it would be set for life. I think it came under the category of science fiction, but was certainly prescient.
 
Once upon a time there were large commercial fishing companies. They fished for bluefin tuna. Even though the fishery was getting depleted no law was passed making it illegal to harvest them. The large commercial company gave large donations of money to folks called lobbiests who in turn gave it to maybe some people who worked in a special place I think maybe is called Washington D.C. These folks took the money and in return they forgot to pass the laws to protect the bluefin tuna. It didn't matter what party they came from, the commercial guys kept doing what they do. They all lived happly ever after. This never really happened it's just a fairy tale to entertain you.
D.D.
 
See this link for a brief discussion of blue fish tuna fishing and U.S. regulation thereof. In brief, the U.S. catches very few blue fin tuna and that are mostly incidental catch in other fisheries. U.S. commercial fisherman are not allowed to target them with long lines. The biggest problem with blue fin comes from other countries consistently setting catch quotas above what science recommends and then consistently over fishing those (already too high) quotas.
 
I belive that high price on that fish was mostly money that went to a Tsunami charity. Raw fish eating? The FDA recommends freezing it for a solid 24 hours to avoid getting parasites in your system.
 
They are catching bluefin, yellowfin, and blackfin tuna off the coast of Hatteras now. It's only about a 35 mile ride out to the gulf stream from Hatteras. You can view fishing reports and some pictures at www.hatterasharbor.com
D.D.
 
In january tehy were catching them within 3 miles of Virginia beach while striper fishing. lots of spooled reels and lost gear and some amazing 200 pound tuna fish!
 
3-fish limit for General category, June-August 2012

The National Marine Fisheries Service is adjusting the General category Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limit to three large medium or giant (73 inches or greater curved fork length) bluefin tuna effective June 1-August 31, 2012. This limit applies to vessels permitted in the Atlantic tunas General category, and to vessels permitted in the HMS Charter/Headboat category while fishing commercially. NMFS will continue to monitor the fishery closely through dealer reports. Depending on fishing effort and catch rates, NMFS may determine that additional retention limit adjustments are necessary to ensure available quota is not exceeded or to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas.

D.D.
 
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