To allow N.C. recreational fishermen to harvest part of the remaining annual bluefin tuna allocation from a spring run of school bluefin tuna off Cape Hatteras, the National Marine Fisheries Service has temporarily adjusted the size and posession limits for bluefin tuna.
During the effective dates of March 24, 2007, through April 15, 2007, HMS Angling category and HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders (when fishing recreationally) may retain one school bluefin tuna (measuring 27 inches to less than 47 inches) while fishing in the EEZ off North Carolina or the North Carolina territorial sea.
School bluefin tuna must be landed (i.e., brought to the dock) in the state of North Carolina and reported and tagged at a state reporting station. Please call 1-800-228-7804 to locate the nearest state reporting station.
The retention limits described above are in addition to one trophy BFT (73 inches or greater) per year which may be landed (brought to the dock) by HMS Angling category or HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders (when fishing recreationally).
NMFS may determine that additional actions are necessary to ensure available quota is not exceeded or to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas.
Subsequent adjustments to the daily retention limits, if any, will be announced through publication in the Federal Register. In addition, permit holders may visit the following website: www.hmspermits.gov, or call the Atlantic Tunas Information Line at (888) 872-8862 or (978) 281-9260 for updates on quota monitoring and retention limit adjustments.
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