Kayak Fishing Bluefin Tuna: Federal Rules and Regulations
NOAA's Brad McHale
The NC kayak fishermen's accomplishments notwithstanding -- one tuna weighed nearly 170 pounds -- their catches were illegal, and NOAA's enforcement division is conducting an investigation.
Long story short, the anglers were taken offshore by a commercial tuna captain. The captain found the fish on sonar, the guys launched their kayaks, and the extraordinary fishing began.Problem is, there are strict retention limits per boat on bluefin tuna and the captain, by launching the kayakers, exceeded his limit retention by 400%.
Moreover the guys in kayaks didn't have NOAA bluefin tuna permits; NOAA regs require that each vessel that fishes for bluefin, kayak for not, must hold a permit.
The interview runs about an hour. McHale gives pointers on how to target bluefin tuna from a kayak legally and safely, and comments, along with NOAA's Monica Allen, on the current state of North Atlantic bluefin.
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Listen to the interview:
Brad McHale on Kayak Bluefin Tuna 2.mp3
Published by Dave Williams
Outdoors writer Dave Williams lives in Arlington, Massachusetts. View profile
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