Blackfin tuna is one of the smaller species of tuna and is distinct for its bluish-black back. Their usual range is from North Carolina to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and can be found forming large mixed schools with skipjacks. Blackfin tuna are caught not only for commercial fishing but also for sport, and fishing is only mildly regulated.
Blackfin Tuna Fishing Methods
Blackfin tuna is not only caught for its meat; it is also targeted by commercial and sports fishermen for use as live bait for bigger fish such as yellowfin tuna, blue marlin or wahoos. For sport, blackfin tuna are usually caught by trolling (a fishing line baited with lures or bait fish is drawn through the water). Artificial lures are also used, such as feathers, jigs or plugs. A small feather lure designed to imitate pilchards (small sardines) works well. Because blackfins are a common species in Florida, they are usually encountered while trolling ballyhoo for other species. Commercial boats use longline fishing methods to catch blackfins in bulk, together with other species.
Fishing Laws
Generally, all persons fishing for saltwater fish are subject to both state and federal laws, rules and regulations. They must be aware of and obey the most current federal fishing regulations on harvest, including sizes, bag limits and closed seasons. Online fishing license information offers details on fishing license authorities, license ordering, charters and guides list, and fishing reports and news for each state, as regulations may vary per state and season.
For tuna fishing in particular, any person fishing for highly migratory species such as bluefin tuna is required to obtain a Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Recreational or Charterboat Angling Permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service. The HMS Permit is assigned to one fishing boat. The permit is good for one year, from the first of January until the 31st of December, and costs $28 as of 2011. The blackfin tuna is considered a highly migratory species; however, an HMS Permit is not needed to catch it.
Blackfin Tuna Population Status
There is very little information about the blackfin tuna population, and due to the lack of available information, the status of the wild stock is considered moderate. Blackfins often feed in surface waters, and they frequently form large mixed schools with skipjack tuna. Because of this, quantities of blackfins are mistakenly caught in nets as bycatch when fishing for skipjacks. In addition, unregulated blackfin tuna fishing can also result in bycatching undersized tuna, or endangered marine species like sea turtles and sharks. Biologically, blackfin tuna have a low age at maturity, a low maximum age, and a high growth rate. These traits make the blackfin tuna more resilient to fishing pressure.
Unregulated Blackfin Tuna Fishing
Like the bluefin tuna, the blackfin tuna is also a highly migratory species; however, in contrast to the strict regulations governing bluefin tuna fishing, blackfin tuna fishing is not regulated at all. There are no restrictions for blackfin tuna fishing in U.S. Atlantic waters, and there are no limits for the quantity of blackfins you may catch. And, aside from the minimum size of 12 inches for blackfin tuna caught in Florida, there are no reported size limits for the other parts of the western Atlantic. The kind of gear used, the number of trips offshore, and closed area restrictions are not applicable to blackfin tuna fishing.
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