The Book on Travel Fishing
The Book on Travel Fishing is the most comprehensive, global offshore fishing resource ever published. How to, where to, and with who to catch blue marlin, black marlin, white and striped marlin, swordfish, sailfish, spearfish, yellowfin and bluefin tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo. Profiles of more than 70 of the world’s best offshore fishing destinations. With foreword by Ellen […]
TBF’s 6-Month Competition Update!
Who’s ready for the six-month update for TBF’s Annual Tag & Release Competition? We can’t believe we’re halfway through this year’s competition already. With our annual fundraiser being right around the corner, it’s time to give everyone a sneak preview on where they stand for the 2023-2024 competition. Listed below are current standings for […]
Swordfish Driftnets Gone off CA – Will Longlines Follow?
West Coast highly migratory species (HMS) issues now focus on what fisheries will follow the large mesh drift gillnet fishery for swordfish. The process has begun by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to decide, with public input, what fisheries can essentially replace the driftnet fishery to provide fresh swordfish to local markets. The search for […]
Tag & Release Competition Deadline Approaching
Fast approaching, the deadline for The Billfish Foundation’s 2022-2023 Annual Tag & Release Competition is October 31st, 2023. All records must be received by TBF by the end of the day on November 15th, 2023. Do not miss your chance to submit your cards before the deadline! At this point, we would highly recommend submitting […]
Regulations to Authorize Deep-set Buoy Gear for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species
NOAA Fisheries is requesting public comment on proposed regulations (88 FR 7661) to implement Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS). If approved, this would authorize deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) as an additional gear type for catching swordfish and other HMS in federal waters off of California and Oregon with limited entry. The Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended that NOAA Fisheries authorize this DSBG as an additional commercial gear type nearly four years ago to improve the economic viability of the West Coast-based swordfish fishery while minimizing bycatch
West Coast Changes Coming
The phasing out of large mesh drift gillnets in federal waters and the potential authorization of deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) as a more sustainable fisheries alternative are 2 positive changes on the horizon. Large-mesh drift gillnets are currently set to be completely removed from California’s waters (< 3 miles from shore) as of January 31, 2024, a passed December 2022 bill now prohibits the use of large mesh gillnets in federal waters (3 – 200 miles offshore) off the U.S. West Coast. The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (PFMC) proposed Amendment 6 to its Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
Update on California Drift Gillnets
A request to officially transition the California drift gillnet swordfish fishery from large mesh drift gillnets to alternative options was submitted under The Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act (H.R. 404 and S. 273) in an attempt to utilize more sustainable gear to conserve highly migratory species and healthier ecosystems. With fishing conservation at the forefront of the decision, California will be retiring said gillnets within state waters (< 3 miles from the coast) to ensure sustainable resources for current and future generations. While federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore) will still have access to this type
Exempted Fishing Permits for East Coast Deep-Set Buoy Gear
NMFS issued 7 Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) for vessels to fish for BAYS tunas (bigeye, yellowfin albacore, skipjack) and swordfish in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Atlantic East Coast. Six vessels are part of the Deepwater Horizon Pelagic Longline Bycatch Reduction Project; using funds from Gulf Restoration, oil spill settlement. The 6 vessels fishing only in the Gulf are pelagic longline vessels that voluntarily do not fish for 6 months a year because they are paid from Restoration funds. Gear options include deep-set buoy gear or greenstick gear. The vessel that also fishes off Florida’s East
New Fishing Gear Used off California
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) recommended and the NMFS authorized a single Exempted Fishing Permit for testing a new gear – Modified Snap – in federal waters off California. The gear, a significantly modified longline, will fish 5 nautical miles of horizontal line, which is much shorter than traditional longlines. To help improve the survivability of bycatch species, the PFMC requires a four-hour maximum soak time, per set. TBF is not convinced the gear will actually fish cleaner. The gear is comprised of connected sections of line, each ranging from 300 to 500 meters in length, that will
Is the US West Coast Going From Drift Gill Nets to Longlines?!?
This month the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) accepted applications for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) for which decisions will be made in September for the following fishing year. One application proposes to transition the current swordfish drift gillnet fishery to a longline fishery by allowing 19 longline vessels, shallow-set and deep-set longlines, to fish between 12 to 200 miles in federal waters off the U.S. West Coast, which TBF does not endorse this gear. Nine other permit applications were submitted, including Deep-Set Buoy Gear, Linked Buoy Gear, Night Set Buoy Gear including fishing in state waters, and Mid-Water
