we tagged a YF behind the Mokes many years ago..  only a 10kg one...  

wish there were a few still left for us rec guys..

Not sure if you are serious or not???? That was what our local tuna fishermen were saying before they realised that they couldn't catch tuna anymore and had to start catching heaps of Broadbill 'bycatch' to pay the bills. Bottom line is that these unregulated migratory stocks are getting rapidly fished to commercial extinction. It is just a race to see who can become the richest before the stock is gone. Unfortunately, recreational 'extinction' has already occurred in some places like NZ. I caught my last YFT 5 years ago. Chances are my son will never see one in the wild. I can't see how the short term feeding of a relative handful of families for maybe 5 - 10 more years is more important than the imminent destruction of a fishery once enjoyed by 100's of thousands of recreational fishermen.

Just upsets me when I hear heaps of **** thrown at guys who choose to fish for a living when they are legally allowed to. have you ever taken the time to call them up while there out to have a yarn. They are a great help when you are loooking for fish. E.g. current lines temp breaks and even fish seen from where they sit 12 to 15 mts out of the water.

From my charter operation I even see just the ordinary bloke take fish after fish and not throw any back.

One trip we were out we had one of those days where all the fish that came on board none were under 15 lb. I said to one old lady who had caught 8 fish over 18 lb that would you like me to take your photo of you holding that fish and then put it back to spawn. She said what is wrong with it. Nothing I said but maybe if you put it back your grand children will catch its offsring. I took her photo and then she told me to put it in the bin. Bag. But we are all guilty.

 

Bloody, boats target by catch, and are prepared to pay, foreign vessel with cheap labour.

 

Not breaking the law, but quota is not working in this instance.

 

Sorry a bit off subject,

I know of a tagged tuna in whakatane that go recaptuerd of the coast of aussie.