Reporting game fish catches of Pacific Bluefin Tun
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Work-Up
Forum Description: Game fishing related topics here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22918
Printed Date: 01 Aug 2026 at 5:03pm
Topic: Reporting game fish catches of Pacific Bluefin Tun
Posted By: thomastats
Subject: Reporting game fish catches of Pacific Bluefin Tun
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 8:40am
|
Got this in an e mail this morning Reporting game fish catches of Pacific Bluefin Tuna and Southern bluefin tuna aboard charter vessels during 2007 and 2008. Dear Charter boat Skipper/Operator We need your help to review the recreational allowance for Pacific bluefin tuna and to make a viable and sustainable world class game fishery for this species in New Zealand waters. The Marine Transport Association and the Ministry of Fisheries are proposing that charter boat operators/skippers report their catches (both landed and released) of bluefin tuna during the 2007 and 2008 West Coast fishing seasons. The proposal is that each charter vessel operator reports the number of fish and individual weights (including those released) after each fishing trip. Reviewing the recreational allowance This project is very important for bluefin tuna, particularly Pacific bluefin. With the development of a new fishery off the West Coast of the South Island the current recreational allowance for the stock may be inadequate. There is a need for better information in order to consider whether to review it. MFish, the NZ Marine Research Foundation along with Stanford University is committed to satellite tagging Pacific bluefin tuna caught by charter vessels fishing the West Coast. Successful tagging and data retrieval was carried out last season and again this year. Commitment to bluefin Reporting and satellite-tagging reinforces the charter boat industry, Game fisher, and Government interest in making a long term management commitment to bluefin tuna. Game fish catch records are important for documenting New Zealand�s ability to monitor its bluefin fishery prior to more active international management controls. These assist in achieving an objective to develop a viable and sustainable world class game fishery for bluefin tuna in New Zealand waters. Managing bluefin Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) and Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)) occur throughout Pacific waters. Under the Law of the Sea, Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) are tasked with ensuring the conservation and management of tuna and other highly migratory species throughout areas of jurisdiction. RFMOs have set national catch limits for southern bluefin tuna, and requested member states such as New Zealand to exercise reasonable restraint of their fishing fleets when fishing Pacific bluefin tuna. The New Zealand approach to implementing national catch limits or achieving reasonable restraint was to introduce both stocks into the Quota Management System in 2004. At that time the following catch limits and allowances were set for each species of bluefin tuna in tonnes: Pacific bluefin Southern bluefin Total Allowable Catch 120 420 Recreational allowance 1 4 Customary allowance 0.5 1 Fishing related incidental mortality 2.5 2 Total Allowable Commercial Catch 116 413 An expanding game fishery However since that time catches of Pacific bluefin are likely to have increased substantially. The potential for an off season game fishery of world class status has not been lost on the New Zealand charter boat fleet. Recreational magazines articles and television programmes depict a rapidly developing charter based fishery off the West Coast South Island (base ports Greymouth/Westport) since 2005. Anecdotal information suggests up to 100 bluefin were taken by game fishing and spear fishing on the west coast during winter 2006, however it is unknown how many of each species were landed or how many were released alive. NZ�s international obligations International obligations are likely to require more active management of Pacific bluefin in the future. National catch limits have already been imposed on the Southern bluefin fishery. New Zealand will be required to monitor these fisheries during the next couple of seasons. The New Zealand game fishery is based on trophy sized fish, so there is considerable incentive in ensuring these fisheries are well managed. How reporting will work The Marine Transport Association and MFish are proposing a web based system for monitoring game fish catches of bluefin tuna. Discussions held with the South Island Recreational Forum during May and at the Recreational Fishing Conference during July recommended that any system be kept as simple as possible. Concern was expressed about using data for purposes other than for counting fish. To address these concerns this proposal is designed to record only the catch, and release of fish. No effort data will be collected. Charter vessel operators are asked to email, phone or fax through the number of fish and individual weights (including estimated weights of those fish released) as soon as practical after each fishing trip to me (my contact details are listed below). Summary results will be displayed in the following simple to read format on the MFish website (www. fish.govt.nz). (Preliminary data as at 25 August for the 2007 West Coast season) Pacific bluefin tuna Southern bluefin tuna Landed Released Landed Released Number 8 34 2 ? Weight (kg) 1,916 ? 240 ? If you have any questions, wish to discuss the matters outlined above, or provide data do not hesitate to contact me: Graeme McGregor Senior Fisheries Advisor Ministry of Fisheries Phone 09 820 7689, fax 09 820 1980, or email [email protected] |
Replies:
Posted By: mangre
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 10:30am
|
Sounds like a step in the right direction.
It really is time to put some protective mesures in place. ------------- "But why is the rum gone?!"- Captain(!)Jack Sparrow. |
Posted By: Dead Ant
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 11:07am
|
It would be interesting if they had what the spend was for each recreational catch as well. I think there'd be some biiiiiig numbers there. Maybe if we tag 50% fo them they'll make them a rec only fish!  |
Posted By: shortbait
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 11:19am
| yea i would love to no how value is in this fishery.on saturday i caught a mako with 2 longline hooks in its mouth.do you think they were n.z hooks or an overseas fishery????????? |
Posted By: The Badger
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 1:26pm
|
Call me a cynic but Mfish don't exactly have a good track record of managing "sustainable world class game fisheries". Take Broadbill for example. Not to mention the fact that we've had to sue them to get a fair hearing on Kahawai, our most accesible game fish. Watch this space and don't be surprised if the data collected isn't used to impose catch limits on rec fishers. Until I hear them state that they value the recreational qualities of these fish ahead of the commercial value, I don't trust them at all. |
Posted By: batfastard
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 1:43pm
| i think you have a very valid point mr badger. |
Posted By: The Badger
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 2:04pm
| Isn't it ironice that the future sustainability / viability of the Bluefin game fishery is probably closely linked to the viability of the Hoki fishery. I don't need to point out what a mess that is in or who "manages" it. |
Posted By: mangre
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 4:25pm
|
What I can read in the letter is, we are only allowed 1 ton, if the data they need proves that the recreational catch has to come in line with the tac would be in our favour, isn't this how they allocate, I'M probably wrong. ------------- "But why is the rum gone?!"- Captain(!)Jack Sparrow. |
Posted By: Boz19
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 4:31pm
|
Say the fish average 250kg, therefore 1 tonne = 4 fish for the rec's doesnt it? And 464 for the comm's? (for the pacific blue fin)
Correct me if I have my maths wrong here... ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: CALSTAR
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 5:40pm
|
Boz19 it appears to me that your maths is correct.
The qouta was implimented in 2004 before the game fishery was established off the west coast so, 1 tonne of pacifics was probably about right.
It has now been acknowledged that with the new game fishery in full flight, this figure is horribly wrong
 hence the steps to revise.I agree with Badger in that this appears to be a wolf in sheeps clothing and the west coast charter fleet may be in for fight.
I only hope that this is not the kahawai scandle round two attempt of the goverment to again railroad the rec anglers
  |
Posted By: Dead Ant
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 6:00pm
|
I don't think that this battle will be quite as bad as others. If you look at the catch records against the QMS, you notice that the commercial guys haven't taken more than 67 tones (2005) and often way less. Even these documents recognise that the recreational take has taken off massively in the last couple of years and now they're trying to get accurate data on how much. The Northern Bluefin is managed strictly in America even for rec fisho's with licenses etc and that might happen here. As long as there's some to be caught and I can catch one, I'll be a happy man! Cheers DA TACC and stats from source: http://services.fish.govt.nz/fishresourcespublic/Plenary2007/TOR_07.pdf - http://services.fish.govt.nz/fishresourcespublic/Plenary2007/TOR_07.pdf |
Posted By: cod
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 8:10pm
| interesting reading their. |
Posted By: daaave
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2007 at 11:49pm
|
Tipical of mof . Look at the % of catch allowed for the recreational fisher.
4 SBTS ,some years probably none are caught due to weather alone, but the fish stock is increasing going by the catch in OZ ,SA- vic -tas, i bet that when the pacific tuna fishery gets reviewed that the NZ rec catch wont increase!
CHEERS DAVE
|
Posted By: The Badger
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2007 at 5:51am
| I'm off to catch my share of the 1% we're allowed. Heading out on Cascade tonight for 48 hours. Bummer of a weather forecast. Nothing over 10 knots for the next 4 days. Oh well, we'll just have to make the most of it. |
Posted By: batfastard
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2007 at 6:38pm
| go the badger |
Posted By: The Badger
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2007 at 2:15pm
|
The badger got skunked.
Missed the season by about 1-2 days. Arrived down at Westport on Thursday arvo in time to see a number of big fish weighed including the AB's mums fish and a 315kg fish off Cascade. Most boats had caught good numbers of fish on Weds / Thurs. Stayed in motel Thursday night ready to head out Friday. Saw a 220kg Southern getting weighed on Friday before we boarded.
By the time we headed out Friday arvo we were fizzing. On board we were laughed at for producing 37kg gear and told don't even bother. "Everyone that's hooked up on 37 in the last week has been dealt to." OK we'll just have to use their 130's. Friday night came and went with only one fish being caught by Oracle out of around 6 or 7 boats in the area. No trawlers working so it was chum chum chum all night long. Saturday we checked out a trawler briefly but no action around it so we went back to chuming with Oracle and Nimble 2 in attendance. Soon had some fish around. A mixture of smaller fish (probably southerns) and absolute monsters were scoffing everything without a hook in it but veering away from baits. Awesome sight but bloody frustrating.
Oracle hooked a fish soon after that they subsequently boated and estimated at 355kg on measurements. Potentially a WR. Much hooping and hollering across the radio after that. But until it passes the lie detector, best not get too excited eh. 315kg was the final weight on Sunday. Awesome fish all the same.
While Oracle was fighting their fish, Nimble 2 drifted up to our stern for a chin wag. They were about 10 feet away when their 130 started howling like a banshee. They were hooked up from right under our nose. I won't repeat what we were thinking about then. One of our rods went off as well but think was just a Blue Shark that was hanging around. Nimble boated their fish, around 250kg. Eventually the fish disappeared from the chum trail and the action finished.
We chummed all Saturday night for one brief bite that may have been a tuna. At one stage a heap of marks appeared on the sounder but no bites came. Come Sunday am we were rooted but a trawler turned up close by so we checked it out and there were fish with it. After about 5 drifts we hooked a fish that bolted straight into the trawl lines. That pretty much summed up the luck we were having.
End of the day, nothing to report and a pretty dejected crew. Mike and his boys did everything they could to get us a fish but the season looks like it finished just as quickly as it started and we were the unlucky ones on the tail end of it. Only 3 fish were caught by the 8 or so boats during the 48 hours we were out and most of them were calling it quits and heading for home yesterday. Looks like she's all over til next year.
|
Posted By: thomastats
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2007 at 5:55pm
|
Good read Glen.....that's a bummer mate..........would you go back next year for another crack at them? |
Posted By: mangre
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2007 at 6:10pm
|
What is the sreason over, are the trawlers still working? ------------- "But why is the rum gone?!"- Captain(!)Jack Sparrow. |
Posted By: cod
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2007 at 6:16pm
| talked to reel passion today the fish have gone the trawlers have finished. |
Posted By: Fishb8
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2007 at 8:36pm
|
Sorry to hear you missed out but a good report, all the same. Thanks for it. ------------- Be yourself; everyone else is already taken |
Posted By: The Badger
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2007 at 8:50pm
| Yeah Tom, already pencilled in a booking. Still looking at options though. Timing is everything eh. |
Posted By: JoshW
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2007 at 1:17pm
| Trawlers are gone and fishing gotten hard. Oracle was out yesterday though managed to find a patch a fish and slayed it. 5 fish to the boat in 12hrs. Badger you'll find all the souterns are long gone there have been a few smaller 170-200kg Northern pacifics around aswell as the monsters. that 220kg southern you mention was also a northern pacific. |
Posted By: Dead Ant
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2007 at 1:24pm
|
Badgers report is an interesting view on the fishery compared to the Marlin season. He had several hookups, saw plenty and other boats were catching them in the same area. If that was during the marlin season, everyone would be happy! Good to see that there are still a few fish around even without the trawlers. I know it's harder than when they are there but probably rewards hard work more. Cheers DA |
Posted By: The Badger
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2007 at 2:43pm
| The smaller fish we were seeing were more like 100kg than 170 -180. As for the one that we saw weighed, it was a short barrel of a fish and the deckie off Cascade was calling it for a Southern based on his commercial experience. Not sure whether it was accurate or not. |
Posted By: MADNESS
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2007 at 5:06pm
you got a bit of action badger and other boats were getting into them to i can't see how the hell you can say you missed the season by a couple of days 
you just weren't in the right spot and had a dud trip the fish were still there Oracle just proved that
 |
Posted By: JoshW
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2007 at 7:29pm
| badger I know exactly the fish you are talking about, upon disection it turned out to be a Northern not a southern, not all northerns are skinny the big fish we got this year was a barrell. |
Posted By: Plonker
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2007 at 7:38pm
|
How many more trips for you Josh?
Did Jason and Broady get away on Sunday?
|
Posted By: JoshW
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2007 at 7:54pm
| All over plonker, flew up today, Jase just got into the bay a few hours ago. . |
Posted By: Kezza
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2007 at 8:17pm
awesome experience aye what ol' bean?......  .....congrats you'se dudes!! |