Conference wahoo::fishing

    I find the notes on tuna fishing very interesting, but I have a
    question on this.   Is this what is meant by "sticking"?  Also
    it seems to me that this is really tuna hunting and not tuna fishing.
    Is this an easier method of converting than "hand-lining" or good
    ole rod and reel?
    
    Steve_who's_never_seen_the_blue_water_from_a_boat...yet

    geez...with tuna @ $10+/pound, you can realy make a killing providing
    you get one.  Now I can understand the logic behind hiring a plane
    to spot from the air!
    
    joe

	RE: 1

	You may call it tuna hunting if you like. I sometimes
	feel that it is like hunting, since I also hunt.

	There are two license categories: Harpoon Class and
	General Class. The General class license includes
	Rod/reel, handlining, and harpooning. The Harpoon class
	is harpoon only. "Hand held harpoon" only in either class.

	The difference in the licenses is in the limit and quota.
	In the Harpoon class there is not a daily limit and
	you can take as many fish as you can handle. But once the
	quota is full, the boat can no longer fish. In the General
	class, the limit starts at one a day and may be raised if the
	catch rate doesn't meet the quota expectations. Currently the
	general class limit is at 2 fish per day per boat. The Harpoon
	class quota has been taken. In either case, the boat is
	licensed to fish and the license is in the name of the boat.

	Btw, some of the old timers call it "ironing". Because the
	rod on the harpoon is made of iron so it will bend when
	the fish rolls, thus setting up the dart and not tearing
	the fish and possibly pulling the dart.

	It is also referred to as "sticking". Boats with towers and
	pulpits are generally referred to as "stick boats".

	In either class you must also have a commercial license
	as well as the Federal license.

	Btw, Brian, you forgot to mention that the tuna had
	two bluefish in its stomach. So you did end up catching
	a bluefish afterall.

	= JV

    I have a question.  Why harpooning instead of rod & reel??
    Is this so you wouldn't have to deal with chumming?
    
    I would think percentage wise your chances would be greater
    to catch the fish on a rod, or hand-line as the "Moonies" do.
    
    Regarding quotas, I've heard that you can still fight the
    fish but you have to release him if the quota has been filled.
    You are not supposed to bring the fish out of the water.
    
    I know of a boat (won't mention the name) that had filed his
    quota for the week.  He had a hook-up, fought the fish and then
    brought the tuna onto his boat.  I think/know the plan was to
    hand over the fish to his buddy on another boat who had not
    filled his quota, they in turn would split the profit.
    
    Well, no sooner had he brought the fish onboard when the Coast
    Guard appeared. They had watched him thru binoculars and pounced
    on him with a $500 fine.  
                    
    jd/
    

	Re: 4 to Jeanne

	I've handlined three tuna in the past. The proverbial
	sit there and cutup two + boxes of chum a day waiting
	for a hookup. I still handline on occaision. I've also
	fished for tuna by rod and reel. I've never got one personally
	this way but have friends that have. My opinion is that
	much more of a crew is needed on a rod and reel boat
	("crank boat") to be successful consistently. I've
	handlined for tuna alone (thankfully I never hooked up).
	Its tooooooooo much work for one person and dangerous.

	Three years ago I handlined a fish the first time down
	to Stellwagen. I then sat there for a month and a half
	and never had a hookup. At $ 15 a box for bait and
	probably 30 + days of fishing, thats $ 900 + at
	two boxes a day just for the chum alone. Gets frustrating...
	I have a roll of paper with 290 fish on it in 2 1/2 hours
	"marks". Unicorns.......

	I moved to another spot where I had heard there were fish.
	Two days in a row "stickboats" were getting fish
	all around me and I was cuttin' bait and didn't have
	a hookup. Did mark them though. More frustration...

	Took a week off and put a pulpit on my boat. First
	time out bingooooo... stuck one. I became a stick boat.
	The next year added a 25' tower. This year added 16'
	pulpit (8' longer). Lots of dart baskits. Still have my
	handline gear on board but use it mostly for trolling.

	The boat you were talking about is lucky. The federal
	laws states not less than $ 10,000 and not more
	than $20,000 per fish for such an offense. I hear
	that the Feds (National Marine Fisheries) have not
	been inforcing it though. In my opinion they
	should. You can fish and release after your limit.
	You can even fish after the quota and release.
	Last year I got a tagging kit from NOAA to
	harpoon tag after the season closed. Anyone fishing
	after their limit is on deck is probably up to
	no good.

	I guess I just find more romance in harpooning. Its
	mostly done on calm seas. I don't like being out there
	when you can't standup. You can also cover more
	ground (ocean) and for the most part avoid other boats.
	Give me a tower and a "cold one" anyday.

	= John

    Not to menton, chum smells awful, especially around 4 o'clock.
    
    Thats interesting.  I think I'm going to show this to
    my father.  He's got a tower, and catwalk on his boat,
    but he still fights' em in the the chair.  To tell you
    the truth, I think he's a lousy shot.  He's got the stamina
    to stay in the chair for 8 hours, but I don't think he
    could stick a fish that was more than 15 feet away.  heh heh
    I know this because I play tennis with him.
    
    He's lost more tuna just by trying to harpoon & gaff it, 
    and knocking it off the hook while doing so.
        
    These people that got caught by the FEDS had an alibi, and
    the fish cooperated, unfortunately.  They said the fish was
    "dead" when they surfaced it, so they brought it on board.
                                                                  
    Congratulations!  By the way, whats the name of your boat?
    
    Jeanne
    
                 

    Just a short question.
    
    Why is the tuna so expensive.  The albacore here (Pacific Ocean)
    are running .99/lb.
    
    Must be a different type of tuna.  Anyway, it sounds fun anyway
    you would go for 'em.

    Albacore tuna is of the smaller variety.  This is used for
    canned tuna, such as "Bumble Bee, Starkist", etc.
    
    Bluefin tuna weighs up to 1200 lbs $$$$!, and is sold to
    Japanese restaurants to be used for sushi (raw fish).  
    Also, a large percentage of bluefin tuna is shipped directly 
    to Japan.  
    
    jd/