NOAA Fisheries Announces Final 2023 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications Effective January 1, 2023

[george]

Once again, the rec takes the hit. Don't get me wrong we still made out fine but please - we're over and they're not? We were supposed to get a 59% increase.

NOAA Fisheries is implementing the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommended catch specifications for the 2023 bluefish fishery. These final specifications are largely unchanged from what was previously projected for fishing year 2023, with an adjustment to the final recreational harvest limit to account for a 2021 recreational sector overage, and higher than expected recreational discards. The coastwide commercial quota is increasing by 21 percent to 4.29 million lb, as previously projected; and the recreational harvest limit is increasing by 1.6 percent (rather than the previously projected 59 percent) to 14.11 million lb.

The commercial fishery state allocations for 2023 are unchanged from what was previously projected. No states exceeded their state-allocated quota in 2021 or 2022, so no adjustments are necessary for the 2023 commercial fishery.

All other management measures and requirements, including the recreational daily bag limit of 3 fish per person for private anglers and 5 fish per person for for-hire (charter/party) vessels, remain unchanged.

For more details on this action, please read the rule as filed in the Federal Register and/or the bulletin.

 

[Hunter704]

I am not a fan of bluefish great fish to catch but I release any that I catch I do not target them and thank goodness we did not get many this year a few cocktails while fluke fishing and a few trolling for bass its sad as kid there were all the bluefish/ snappers you wanted.

 

[captmike28]

While many fishermen may turn their backs on Bluefish, I would be willing to bet those same people still get a big charge out of the outstanding fighting ability of this often-maligned species.

And, regardless of how good our Striped Bass fishing can be at times, I know almost all charter captains are happy to have the Blues fill in the gaps on those days when the Bass get lockjaw. In addition, I do have more than a few customers that enjoy eating the smaller blues fresh and smoking the large ones. They are still a very worthy fish in my book!

 

[Chinacat]

While many fishermen may turn their backs on Bluefish, I would be willing to bet those same people still get a big charge out of the outstanding fighting ability of this often-maligned species.

And, regardless of how good our Striped Bass fishing can be at times, I know almost all charter captains are happy to have the Blues fill in the gaps on those days when the Bass get lockjaw. In addition, I do have more than a few customers that enjoy eating the smaller blues fresh and smoking the large ones. They are still a very worthy fish in my book!

I agree Capt Mike!
I am one of those who intentionally targets and takes some smaller bluefish for the smoker!
big cocktail size are my favorites?

It’s hard to comprehend the regs being lowered from 3 fish on a species that is so under appreciated

 

[Bimini Run]

Bluefish great omega 3 , and great on light tackle swimmimg , and plugs...

 

[Bassmaster]

cocktail Blues are one of my favorite fish to eat. I prefer cocktail blues over fluke. I love it on the barbecue with butter salt pepper and garlic. I don’t like the big blues. I give them to my neighbor