Closure of the Bluefin Tuna General Category October through November Fishery:
The General category bluefin tuna fishery will close effective 11:30 p.m., October 5, 2018, through November 30, 2018. Based on landings rates in the September 2018 fishery and the October through November fisheries in recent years and anticipated fishing conditions, NOAA Fisheries projects that the General category October through November subquota of 115.7 mt will be reached at that time.
The General category will reopen automatically on December 1, 2018, at the default one-fish level. Based on quota availability in the Reserve, NOAA Fisheries may transfer additional quota to the December subquota period.
Intel
So the big news this week is that commerial tuna fishing has been shut down until December 1st where it will reopen to fill a small subquota that will be left for the year. Unless you plan to fish in december commercially then the remainder then your season is officially over. Recreationally boats are still allowed to target sub 73" fish as the rec giant fishery to retain an animal was shut down in late July. This should significantly slow down trip reports so we will post intel as we receive but it will probably be less frequent.
The weather has been flat out terrible for over a week now with easterly wind and built up seas. The commercial fleet closed out the season in 4 short days in October. The giant bite off Chatham particularly around the Regal Sword was very solid before the closure. Rec boats are also doing well on top running and gunning utilizing the typical favorites sinking espada and deep suductress taking some just sub giant fish 60-70".
Inshore Intel
Fall run striper fishing is heating up instead of cooling down at this point in the year. The migration seems to be a few weeks behind as we left thousands of school size stripers at PEI the last week of September. According to the locals stripers (which they never had less then 5 years ago) are showing up in larger numbers and staying longer in the year which is evidence of a change of our enviroment. Boston Harbor held a very good topwater bite this entire week on surface feeds and live mackeral, there are some blues in the mix so watch your tackle. South shore and inshore ledge are fairing well but you need live mackeral.
The canal was fishing better then both coasts this week with fish larger fish in the 30-40lb range weighed in. The maritime area has been producing albies and nice tog this week.
The Albies are still in heavy and the bite has been strong off woods hole and the elizabeth's but the fish are moving around quite a bite. On the south side both Albies and Bonito are in thick feeding on bait pouring out of the rivers. The Falmouth to Osterville stretch was particularly hot this week.
The tog bite was good this week on teh south end of buzzards bay between Naushon and Penikese in the deepwater rock piles
Offshore Intel
Thresher sharks are up on Stellwagen in big numbers this year if your want to target them on the eastern edge. Not alot of boats are fishing for them with the haddock fishing closed and most chasing tuna.
Congrats to team Pipe dream for winning the Battle of the Bay tournament this past weekend.
Weather Forecast
Synopsis for Massachusetts and Rhode Island coastal waters... High pres moves SE of the waters by Wednesday. A cold front will swing across the waters by Friday morning. There may be impacts from the remnants of Michael across the coastal waters late this week.
Tonight
SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas around 4 ft.
Wed
SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
Wed Night
SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt, becoming W 5 to 10 kt after midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Patchy fog after midnight with vsby 1 to 3 nm.
Thu
SE winds 5 to 10 kt, becoming S 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Patchy fog. A chance of showers in the morning. Showers in the afternoon. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.
Thu Night
SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas around 4 ft. Patchy fog. Showers in the evening. Showers likely after midnight. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.
Fri
NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas around 4 ft, building to 6 ft in the afternoon. A chance of showers in the morning.
Fri Night
NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 6 ft.
Sat
NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas around 5 ft.
Sat Night
NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas around 4 ft.
Sun
W winds around 10 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas around 3 ft.
Sun Night
SW winds around 10 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. A chance of showers after midnight. seas are reported as significant wave height, which is the average of the highest third of the waves. Individual wave heights may be more than twice the significant wave height.