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Xiphius (2/13/2008)Thats right, I'm with OffRoute <U>we only have giants</U> (breeding stock) and targeting these fish is off limits .
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For the most part your right but believe it or not in the fall and through early winterthere are school size bluefin around the elbow and the nipple. Althought they are not commonly taken, fishermen who do catch the few out there need to take the necessary steps in identifying any small tunas they catch to prevent harvest of undersized bluefin. I have caught small bluefin in those areas from october through early december and there are enough identifying marks on them to prevent a hefty fine for those who mistake them for blackfin or bigeye tuna. For one, small bluefin will usually have vertical bifercated bars on them similar to a wahoo. If these are not present look at the pectoral fins. On a bluefin these will be very short, usually shorter in length than the head of the fish whereas the pectoral fins on blackfin,bigeye and yellowfin are usually much longer. Do not use the color of the finlets to identify small bluefin; they can vary from bright yellow to a silvery gray.
By the way Xiphius, those plasmas are on the way.