Blacktip sharks. Credit: iStock.
Releasing a sandbar shark on a shark survey.
2019 Recreational Atlantic Billfish Landings Updates
These notices are a courtesy to Atlantic billfish fishery interests to keep you informed about the fishery. Official notice of federal fishery actions is made through filing such notice with the Office of the Federal Register. Catch statistics from previous months are available below or by contacting Jennifer Cudney at (727) 824-5399.
Landings are compiled using self-reported angler reports from the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Non-Tournament Recreational Swordfish and Billfish Landings Database; tournament landings from the Atlantic Tournament Registration & Reporting system; catch card reports from North Carolina and Maryland; and individual billfish intercepted by the Large Pelagic Survey and Marine Recreational Information Program.
Please note that estimates are subject to change due to receipt of updated information (e.g., data from late reporting). As specified in 50 CFR Part 635.27(d) (1), the recreational billfish fishery is limited to a maximum of 250 Atlantic blue and white marlin and roundscale spearfish landings, combined, per year.
4th Quarter 2019 Fishing Year
Posted March 13, 2020
The table below provides preliminary landings for January 1–December 31, 2019 in numbers of fish for Atlantic blue and white marlin, roundscale spearfish, and western Atlantic sailfish.
|
Species |
2019 (Q1–Q4) |
2018 (Q1–Q4) |
|---|---|---|
|
Atlantic blue marlin |
79 |
90 |
|
Atlantic white marlin |
75 |
78 |
|
Roundscale spearfish |
35 |
20 |
|
Total |
189 |
188 |
|
Remaining landings limit (of 250) |
61 |
62 |
|
Western Atlantic sailfish* |
110 |
98 |
*Western Atlantic sailfish are not included in the 250 fish landings limit for Atlantic blue and white marlin/roundscale spearfish.
3rd Quarter 2019 Fishing Year
Posted January 30, 2020
The table below provides preliminary landings for January 1–September 30, 2019 in numbers of fish for Atlantic blue and white marlin, roundscale spearfish, and western Atlantic sailfish.
|
Species |
2019 (Q1–Q3) |
2018 |
|---|---|---|
|
Atlantic blue marlin |
63 |
90 |
|
Atlantic white marlin |
51 |
78 |
|
Roundscale spearfish |
37 |
20 |
|
Total |
151 |
188 |
|
Remaining landings limit (of 250) |
99 |
62 |
|
Western Atlantic sailfish* |
62 |
98 |
*Western Atlantic sailfish are not included in the 250 fish landings limit for Atlantic blue and white marlin/roundscale spearfish.
2nd Quarter 2019 Fishing Year
Posted August 20, 2019
The table below provides preliminary landings for January 1–June 30, 2019 in numbers of fish for Atlantic blue and white marlin, roundscale spearfish, and western Atlantic sailfish.
|
Species |
2019 (Q1–Q2) |
2018 |
|---|---|---|
|
Atlantic blue marlin |
39 |
90 |
|
Atlantic white marlin |
7 |
78 |
|
Roundscale spearfish |
0 |
20 |
|
Total |
46 |
188 |
|
Remaining landings limit (of 250) |
204 |
62 |
|
Western Atlantic sailfish* |
51 |
98 |
*Western Atlantic sailfish are not included in the 250 fish landings limit for Atlantic blue and white marlin/roundscale spearfish.
1st Quarter 2019 Fishing Year
Posted April 20, 2019
The table below provides preliminary landings for January 1–March 31, 2019 in numbers of fish for Atlantic blue and white marlin, roundscale spearfish, and western Atlantic sailfish.
|
Species |
2019 (Q1) |
2018 |
|---|---|---|
|
Atlantic blue marlin |
1 |
90 |
|
Atlantic white marlin |
0 |
78 |
|
Roundscale spearfish |
0 |
20 |
|
Total |
1 |
188 |
|
Remaining landings limit (of 250) |
249 |
62 |
|
Western Atlantic sailfish* |
5 |
98 |
*Western Atlantic sailfish are not included in the 250 fish landings limit for Atlantic blue and white marlin/roundscale spearfish.
Blacktip sharks. Credit: iStock.
Releasing a sandbar shark on a shark survey.
