Preliminary 2020 landings numbers for Atlantic blue and white marlin, roundscale spearfish, and western Atlantic sailfish.
Data tables below provide preliminary 2020 landings and includes 2019 data for reference.
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.
|
Species |
2020 (Jan 1-Dec 31) |
2019 Total |
|---|---|---|
|
Atlantic blue marlin |
74 |
79 |
|
Atlantic white marlin |
95 |
75 |
|
Roundscale spearfish |
66 |
35 |
|
Total |
235 |
189 |
|
Remaining landings limit (of 250) |
15 |
61 |
|
Western Atlantic sailfish* |
50 |
110 |
*Western Atlantic sailfish are not included in the 250 fish landings limit for Atlantic blue and white marlin/roundscale spearfish.
Effective October 1, 2020, NOAA Fisheries has required catch-and-release fishing only for Atlantic blue marlin, white marlin, and roundscale spearfish in all areas of the Atlantic Ocean, and will continue to do so through December 31, 2020. The switch to catch-and-release fishing was based on the best available information possessed by NOAA Fisheries in September. Given the low margin between the latest landings estimate and the 250-marlin landings limit (currently 17 fish), NOAA Fisheries is maintaining the catch-and-release fishery for the remainder of 2020 to avoid exceeding the landings limit..
|
Species |
2020 (Q3) |
2019 Total |
|---|---|---|
|
Atlantic blue marlin |
72 |
79 |
|
Atlantic white marlin |
95 |
75 |
|
Roundscale spearfish |
66 |
35 |
|
Total |
233 |
189 |
|
Remaining landings limit (of 250) |
17 |
61 |
|
Western Atlantic sailfish* |
28 |
110 |
*Western Atlantic sailfish are not included in the 250 fish landings limit for Atlantic blue and white marlin/roundscale spearfish.
|
Species |
2020 (Q2) |
2019 Total |
|---|---|---|
|
Atlantic blue marlin |
34 |
79 |
|
Atlantic white marlin |
4 |
75 |
|
Roundscale spearfish |
0 |
35 |
|
Total |
38 |
189 |
|
Remaining landings limit (of 250) |
212 |
61 |
|
Western Atlantic sailfish* |
21 |
110 |
*Western Atlantic sailfish are not included in the 250 fish landings limit for Atlantic blue and white marlin/roundscale spearfish.
|
Species |
2020 (Q1) |
2019 Total |
|---|---|---|
|
Atlantic blue marlin |
0 |
79 |
|
Atlantic white marlin |
0 |
75 |
|
Roundscale spearfish |
0 |
35 |
|
Total |
0 |
189 |
|
Remaining landings limit (of 250) |
250 |
61 |
|
Western Atlantic sailfish* |
5 |
110 |
*Western Atlantic sailfish are not included in the 250 fish landings limit for Atlantic blue and white marlin/roundscale spearfish.
An oceanic whitetip shark swims near the surface of the water. Photo courtesy of John Carlson.
Blacktip sharks. Credit: iStock.
Releasing a sandbar shark on a shark survey.
