Buoy Gear

[WRHardie]

May seem like a dumb question but anyone in the NE fishing buoy gear for swords?

 

[waynebeal36]

Not allowed in the Northeast it was a limited access permit issued for east coast Florida only back in the 90's.

 

[WRHardie]

So what are the choices for swordfish in the NE? Longline directed, incidental, and the new gen cat 3 a trip that doesn't go in effect till 2014?

 

[CM1]

It is allowed in the NE. Its a federal permit valid in Atlantic waters. It could be used in the NE. I dont know how long your run is?

most of them are used in SE Florida due to close proximity to fishing grounds

 

[WRHardie]

I couldn't find anything suggesting its "not allowed", I was under the impression the FLA guys went to buoy gear after the longline ban. The permits they bought (directed swordfish) after the ban came from NE guys mostly but didn't think that since the majority of permit holders are now in FLA that buoy gear is banned in the NE.

 

[waynebeal36]

No.

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Commercial Compliance Guide

This guide provides a plain language summary of how to comply with commercial highly migratory species regulations for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, sharks, and billfishes.

www.fisheries.noaa.gov

Click on the blue PDF box on the link and pages 8 and 14 describe buoy gear and permits needed.
Also you need to look at the definitions of gear on page 11. The definition of handgear has several sub classifications with buoy gear being one and handlines being another and rod and reel also different.
On page 14 you will see the basic chart of what gear types are allowed under the HMS charter/headboat permit and as I stated Handgear is broken down into several different gear types.
I attached the PDF that is on the NOAA webpage.

 

[jon3030]

You can 100% use Buoy Gear in the NE as long as you have the permit. It’s a FEDERAL waters permit. I’ve done it and it’s not like FL where your buoys cover a lot of ground as they drift North in the Stream. The mixed currents in the NE canyons tends to scatter the gear and sometimes not take it very far so it’s not as effective.

 

[chrishmcguire777]

You can 100% use Buoy Gear in the NE as long as you have the permit. It’s a FEDERAL waters permit. I’ve done it and it’s not like FL where your buoys cover a lot of ground as they drift North in the Stream. The mixed currents in the NE canyons tends to scatter the gear and sometimes not take it very far so it’s not as effective.

It is legal With permit. Some People have had success with it in the NE Canyons. As with any type of fishing subtle changes in gear make all the difference.