Bluefin tuna was, until a few years ago, threatened by overfishing, particularly since the 1980s. In the face of this sad observation by scientists, restrictive measures have been taken from 2010 onwards. Thus, the quota for French fishermen rose from 28,500 tonnes in 2008 to 12,900 tonnes in 2011. A drastic reduction of more than half!
According to specialists, stocks are on the way to returning to normal levels for this resource. It is not uncommon to catch them in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and even in the English Channel.
Go through the federation
Boaters have about 1% per year of the bluefin tuna catch quota in France and, if you are interested in this type of fishing, you should contact one of the national federations of recreational fishing or underwater hunting to obtain a ring, which is essential for keeping a bluefin tuna on board.
There is no charge for this marking ring and only a modest contribution (e.g. 18 euros per year to the FNPP) will be required. You also have the possibility to fish this fish in no-kil provided you have requested free authorization from the Interregional Directorate of the Sea in your region by mail or via the Internet.
Difficult no-kill
"In the context of the practice of fishing, it is forbidden to keep fish on board", says the legislator (JORF n°0075 of 30 May 2018). Everyone will interpret this as they see fit, but I know from experience that a fish such as a bluefin tuna with 150 kg of muscle will not recover from a docile passage on the fishermen's lap during the time of the souvenir photos. A tuna that no longer fights is a dead tuna. There are commercially available elongated pliers that allow you to quickly unhook the hook while keeping the fish in the water.
A team fishing
Once the precious administrative sesame has been obtained, the next step is to acquire the appropriate equipment and make up the crew. Fishing fish weighing 150 kilos or more requires a preparation that leaves nothing to chance... A team of at least 3 fishermen is a minimum in my opinion. A skipper at the helm and two men taking turns at the rod is the ideal configuration and the opportunity to have a good fishing trip with passionate friends.
A good boat and adapted equipment
Often these fish are found beyond the 6 mile limit, an offshore license and a properly equipped boat, especially in terms of safety, are highly recommended.
As far as the equipment is concerned, we will have the opportunity to come back to it in more detail and it will depend on the technique you choose. Bluefin tuna can be fished by bait, casting or trolling. For this last technique, it is strongly recommended to have a rotary drum reel such as a Tiagra (Shimano) or a Squall (Penn).
Keep your distance
Once you are in the area, remember to keep a good distance from other boats. The fact that a tuna bite implies moving to follow it in order to spare the efforts of the pole fisherman and also to limit the risks of breakage. I've seen a number of times that these fish, when they come into the area, bite at the same time on the lines that are being tended by different boats. I let you imagine the commotion on the water if the distances of at least 300 m are not respected..
A tireless fish
Once you're hooked on this formidable opponent, you should know that you'll be tired before him, hence the need to take turns with the cane. I have to admit that I have never seen such a combative fish capable of regaining strength as quickly as the bluefin tuna. He often gives the impression that he is giving up his arms by heading towards the ship during the fighting. In fact, this fish makes a small recuperative pose of a few seconds to get back in shape as if it was the beginning of the fight. In this case, it is important to maintain the thread tension. Failure to do so will result in assured breakage on reboot.
