Maryland 2012 monthly report example

John R. Griffin, Secretary

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Project Summary Report

Landing update for July 24 through August 16, 2012

From: MDNR Fisheries Service’s Coastal Bays and Atlantic Program; Written by Gary Tyler.

7/24/12 – 8/16/12

Bluefin Tuna

There have been no bluefin reported through the tagging program since the previous report. The total for BFT reported remains189 with an average of 46.95 inches and mode of 50 inches. During the same time frame last season, only three more school class fish came in to bring that season’s total to 430 BFT.

Billfish

The biggest news for this portion of the season is the White Marlin Open. There was only one billfish that qualified to reach the scales and that was the 72 pound roundscale spearfish boated by the “Blew Bayou”. The minimum weight for white marlin was 70 lbs, but a roundscale is held to the same standard. Only two blue marlin were brought in, neither of which meant the qualifying weight (500 lbs). Because of the foul weather, the majority of boats fished during the middle of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). There were 953 white marlin that were released during the tournament resulting in a 99.17% release rate. Thirty-seven blue marlin were released generating a release rate of 94.87%. The results are presented in a table below. The Mid-Atlantic $500,000 (August 20-24) should provide the next influx of billfish for the catch card system. Currently we stand at 13 billfish. By this time last year, 25 billfish had been brought in.

fulldate	commonname	vslname	tournname	length	weight
8/7/2012	BLUE MARLIN	STORM TROUBLE	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	110	456.5
8/9/2012	BLUE MARLIN	CON DO TOO	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	106.5	390.5
8/8/2012	ROUNDSCALE SPEARFISH *	BLEW BAYOU	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	72	72
8/9/2012	WHITE MARLIN	SMELLS LIKE TUNA	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	70.5	66.5
8/8/2012	ROUNDSCALE SPEARFISH	THE JACKEL	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	69	64.5
8/8/2012	ROUNDSCALE SPEARFISH	TALES GONE WILD	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	68	52.5
8/8/2012	ROUNDSCALE SPEARFISH	SQUIDWARD	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	68	65
8/9/2012	WHITE MARLIN	DOUBLE B	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	67.5	59.5
8/8/2012	WHITE MARLIN	JUGE	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	67	65.5
8/8/2012	WHITE MARLIN	THE CRICKET	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	67	62.5
8/7/2012	WHITE MARLIN	STREAMWEAVER	WHITE MARLIN OPEN	67	68.5
6/23/2012	WHITE MARLIN	P W	NO	66	0
7/29/2012	SWORDFISH	GETTING' JIGGY	NO	58	93

* = 1^ST PLACE