Posted on February 27, 2021 General category bluefin tuna season shut down today NMFS has announced that the General category giant bluefin tuna season will close at 11:30 tonight since the quota from January through March has been taken. The season will reopen on June 1 with a daily quota of one per boat. The Ocean Explorer from Belmar enjoyed a fine day on a flat calm ocean with mild temperatures yesterday. They hope to get out for a last day of blackfishing on Sunday. Though there were lots of bites on bottom, blackfish were scarce yesterday. A few cod and ling were boated. That boat will be sailing for cod throughout March. A small craft advisory is up today for south winds gusting to 30 knots, but the morning corecast is for only northeast 5-10 knots before increasing to southeast 10-15 late in the morning. Rain is also in the forecast. Chuck Many made a quick trip to Florida to visit family — and also enjoyed releasing red drum.