'Insane law calls for insane protest': Anglers licensing floaties to fish massive bluefin

NAGS HEAD, N.C. (WAVY) — Bluefin tuna, massive fish known to grow more than 10 feet in length, are typically found in deeper waters of the Atlantic Ocean. But for a few special days this month, anglers along the shores of North Carolina's Outer Banks were able to flock to piers and catch the otherwise-rare bluefin tuna.

That was until recently, when a NOAA law enforcement officer notified Jennette's Pier last week that it's illegal for shore-based anglers to catch the tuna. The pier said the officer informed them it's a violation to fish for, catch, have, keep, or land the bluefin tuna, as well as blue marlin, white marlin, and roundscale spearfish, without a permit or endorsement.

After the pier-side run of bluefin tuna, NOAA law enforcement also told management that they needed to remove tuna bite references from their social media accounts.

"For the pier, they went and censored them and said because you're posting photos and videos of bluefin tuna being caught, that you're promoting an illegal activity," said Dave Harding, a representative for the information and pier-fishing advocacy group Fishing Piers.

Some anglers are undeterred, however, and have turned to a certain group of water vessels to keep fishing the tuna.

Harding said those fishermen shouldn't be on the hook for what ends up on their line, just because they weren't fishing from a boat.

"An insane law demands an insane protest," said Harding.

The hook here is, if you’re fishing near the pier on a boat with a highly-migratory species permit, then you’re good to go if it's open season. As it stands Tuesday, though, if you can’t afford a boat, anglers are out of luck if they strike tuna gold.

"This is access discrimination; this is economic discrimination," Harding said. "Why are they banning fishermen that are having such a low yield even taking part in this?"

The federal, nationwide law doesn't sit well with Harding or other vocal anglers, so they cast a line in hopes of inviting other people looking to protest the law in a unique way Saturday.

"We're registering — this is 'tuna-sauras,' and we are making them official North Carolina vessels for $30," said Harding, on-camera with his water floatie. "I can now go fish legally from the pier, from the water, and be able to legally retain the tuna."

The licensing office for Harding’s HMS permit was puzzled, but didn’t turn him away. According to Harding, turns out "USS Tunasauras" makes the cut.

"Technically, yes — if I was sitting on this in an inch of water, even on the shore, there's no regulations that said the vessel has to be in the water," Harding told Nexstar's WAVY.

A protest has even been planned for Saturday and a petition is circulating in response to the rules.