What is ROFFS™? Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, Inc. (ROFFS™) is a scientific consulting company based in West Melbourne, Florida (U.S.A.) that is involved with fisheries oceanography and environmental science. Founded in 1986 by Mitchell A. Roffer (Ph.D.) in Miami, Florida, we are best known for our tactical and strategic fisheries forecasts that are the result of the integration of satellite and other fisheries oceanographic data. However, we are intensively involved a broad range of projects from ship routing, oil and gas drilling operations, seismic and fish surveys, fisheries development, aquaculture, environmental monitoring, and applied scientific research. Please click HERE to read more about what ROFFS™ is on our website now! Dr. Mitchell Roffer from ROFFS™ to Participate in Upcoming Melbourne, FL Saltwater Sportsman Seminar Mitch will be speaking at the Melbourne, FL George Poveromo Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Series on Saturday February 11, 2017.  Everyone who attends will receive a certificate for a FREE analysis from ROFFS™!  Please click the link below or call the office at 321.723.5759 for more information. Please click HERE to read more and to purchase tickets now! Updated Videos on ROFFS™.com – Be Sure to Check Out the “Hot News” Button on the ROFFS™ Homepage

1045 lb Bluefin Tuna!                          Clarke Merrell, Scott McCoy and Chris Garner had a day to remember while fishing off the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. They landed an enormous 1045 lb Bluefin Tuna about 3 miles off the beach. To our knowledge, this is the largest Bluefin landed off the coast of NC. The fish was an impressive 121 inches long and cored out at 836 lbs. In 2015 Capt. Herb Sheades of Newport landed a 115 inch Bluefin that tipped the scales at 1005 lbs. This fish was ineligible for a state record because it was sold commercially. This appears to be the case with this most recent catch which will leave the 805-pound bluefin caught in 2011 off Oregon Inlet by angler Corey Schultz as the current NC State Record. Video Courtesy: PointClickFishTV | YouTube Please click HERE to watch the video on our website now! Dog with Whales!             Lucky dog! This dog has a close encounter with a pod of Orcas. See what happens at the end! Video Courtesy: NatureFootage | Facebook Please click HERE to watch the video on our website now! Lava Flow!                        Recent lava flow in Hawaii. Video Courtesy: Fishing World | Facebook Please click HERE to watch the video on our website now! Downhill Racer!                       Breathtaking video! Video Courtesy: The Maritime Magazine | Facebook Please click HERE to watch the video on our website now! Living Underwater!                       This floating UFO home lets you live underwater. Video Courtesy: Tech Insider | Facebook Please click HERE to watch the video on our website now! How to Skirt Lures!                      Reskirting trolling lures is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Dave Workman Jr. of Strike-Zone Fishing in Jacksonville, Florida quickly goes through each step in replacing rubber skirts on a C&H Lures Mr. Big trolling lure. Video Courtesy: Strike-Zone Fishing | YouTube Please click HERE to watch the video on our website now! Paddle Boarding with Whales!                      Paddle Boarding with Whales in Esperance, Western Australia. Video Courtesy: Jaimen Hudson | YouTube Please click HERE to watch the video on our website now!

South Atlantic Fishery Bulletin – Atlantic Cobia (Georgia to New York) Recreational Fishing Season is Closed in Federal Waters

FB17-004 FISHERY BULLETIN ISSUE DATE: January 25, 2016 CONTACT: Sustainable Fisheries (727) 824-5305

WHAT/WHEN:

Recreational harvest of Atlantic migratory group cobia (from Georgia to New York) closed at 12:01 a.m. on January 24, 2017. Recreational harvest of cobia will remain closed until January 1, 2018. WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

• In 2016, the recreational and total annual catch limits of Atlantic migratory group cobia were exceeded. Therefore, the 2017 recreational season must account for this overage.

• When landings of Atlantic migratory group cobia exceed annual catch limits, accountability measures are in place to ensure overfishing (rate of removal is too high) does not occur. If total landings (commercial and recreational) for the Atlantic migratory group cobia exceed the total annual catch, NOAA Fisheries is required to reduce the length of the recreational fishing season in the following fishing year.

• With the understanding that recreational harvest of cobia will remain open in some state waters during the federal closure, NOAA Fisheries has determined that the annual catch limit in 2017 will likely be exceeded as the majority of cobia landings come from state waters.

• NOAA Fisheries will reevaluate the federal closure if state regulations change in 2017.

Please click HERE to read the full bulletin on our website NOW! Backlash? Feedback?

As always, please send comments & feedback on Fishy Times newsletter content directly to us at feedback@roffs.com. If you do not want to wait for our next Fishy Times newsletter, please visit us in the meantime to get all your fishing news on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and on the web.  Safe and successful fishing until next time!

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