Commercial Bluefin Tuna Season. Charter trips make tuna fishing accessible to all anglers. C
Charter trips make tuna fishing accessible to all anglers. Commercial fishing vessels that exclusively use harpoon for harvesting Atlantic bluefin . For weekly offshore fishing Commercial Atlantic bluefin season generally opens July 1st and runs through November 30th, though specific dates and quotas The American Sportfishing Association says it is disappointed in NOAA’s revised 2025 closure for the bluefin tuna Angling category because of its associated negative As it turns out, NOAA surveys estimated that recreational anglers overharvested bluefin tuna in this category by more than 50% in Charter captains and private anglers with Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permits can no longer retain, possess, or land California’s commercial salmon fleet is already sidelined into 2026, Florida’s reef anglers are staring at a cold start to grouper season, and West Coast sturgeon and crab rules The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shut down recreational harvest of Atlantic bluefin tuna on Aug. The Atlantic bluefin tuna is one of the largest bony fish in the world. January 2023 Amendment 13 Final Rule: Effective on January 1, 2023, this final rule modifiedHMS bluefin tuna (bluefin) management measures applicable to the incidental and directed bluefin Journey into the heart of Massachusetts' tuna fishing season, a thrilling experience with economic, culinary, and Atlantic bluefin tuna, photo courtesy of Wikipedia In recent years, fishermen have seen a resurgence of Atlantic bluefin tuna off the United States coast, with 2024 commercial Operators of, and participants in, Atlantic bluefin tuna tournaments that are open to participation by Atlantic Tunas General category permit holders and Highly Migratory Commercial tuna fishing safety gear checklist provided by both the USCG and NOAA regulations and approved gear lists for the 2019-2020 season. NOAA Fisheries is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limits for both the General category and Harpoon category Visit FishWatch for a complete description of this species For biological and life history information about this species, please see NOAA's FishWatch In response to outcry from anglers and angling groups, NOAA Fisheries has announced adjusted daily retention limits for recreational Daily commercial bluefin tuna retention limits will be set to zero every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from July 1 through November 30 for the 2023 fishing year. m. 12 In season, Atlantic bluefin tuna inhabits the cooler waters of the Continental Shelf of the northeast coast of the US and the tropical tunas inhabit the warmer waters adjacent to the Gulf Stream Check if Atlantic recreational bluefin tuna fisheries are open and review current retention limits by permit. A new federal shutdown of the bluefin tuna fishery for recreational and charter anglers is now in effect — and it’s already having a ripple effect across the local fishing industry. NMFS is issuing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, to implement Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Resolution C-24-02 You can learn about the regulations that govern commercial finfish fishing in the documents attached below. Photo courtesy of Bluefina According to NOAA Fisheries, commercial Pacific bluefin The official Bluefin tuna season in Massachusetts generally runs from early June through December 31st, but is subject to quota closures. COMMERCIAL: Commercial fishermen aboard vessels with Based on the best available landings information, the quotas for both the Atlantic bluefin tuna General category (commercial) January through March fishery and Angling Every year, the BFT fishing year starts on January 1 and ends on December 31. Commercial tuna fishing safety gear checklist provided by both the USCG and NOAA regulations and approved gear lists for the 2019-2020 season. In state waters: Anglers targeting bluefin tuna, bigeye tuna, albacore tuna, yellowfin tuna and skipjack tuna are required to have a federal HMS Commercial Pacific bluefin fishermen will be able to catch 80% more tuna in 2025-2026. However, the best time to target HARPOON CATEGORY Harpoon is a gear type exclusively for use in targeting Atlantic bluefin tuna. Based on the best available landings information, the quotas for both the Atlantic bluefin tuna General category (commercial) January through March fishery and Angling category (recreational) southern area fishery have been reached and exceeded. The Angling category opens on January 1 and continues through December 31 or until the NOAA Fisheries reminds Atlantic Tunas General category permit holders and Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permit holders fishing commercially for bluefin Not affected: The commercial bluefin fishery remains open under its separate categories and quotas. Read on to learn more about this popular species, as well as tips for fishing. Regulations tables were updated on May 9, 2025. In For the first time in over a decade the recreational season and commercial season for Bluefin tuna will be open at a time when Bluefin tuna are within close reach of Virginia Beach. Closure: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Fishery (Recreational) - All Sizes, All Areas closed August 12, 2025, 11:30 p. Discover the best times and techniques for catching Bluefin Tuna throughout the year in this seasonal guide. NOAA Fisheries closed the recreational harvest for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean for all Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat Waves of big migratory stripers continue to devour bunker in the Bay, and anglers around Ocean City are looking forward to the temporary reopening of commercial bluefin tuna Atlantic bluefin tuna retention limit for recreational fishermen will revert to the default limit of one school, large school, or small medium Albacore tuna fishing can offer nonstop action landing fast-moving, hard-fighting fish.
