Species guide

Bigeye Tuna Fishing

Bigeye tuna are federally managed: 27 inches curved fork length minimum, no bag limit, and the vessel needs a federal HMS permit.

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Bigeye Tuna

Every charter here names bigeye tuna on its own website, checked on the captain's own site

Check before you keep a fish. Seasons and limits change, sometimes in the middle of a season, and a court or an agency can change them overnight. Seasons and limits are set state by state. The ones on this page are Florida's, copied from FWC and NOAA Fisheries in Sep 2026 and listed with their source at the foot of the page. We are not a regulatory authority. Confirm the rule for the water you will fish with your captain or with that state's wildlife agency.

Where to fish for bigeye tuna

3 charters name bigeye tuna on their own website, across 3 towns in 1 state.

State records for bigeye tuna

The heaviest bigeye tuna each state has certified, biggest first.

StateWeightWhereYearAngler
Maryland 375.5 lb Ocean City 1977 Cecil Brownesource
New Jersey 364.88 lb Hudson Canyon 1984 George Krenicksource
New York 355 lb — 9/27 Richard Buechmann, Oakdale, NYsource
Massachusetts 319.31 lb — 2018 Daniel Blisssource
North Carolina 311.5 lb Off Oregon Inlet 1992 Clarence N. Cooksource
Connecticut 294 lbs 2 oz West Atlantis 2021 Chris Andersonsource
Alabama 236 lb — 2014 Bobby Abernathysource
Mississippi 203.88 lb — 2011 Chip Templesource
Louisiana 197.25 lb 60m SE Venice 2009 George A. Grahamsource
Florida 194.8 lb Juno Beach 2020 Anthony Beau Kellysource
Texas 172 lb Gulf of Mexico 2023 Jacob Goodroesource

Each from that state's own records page, linked on every row. A location links to its town only where the agency named that town — a record logged to "Gulf of Mexico" or an offshore block belongs to no city. Weights are printed as the agency prints them. Records are certified by the state and can be broken at any time.

About the fish

SizeUp to about 5.5 feet
What it eatsFish, crustaceans and squid

NOAA says bigeye live up to 9 years.

From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.

Which rules apply to your trip

  • The boat needs an HMS Angling or HMS Charterboat/Headboat permit, which covers everyone fishing aboard.
  • NOAA sets no bag limit for bigeye, but the 27 inch minimum applies.
  • No tuna may be kept if a hammerhead or oceanic whitetip shark is on board or has been offloaded from the vessel.

Harvest rules

When can you keep one in Florida?

Bigeye, state and federal waters

Federal rules, which FWC says apply in state waters.

  • Anglers on a vessel with an HMS permitOpenNOAA Fisheries lists the fishery as open.
27 inches curved fork lengthSize limit
No bag limitDaily limit. The vessel needs an HMS Angling or Charterboat/Headboat permit.

Questions about bigeye tuna

Is there a limit on bigeye tuna?

NOAA lists no bag limit. Fish must be at least 27 inches curved fork length.

Do I need my own permit on a charter?

No. The vessel's HMS permit covers everyone fishing on that vessel.

Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from NOAA Fisheries, recreational Atlantic tuna statuses and limits and FWC, billfish, tuna and swordfish regulations and NOAA Fisheries, Atlantic bigeye tuna in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.