Blackfin Tuna

Blackfin Tuna Fishing in Florida

FWC sets no minimum size for blackfin tuna and a daily bag limit of 2 fish per person or 10 per vessel, whichever is greater, and says a federal HMS angling permit is not required in state or federal waters.

Florida rules from FWC, checked Sep 2026

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. Everything here was copied from FWC in Sep 2026 and is listed with its source at the bottom of this page. We are not a regulatory authority. Confirm the current rule with your captain or with FWC before you keep a fish.

Florida state record

  • 45.50 lb Key West · May 4, 1996 · Sam J. Burnett

From FWC Florida Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle), checked Sep 2026. Records are certified by FWC and can be broken at any time.

How big blackfin tuna run

Federal interviewers measured 1,691 of them on charter trips between 2022–2024. The middle half ran 16.1–30.6 inches, with a median of 23.7 inches. Most were kept: 2,678 landed against 166 released.

  • North Carolina26.1" median, 935 measured
  • Florida18.5" median, 756 measured

NOAA Fisheries MRIP dockside interviews, 2022–2024. A sample of the fish boats brought in, not a total, and not a forecast for any one trip.

About the fish

SizeCommon to 28 inches
Where it livesCoastal to offshore waters
What it eatsSmall fishes, invertebrates and plankton

From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.

Which rules apply to your trip

  • Blackfin needs no federal HMS permit, in state or federal waters.
  • The limit is 2 per person or 10 per boat, whichever is greater, so a boat of six can keep 12.
  • Ask the captain whether the trip heads far enough offshore for tuna.

Blackfin, both coasts: when you can keep one

Florida state waters.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
No minimum sizeSize limit
2 per personDaily limit. Or 10 per vessel, whichever is greater. FWC: a federal HMS permit is not required in state or federal waters.

Questions about blackfin tuna

Is there a size limit on blackfin tuna?

No. FWC lists no minimum size.

How many blackfin tuna can I keep?

2 per person or 10 per vessel, whichever is greater.

Do I need a federal permit for blackfin?

No. FWC says the federal HMS permit is not required in state or federal waters.

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