Where to fish for bluefin tuna
10 charters name bluefin tuna on their own website, across 8 towns in 1 state.
State records for bluefin tuna
The heaviest bluefin tuna each state has certified, biggest first.
| State | Weight | Where | Year | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1,228 lb | Cape Cod Bay | 1984 | Marlene Goldsteinsource |
| Louisiana | 1,152 lb | 30m S of South Pass | 2003 | Ron Rolandsource |
| Rhode Island | 1,142.75 lb | Block Island | 1971 | J. Dempseysource |
| New York | 1,071.00 | — | 8/21 | Larry Thompson, Montauk, NYsource |
| New Jersey | 1,030.38 lb | Off Pt. Pleasant | 1981 | Royal Parsonssource |
| New Hampshire | 962 lb | Gulf of MaineNewcastle | 2013 | Richard Greensource |
| Texas | 884 lb | Gulf of Mexico | 2025 | David L. Esslingersource |
| North Carolina | 877 lb | Off Oregon Inlet | 2017 | Scott Chamberssource |
| Maine | 839.13 lb | Harpswell | 2023 | Martin Scanlansource |
| Mississippi | 837.1 lb | — | 1999 | Bob Struwesource |
| Alabama | 831.38 lb | — | 2024 | David Gastonsource |
| Florida | 826.5 lb | Gulf of Mexico | 2017 | Rick Whitleysource |
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.
How big bluefin tuna run
Federal interviewers measured 127 of them on charter trips between 2022–2024. The middle half ran 30.9–64.9 inches, with a median of 44.6 inches.
Separately, MRIP's catch records for those trips count 125 kept and 84 released. That is a different tally from the fish that were measured, not a breakdown of them.
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
NOAA says bluefin can reach 13 feet and 2,000 pounds.
From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.
Which rules apply to your trip
- In the Gulf, NOAA does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin, which spawn there, and the Gulf trophy fishery is closed through December 31, 2026.
- Off the Atlantic coast, fish 27 to under 73 inches may be kept on a vessel with an HMS permit. The trophy fishery for 73 inches and over is closed for the rest of 2026.
- NOAA set these limits for June 1 to December 31, 2026, unless modified by later action, and says it may adjust the limits or close the fishery later in the year. Check NOAA's bluefin status page before you go.
- FWC says bluefin caught in state or federal waters must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours.
- No bluefin may be kept if a hammerhead shark is on board or has been offloaded from the vessel.
Harvest rules
When can you keep one in Florida?
Bluefin, Atlantic coast
NOAA's southern area: south of 39°18' N latitude (off Great Egg Inlet, New Jersey), outside the Gulf of America.
- Vessels with an HMS permit, fish 27 to under 73 inchesOpen, June 1 to December 31, 2026 limitsNOAA Fisheries.
- Trophy fish, 73 inches and overClosed January 13 to December 31, 2026NOAA southern area trophy fishery.
Bluefin, Gulf
Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico): federal waters and Florida state waters, where FWC says federal regulations apply.
- All anglersTrophy fishery closed May 21 to December 31, 2026NOAA Fisheries; the fishery for smaller bluefin is not open in the Gulf.
Questions about bluefin tuna
Can I keep a bluefin tuna in Florida?
Not in the Gulf for the rest of 2026. Off the Atlantic coast, a charter boat with an HMS Charter/Headboat permit fishing recreationally may keep up to 3 per day measuring 27 to under 73 inches, only 1 of them 47 to under 73 inches, under the limits NOAA set for June 1 to December 31, 2026.
Can I keep a giant bluefin?
Not for the rest of 2026. NOAA has closed the trophy fishery for 73 inches and over in all areas for the remainder of 2026.
Do I have to report a bluefin?
Yes. FWC says bluefin caught in state or federal waters must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours, at 888-872-8862 or hmspermits.noaa.gov.
Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from NOAA Fisheries, recreational bluefin tuna statuses and limits and NOAA Fisheries, bluefin retention limit adjustment, May 27, 2026 and NOAA Fisheries, Gulf of America trophy bluefin closure, May 2026 and NOAA Fisheries, southern area trophy bluefin closure, January 2026 and NOAA Fisheries, Gulf of Maine trophy bluefin closure, August 2026 and FWC, billfish, tuna and swordfish regulations and FWC, bluefin tuna profile and NOAA Fisheries, western Atlantic bluefin tuna in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.