Closure: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Southern Area Trophy Fishery

FISHERY: Angling Category Southern Area Trophy Bluefin Tuna (the Southern Area is
defined as the area south of 39°18’N lat. (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ), outside the Gulf of
Mexico).

Please note, that the Angling category fishery for school, large school, or small medium bluefin tuna (27 to <73”) remains open in all areas except for the Gulf of Mexico, which is designated as bluefin tuna spawning grounds and where NOAA Fisheries does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin tuna.

CLOSED: February 22, 2023, 11:30 pm – December 31, 2023

REASON FOR CLOSURE: Quota has been reached and exceeded.

PERMITS AFFECTED: HMS Angling category permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels fishing recreationally in the southern area (defined above).

Recreational fishermen aboard vessels with an Atlantic HMS Angling category or HMS
Charter/Headboat permit (while fishing recreationally) may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna (i.e., measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater) in the southern area from 11:30 p.m. February 22, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

COMMERCIAL: Not affected by this closure.

Why is the fishery closing?

Based on the best available landings information, the 2.3-mt Angling category southern area “trophy” bluefin tuna subquota has been reached and exceeded.

Reporting

Atlantic Tunas General, Harpoon, and HMS Charter/Headboat category vessel owners are required to report all bluefin tuna retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip by:

• Accessing the HMS Permit Shop.
• Using the HMS Catch Reporting app.
• Calling 888-872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.).