Recreational Daily Retention Limit for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Remains at Default Limit
Summary
The Atlantic bluefin tuna retention limit for recreational fishermen will remain at the default limit of 1 school, large school, or small medium bluefin tuna (27 to <73” curved fork length) per vessel per day/trip. This limit will continue to be in effect through December 31, 2025, unless modified by later action. Current Atlantic Highly Migratory Species bag limit information can be found here.
The recreational “trophy” bluefin tuna fishery remains open in the Gulf of Maine Trophy area and the Southern New England Trophy area. Atlantic tunas Angling category and Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally are allowed one trophy bluefin tuna measuring 73” curved fork length or greater per vessel per year provided “trophy” category subquota in the respective region is available at the time of harvest.
Who is affected?
The daily retention limit applies to Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally. It is effective for all areas except for the Gulf of America, where NOAA Fisheries does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin tuna.
Catch reporting
Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat permitted vessel owners are required to report the catch of all bluefin retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip by:
- Accessing the Highly Migratory Species Permit Shop.
- Using the Highly Migratory Species Catch Reporting app.
- Using other apps approved by NOAA Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species reporting.
- Calling 888-872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.).
- Highly Migratory Species permit holders in Maryland must report via the Maryland catch card program.
Consistent with Executive Order (E.O.) 14172 (Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness), this document uses Gulf of America for all references to the area known as the Gulf of Mexico in the specific regulations at 50 CFR part 635.