Recreational Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fishery Statuses and Bag Limits
Check if Atlantic recreational bluefin tuna fisheries are open and review current retention limits by permit.
Recreational Trophy Status and Landings
This table includes the current large medium and giant “trophy” (measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater) bluefin tuna recreational quotas and landings for each trophy area. Note, landings to date are preliminary and not final. The base quotas for each trophy area can be found in the regulations and on page 8 of the Amendment 13 Compliance Guide. NOAA Fisheries intends to take separate rulemaking action as soon as possible in 2026 to consider modifying the baseline Atlantic bluefin tuna quota consistent with the quota adopted at the 2025 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas annual meeting.
Trophy Area | Status | Base Quota | Landings to dateLast updated: 5/6/2026 |
Gulf of Maine | Open | 2.3 mt | |
Southern New England | Open | 2.3 mt | |
South | Closed January 13 | 2.3 mt | 11.6 mt |
Gulf of America | Open | 2.3 mt | 1.2 mt |
Current Recreational Retention Limits
Bag limits for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic, Gulf of America, and Caribbean vary by permit, vessel type, fish size, and region. Additional requirements may be applicable. View the HMS Recreational Compliance Guide for details.
Regardless of the permit type, bluefin tuna cannot be retained if a hammerhead shark is on board or has been offloaded from the vessel.
Note: The retention limits for bluefin tuna less than 73 inches curved fork length are per vessel per day/trip. Regardless of the duration of a fishing trip, no more than a single day’s retention limit may be possessed or retained at the end of the trip upon landing. For example, whether a private vessel (fishing under the Angling category retention limit) takes a 2-day trip or makes 2 trips in one day, the day/trip retention limit of one bluefin tuna applies and may not be exceeded upon landing. The retention limit for bluefin tuna greater than 73 inches curved fork length (i.e., trophy-sized) is per vessel per year; this limit applies regardless of the area landed and regardless of the duration of a fishing trip.
HMS Angling Permit
The recreational daily bag limits are effective for all areas except for the Gulf of America, where NOAA Fisheries does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin tuna. Retention of bluefin tuna in the Gulf of America is only allowed for incidentally caught trophy-sized bluefin tuna when fishing for other HMS.
Size Class(curved fork length) | Fishery Status | Bag Limit |
Less than 27" | Not allowed | |
27” to less than 73” (only allowed in the Atlantic) | Open | 1/vessel/day or trip |
73" or greater Trophy Gulf of Maine | Open | 1/vessel/year
|
73" or greater Trophy Southern New England | Open | |
73" or greater Trophy South | Closed January 13 | |
73" or greater Trophy Gulf of America (only when incidentally caught while fishing for other species) | Open | |
HMS Charter/Headboat Permit When Fishing Recreationally
Charter Boats
The recreational daily bag limits are effective for all areas except for the Gulf of America, where NOAA Fisheries does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin tuna. Retention of bluefin tuna in the Gulf of America is only allowed for incidentally caught trophy-sized bluefin tuna when fishing for other HMS.
Size Class(curved fork length) | Fishery Status | Bag Limit |
Less than 27" | Not allowed | |
27” to less than 73” (only allowed in the Atlantic) | Open | 1/vessel/day or trip |
73" or greater Trophy Gulf of Maine | Open | 1/vessel/year
|
73" or greater Trophy Southern New England | Open | |
73" or greater Trophy South | Closed January 13 | |
73" or greater Trophy Gulf of America (only when incidentally caught while fishing for other species) | Open | |
Headboats
The recreational daily bag limits are effective for all areas except for the Gulf of America, where NOAA Fisheries does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin tuna. Retention of bluefin tuna in the Gulf of America is only allowed for incidentally caught trophy-sized bluefin tuna when fishing for other HMS.
Size Class(curved fork length) | Fishery Status | Bag Limit |
Less than 27" | Not allowed | |
27” to less than 73” (only allowed in the Atlantic) | Open | 1/vessel/day or trip |
73" or greater Trophy Gulf of Maine | Open | 1/vessel/year
|
73" or greater Trophy Southern New England | Open | |
73" or greater Trophy South | Closed January 13 | |
73" or greater Trophy Gulf of America (only incidentally caught while fishing for other species) | Open | |
Recreational Permits
To recreationally* harvest bluefin tuna in federal waters —as well as in the state waters of all states except Connecticut and Mississippi—vessel owners must obtain one of the following permits.
Quota category | Permit type |
Angling | HMS Angling category or HMS Charter/Headboat |
*Tournament vessels may fish for bluefin tuna with an Atlantic Tunas General category permit.
Measurement
Measure curved fork length by following the curve of the fish's body from the tip of the upper jaw to fork of the tail.
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*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. On August 7, 2025, NOAA Fisheries and the National Ocean Service amended regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the renaming. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes or previously published materials.