Bluefin Re Opens 1/1

[Gerry Zagorski]

Recreational Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fishery to Reopen January 1
The Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery will open for recreational fishermen under 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 default limit takes effect at the start of each year and remains in place unless and until modified by a later action. This typically occurs in the spring.

Highly migratory species bag limit information is available on our website.
The recreational trophy bluefin tuna fishery will also open in all subquota regions on January 1, 2026. Atlantic Tunas Angling category and Charter/Headboat permitted vessels, when fishing recreationally, are allowed to retain one trophy bluefin tuna measuring 73" curved fork length or greater per vessel per year.

NOAA Fisheries plans to take action as soon as possible in 2026 to implement the new bluefin tuna quota agreed to at the 2025 ICCAT annual meeting.