pelagic

Bigeye Tuna

Thunnus obesus

Daytime deep tuna — feeds at the thermocline (typically 250-800 ft). The 20°C isotherm depth is exactly where bigeye stack. Night chunking on the shelf edge for shallower water work.

Preferred water temp50–78°F

Preferred depth200–1500 ft

Peak monthsAug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Holds onthermocline edge, deep canyons, Gulf Stream margins

In our regions

Big Bend — GulfNortheast Florida — AtlanticCentral/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfFlorida Panhandle — GulfBahamas — Bimini & Grand BahamaBahamas — Abaco & AndrosBahamas — Eleuthera, Exuma & Cat IslandNorth Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)South Carolina CoastGeorgia CoastAlabama GulfMississippi GulfLouisiana GulfTexas Gulf

Regulations

⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 26, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.

Showing 7 of 7 regulations

FEDERAL

Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC

Permit requiredPermit required

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Minimum: 27″ CFL (curved fork)

Federal HMS species — NOAA HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat permit required. 27" CFL minimum, 1/vessel/day combined with yellowfin in some configurations — verify HMS rules before retaining.

SC_ATLANTIC

South Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · SCDNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Minimum: 27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS permit required.

SC bigeye: 27" CFL.

STATE

FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Minimum: 27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS permit required. No bag limit in current regulation.

FL Atlantic bigeye: 27" CFL, HMS permit, no bag limit.

BAHAMAS

Bahamas — Department of Marine Resources

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 6 total / vessel / day

Highly migratory — Bahamas applies ICCAT conservation rules. One per angler per day, counts toward 6-game-fish vessel total. Deep-drop and night drift fishing both work the offshore steep edges.

NC_ATLANTIC

North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Minimum: 27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS permit required.

NC bigeye: 27" CFL, HMS permit.

LA_GULF

Louisiana — State waters (0–3 nm) · LDWF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Minimum: 27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS permit required.

Louisiana bigeye: 27" CFL.

AL_GULF

Alabama — State waters (0–3 nm) · AL CNR-MRD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Minimum: 27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS permit required.

Alabama bigeye: 27" CFL.