Flux Fishing Forecast
Free TrialSign in

pelagic

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus thynnus

Premier winter/early-spring pelagic off NC Outer Banks (Hatteras/Oregon Inlet). Charter-driven Nov-Apr fishery. NMFS-managed Highly Migratory Species; legitimate recreational target in NC waters. Distinct from yellowfin/bigeye/blackfin.

In our regions

North Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)

Regulations

⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 31, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.

Showing 12 of 12 regulations

STATE

FL Gulf — State waters (0–9 nm)

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS Angling permit required. Default 1 fish 27"-<73"/vessel/day. Gulf trophy subquota typically exhausted by mid-year.

Gulf trophy almost always closed by mid-year.

SC_ATLANTIC

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

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS Angling permit required. Follow federal Angling-category retention.

TX_GULF

Texas — State waters (0–9 nm) · TPWD

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS Angling permit required.

LA_GULF

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

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS Angling permit required. LA has an active winter BFT bycatch fishery during yellowfin trips.

AL_GULF

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

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS Angling permit required.

GA_ATLANTIC

Georgia — State waters (0–3 nm) · GA DNR

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS Angling permit required even in state waters. Follow federal Angling-category retention.

BAHAMAS

Bahamas — Department of Marine Resources

Permit requiredPermit required

Bahamas: BFT extremely rare. Bahamian fisheries permit + game fish vessel limits apply.

FEDERAL

Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS Angling permit required. Default: 1 BFT 27"-<73" CFL/vessel/day. Charter (up to 3) and Headboat (up to 6) permits allow more. 1 trophy (>=73") per vessel per year per region.

Northern vs Southern trophy areas managed separately.

STATE

FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

FEDERAL HMS Angling permit required (even in state waters). Default: 1 BFT 27"-<73" CFL/vessel/day. Trophy 73"+ under separate quota. Retained BFT must be reported to NOAA within 24h (888-872-8862).

Status changes mid-season — verify.

MS_GULF

Mississippi — State waters (0–3 nm) · MS DMR

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS Angling permit required.

NC_ATLANTIC

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

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

HMS Angling permit required. NC is a major BFT winter fishery (Hatteras/Morehead). Follow federal Angling-category limits.

Active winter BFT fishery — verify southern trophy status.

FEDERAL

Federal Gulf (9–200 nm) — GMFMC

Permit requiredPermit required
Vessel limit
1 total / vessel / day
Minimum
27″ CFL (curved fork)

Gulf federal: HMS Angling permit required. 1 BFT 27"-<73"/vessel/day. Gulf trophy quota typically exhausted by mid-year.