NOAA Adjusts Bluefin Tuna Limits for Anglers and Charters
Published Date: 6/3/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting now and through 2025, anglers and charter boat captains fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna have new daily catch limits. Private anglers can keep one small tuna per trip, while charter and headboat vessels can keep two small tunas. No large or medium tunas can be kept, and these rules don’t apply in the Gulf of Mexico where bluefin fishing is off-limits.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Private Anglers: One School Tuna Limit
If you fish recreationally for Atlantic bluefin tuna on a private vessel with an HMS Angling permit, you may keep one school bluefin tuna and zero large school/small medium bluefin tuna per vessel per day/trip. This retention limit is effective for the remainder of 2025, or until further modified, and does not apply in the Gulf of America where targeted fishing for bluefin tuna is prohibited.
Charter & Headboats: Two School Tuna Limit
If you operate or ride on a charter boat or headboat with an HMS Charter/Headboat permit and fish recreationally for Atlantic bluefin tuna, the vessel may keep two school bluefin tuna and zero large school/small medium bluefin tuna per vessel per day/trip. This retention limit applies for the remainder of 2025, or until further modified, and does not apply in the Gulf of America where targeted fishing for bluefin tuna is prohibited.
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Key Dates
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