# 2026-00580: Giant Bluefin Tuna Trophy Hunt Shut Down for 2026 Season

2026-00580, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the Angling Category Southern Area Trophy Fishery for 2026, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-01-14, effective 2026-01-13 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00580
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-00580
- Title: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the Angling Category Southern Area Trophy Fishery for 2026
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 1461
- Published: 2026-01-14
- Effective: 2026-01-13
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Giant Bluefin Tuna Trophy Hunt Shut Down for 2026 Season

## Summary

Starting January 14, 2026, the southern area trophy fishery for big Atlantic bluefin tuna is closed for the whole year. This affects recreational anglers and charter boats with special permits who target these giant tunas. The closure helps protect the tuna population and means no catching or keeping trophy-sized fish in this area until 2027.

## Abstract

NMFS closes the Angling category southern area fishery for large medium and giant ("trophy" (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm)) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally.

## Effects PRIA read

- Southern Trophy Fishery Closed in 2026: cost, medium. Starting 11:30 p.m. local time on January 13, 2026, you may not retain, possess, or land trophy Atlantic bluefin tuna (measuring 73 inches / 185 cm curved fork length or greater) south of 39°18' N latitude and outside the Gulf of America through December 31, 2026. This closure applies to recreation…
- Charter/Headboat Revenue Impact: cost, medium. Charter and headboat operators fishing recreationally under HMS Charter/Headboat permits cannot retain, possess, or land trophy Atlantic bluefin tuna (≥73 inches / 185 cm curved fork length) south of 39°18' N latitude and outside the Gulf of America from 11:30 p.m. local time on January 13, 2026 th…
- Catch Reporting Within 24 Hours Required: cost, low. Owners of HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels must report the catch of all Atlantic bluefin tuna retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of landing or trip end using https://hmspermits.noaa.gov, the HMS Catch Reporting app, or by phone at (888) 872-8862. This reporting require…
- Catch-and-Release Still Allowed: benefit, low. During the southern-area trophy closure (from 11:30 p.m. local time January 13, 2026 through December 31, 2026) anglers aboard permitted HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels may continue to catch-and-release or tag-and-release Atlantic bluefin tuna of any size, provided they follow catch-an…

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## Sources
- [2026-00580 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/14/2026-00580/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-atlantic-bluefin-tuna-fisheries-closure-of-the-angling-category)
- [2026-00580 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-14/pdf/2026-00580.pdf)

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- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00580 (as of 2026-06-11).