From the National Marine Fisheries Service:

The recreational daily bluefin tuna (BFT) retention limit for HMS Angling (private recreational) vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels (fishing recreationally) was 1 BFT (measuring 27 to less than 73 inches) per vessel per day/trip.

In addition to the daily retention limit, the vessels were allowed 1 trophy BFT, measure 73" or greater/vessel/year.

STARTING ON APRIL 2, 2011, the BFT retention limits were changed to 1 BFT (measuring 27 to less than 59 inches) for private vessels per vessel per day/trip and to 1 school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches) and 1 large school BFT (measuring 47 to less than 59 inches) for charter/headboat vessels per vessel per day/trip.

On the same date, the southern area large medium/giant “trophy” BFT fishery (for BFT measuring 73 inches and greater) was closed.

The Angling category North/South line is at 39°18’ N. lat. (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ).

These BFT retention limits are effective for all areas, except for the Gulf of Mexico.

The Gulf of Mexico is designated as a spawning grounds for BFT and therefore NMFS does not allow vessels, commercial or recreational, to target BFT while fishing in this area.

The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person/day/trip.

The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27" curved fork length.

There are no recreational limits for bigeye, skipjack or albacore tunas.

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