The recreational daily bluefin tuna (BFT) retention for limit for HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels (while fishing recreationally) is 1 school BFT (measuring 27 inches to less than 47 inches) Curved Fork Length (CFL) and 2 large school/small medium BFT (measuring 47 inches to less than 73 inches CFL) per vessel per day/trip, effective in all areas, for the entire fishing year.

HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Heaboats are also eligible to retain 1 BFT (73 inches or greater) per vessel per year as a “trophy” fish for the boat.

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.

Yellowfin Tuna

The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person. The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27" curved fork length.

Other Tunas

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

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