GULF OF MEXICO:
As of May 4 at 11:30pm, the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Gulf of Mexico Incidental Trophy Fishery is closed. This means that no anglers may land, possess, or retain bluefin tuna 73″ (curved fork length) or greater in the Gulf of Mexico. This closure affects all anglers on a vessel with an Atlantic HMS Angling Category permit or an Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit (when fishing recreationally) and is in effect for the remainder of 2021. The fishery is closing because it has met its 1.8mt quota.
The Gulf of Mexico is an important spawning location for bluefin tuna. As a result, it is always illegal to target bluefin of any size in the Gulf. The trophy bluefin fishery (73″ or greater) has a small 1.8mt quota reserved for incidental catches. However, these catches are also limited to one per vessel per day. However, tag/catch and release of bluefin is still permitted in the Gulf, so long as it is done in such a way that maximizes survivability and does not remove the fish from the water.
ATLANTIC OCEAN:
NOAA Fisheries also adjusted Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limits for recreational fishermen. Unless modified by NOAA, these adjustments are valid through the end of the year. These changes affect HMS Angling Category and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels (when fishing recreationally). All of these adjustments expand the current catch limits of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic. However, these adjustments differ based on the vessel and permit.
These adjustments are not applicable to the Gulf of Mexico. As outlined above, targeting bluefin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico is never permitted. However, tag/catch and release of bluefin tuna of all sizes is still permitted as long as it is done in such a way that maximizes survivability and does not remove the fish from the water.
Below are the changes for bluefin retention limits in the Atlantic Ocean.
| Permit | Prior Limit/Vessel/Day | Current Limit/Vessel/Day |
| Private vessels with HMS Angling Category Permit | One (1) 27 to < 73” bluefin | Two (2) 27″ to <47” bluefin
One (1) 47″ to < 73” bluefin |
| Charter Boats fishing recreationally with Charter/Headboat Permit | One (1) 27 to < 73” bluefin | Three (3) 27 to <47” bluefin
One (1) 47″ to < 73” bluefin |
| Headboats fishing recreationally with Charter/Headboat Permit | One (1) 27 to < 73” bluefin | Six (6) 27″ to <47” bluefin
Two (2) 47″ to < 73” bluefin |
This comes just two months after NOAA Fisheries closed the Atlantic Bluefin Southern Area Trophy Fishery in March of this year. For more information on that closure, click here.
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