May 14, 2015

BLUEFIN TUNA REC. RETENTION LIMITS

Anglers who are lucky enough to come across any bluefin tuna this year should make sure they know the new regulations this season. The passage of Amendment 7 brings new regulations for HMS Charter/Headboat and HMS Angling permit holders including the possibility for crews in the Gulf of Mexico to retain one trophy sized (>73″) per vessel per year. By allocating a portion of the trophy subquota to the Gulf of Mexico region, any boats holding a valid HMS Charter/Headboat or HMS Angling permit may retain one trophy sized bluefin per vessel per year that are incidentally caught (recreational boats cannot target bluefin in the Gulf of Mexico).

These regulations take effect May 15, 2015 and the Gulf of Mexico trophy category will remain open until the quota (roughly 8-9 fish) is filledAnglers should be mindful to keep updated for announcements of when the trophy category closes for each region. Recreational retention limits for all other areas (North & South) are detailed below.

The recreational BFT trophy fishery (73″+) is currently open in all areas with a limit of 1 BFT measuring 73″ or greater/vessel/year.

Effective May 15, 2015, the bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limits are increased from the default limit of 1 BFT measuring 27-73″ to the following. For HMS Angling-permitted vessels: 1 school BFT (27 to <47″) + 1 large school/small medium BFT (47- <73″). For HMS Charter/Headboat-permitted vessels: 2 school BFT (27 to <47″) + 1 large school/small medium BFT (47- <73″). 
These limits are effective for all areas except the Gulf of Mexico.
HMS Charter/Headboat, Harpoon, and Angling category vessel owners are required to report the catch of all  BFT retained or discarded dead, within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip, by accessing hmspermits.noaa.gov.

Anglers who are lucky enough to come across any bluefin tuna this year should make sure they know the new regulations this season. The passage of Amendment 7 brings new regulations for HMS Charter/Headboat and HMS Angling permit holders including the possibility for crews in the Gulf of Mexico to retain one trophy sized (>73″) per vessel per year. By allocating a portion of the trophy subquota to the Gulf of Mexico region, any boats holding a valid HMS Charter/Headboat or HMS Angling permit may retain one trophy sized bluefin per vessel per year that are incidentally caught (recreational boats cannot target bluefin in the Gulf of Mexico).

These regulations take effect May 15, 2015 and the Gulf of Mexico trophy category will remain open until the quota (roughly 8-9 fish) is filledAnglers should be mindful to keep updated for announcements of when the trophy category closes for each region. Recreational retention limits for all other areas (North & South) are detailed below.

The recreational BFT trophy fishery (73″+) is currently open in all areas with a limit of 1 BFT measuring 73″ or greater/vessel/year.

Effective May 15, 2015, the bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limits are increased from the default limit of 1 BFT measuring 27-73″ to the following. For HMS Angling-permitted vessels: 1 school BFT (27 to <47″) + 1 large school/small medium BFT (47- <73″). For HMS Charter/Headboat-permitted vessels: 2 school BFT (27 to <47″) + 1 large school/small medium BFT (47- <73″). 
These limits are effective for all areas except the Gulf of Mexico.
HMS Charter/Headboat, Harpoon, and Angling category vessel owners are required to report the catch of all  BFT retained or discarded dead, within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip, by accessing hmspermits.noaa.gov.

Get on Board

Get up to date information on events, news, and research on a constant basis. Submit your email now to join our exclusive newsletter.

Share this Story

Latest News

Shop TBF

TBF Yeti Hotshot Bottle
$30.00
Anetik Retro Long Sleeve
$55.00
TBF Signature Rope Hat
$35.00
Billfish Tagging Kits
$56.00

Upcoming Events

Recent News

Exploring the Depths of Conservation: Dive into the latest updates and insights from The Billfish Foundation. Discover engaging stories and pioneering research in our ongoing commitment to marine preservation.

Interested in Learning More?

TBF provides a voice for billfish conservation and the recreational fishing community globally.
Our success would not be possible without the support of our community. Review the ways you can support our efforts.
TBF fosters strong billfish conservation ethics, helping anglers of all generations understand the importance of the recreational sportfishing industry and billfish

Get on Board

Join our Newsletter

Get up to date information on events, news, and research on a constant basis. Submit your email now to join our exclusive newsletter.

Explore Our Socials

Search TBF

Important Deadlines

NOV
01
TBF Gala 2024 – Save the Date