Can You Tuna Fish?

Fishing is fun. There is a lot more to it than simply throwing in a line and waiting for a fish to bite, especially when you are going after "big game" like tuna. Before you can even start to think about how to catch them, you have to know what you can catch. The federal government regulates tuna, and all game fish, in order to keep numbers from dwindling, and species from extinction.

What is Regulated?

Rules that apply to recreational fishing do not necessarily apply to commercial fishing. You must know what regulations affect you. As a recreational angler, you cannot sell your catch, and bluefin tuna has a limit on the number you can catch. There is a regulation on the type of equipment recreational anglers can use also.

Tuna Fishing Equipment

Tuna are typically big fish, and usually live in big water. Bluefin, albacore, skipjack, bigeye, and yellowfin tuna are Atlantic species even though they inhabit other waters including the Pacific. They are cold-water fish and prefer areas where rivers exist to lead them upstream to spawn. The various types of outfitting for tuna are bandit gear, rod and reel, handline, speargun, and greenstick. Each type of allowable gear has a specific type of stamp added to a tuna license. All require an HMS Charter/Headboard license. Spearguns can have an HMS angling license instead of the Charter/Headboard license, but only allowed in bay fishing for tuna regardless of type of license. Rod and Reel, handline, or greenstick can substitute an HMS angling license for the Charter/Headboard license, or have an Atlantic Tunas General license if in competition. Regardless of the type of equipment, you cannot keep bluefin tuna on the Atlantic Tuna General vessels if they are not bigger than 73 inches.

Fish Size

Size is important when it comes to fish you catch. The regulations exist to keep anglers from pulling the young stock from an area before it has a chance to reproduce and improve the numbers of the species. Bluefin, Yellowfin, and Bigeye are the only tuna regulated in regards to size. Albacore and Skipjack are unlimited in number and size. Minimum size is 27 inches. You can measure size from the tip of the upper lip, across the side to the tip of the tail base at the center. If head is removed tuna is measured from where the pectoral fin would be. Regulation for removing the head depends on species as well. Anglers may not remove the head of any Bluefin tuna if the total length is less than 20 inches. Yellowfin and Bigeye may not have their head removed, nor be kept if their total length would be less than 27 inches without their head.

Allowed Numbers

The federal government regulates these species because of their extreme popularity as a food source. Bluefin have the most problem because they sushi makers use them almost exclusively. Yellowfin have a 3 per person daily limit. Bluefin limits change regularly depending on the numbers that exist. Recreational anglers must call before they go out to find out what number/size for the day is set. Up-to-date information for anglers at www.hmspermits.gov, or at 888-872-8862 or 978-281-9260 provides limit information.

Banned Tuna Fishing

It is illegal to target Bluefin Tuna in the Gulf of Mexico, except in an approved catch and release method. Those types of catches must only use hook and line, and the hook removed with the proper tool to prevent damage to the fish.