New Blue Fin Tuna Regulations
Got One More Fish
Effective April 23, 2016, through December 31, 2016, the bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limits are the following. For HMS Angling-permitted vessels: 2 school BFT (27 to <47") + 1 large school/small medium BFT (47 to <73"); for HMS Charter/Headboat-permitted vessels: 3 school BFT + 1 large school/small medium BFT. Until April 23, 2016, the limit is the default limit of 1 school, large school, or small medium BFT (27 to <73") for HMS Angling and HMS
Charter/Headboat-permitted vessels. These limits are effective for all areas except the Gulf of Mexico. The recreational BFT trophy fishery (73"+) is currently open north of 39°18' (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ) as well as in the Gulf of Mexico with a limit of 1 BFT measuring 73" or greater/vessel/year.