Atlantic bluefin tuna in October: current retention limits and what changed October 1
The Angling Category runs at adjusted limits through December 31. The General Category reopened October 1 with restricted fishing days. The trophy fishery is closed in all areas.
Recreational anglers targeting Atlantic bluefin tuna in October 2026 are fishing under adjusted Angling Category retention limits that NOAA Fisheries set on June 1 and extended through December 31, 2026. Private vessels with HMS Angling permits can retain up to two bluefin per vessel per day in the school and large school/small medium size class (27 to less than 73 inches curved fork length), with at most one fish measuring 47 to less than 73 inches per trip. Charter vessels with HMS Charter/Headboat permits fishing recreationally can retain up to three fish under the same size-class constraint. Headboats can retain up to six, again with the same one-fish cap on the 47-to-73-inch class. These figures are per vessel, not per angler. The NOAA Fisheries recreational status page carries the current limits and can change in-season if the quota is projected to be met.
The General Category commercial fishery reopened on October 1 with a default retention limit of one large medium or giant bluefin tuna, measuring 73 inches or greater curved fork length, per vessel per day or trip. NOAA Fisheries set restricted fishing days beginning October 1: General Category permitted vessels, and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels with a commercial sale endorsement, cannot fish for or land bluefin tuna commercially on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. These restrictions apply when a vessel is fishing commercially under the General Category. A for-hire trip running under the recreational Charter/Headboat permit on one of those days is on the recreational Angling Category schedule, not the General Category.
The Angling Category trophy fishery, which covers fish 73 inches or greater, is closed in all areas for the remainder of 2026. Recreational anglers on HMS Angling-permitted private vessels have no path to legally retain a trophy-class bluefin this season. The General Category permits retention of fish at or above 73 inches under its own quota, but only for commercially permitted vessels.
Category status can change between now and the end of the season. The NOAA Fisheries HMS fishery statuses pages for recreational and commercial bluefin categories are the authoritative pre-trip check, not a forum roundup or an earlier season summary. The permit requirements and category structure are covered in the September guide to Atlantic bluefin tuna rules on this site. The commercial status page at fisheries.noaa.gov carries daily updates for the General and Harpoon categories.
On the water: Rules and conditions can change quickly. Confirm current regulations and official marine forecasts for your exact trip.