Blackfin Tuna
Thunnus atlanticus
How to tell it
Football tuna with dusky-black fins and a bronze-gold side wash; rarely over 30 lb.
- Not a yellowfin tuna? That one bright yellow fins, grows far larger. (Yellowfin Tuna)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | 2 fish or 100 lb per person, whichever is greater | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | 2 fish or 100 lb per person, whichever is greater | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 43 lb 5.12 oz | 2014 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 45.5 lb | 1996 · Key West | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 40 lb 8 oz | 2016 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 41 lb | 2017 · SP-62 | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 32 lb | 1998 · 30 Fathom Line | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Mississippi | 33 lb 0.8 oz | 2011 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 40 lb 11 oz | 2011 · Off Wrightsville Beach | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 40 lb 6 oz | 2005 · Charleston | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 38.89 lb | 1988 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 33 lb 15 oz | 2004 · Norfolk Canyon | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Very good — best fresh, bled and iced.
In the app
Point the camera at a blackfin tuna and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about blackfin tuna
How many blackfin tuna can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 2 fish or 100 lb per person, whichever is greater; Florida (Gulf): 2 fish or 100 lb per person, whichever is greater.
How do you tell blackfin tuna from yellowfin tuna?
Blackfin Tuna has this: Football tuna with dusky-black fins and a bronze-gold side wash; rarely over 30 lb.. Yellowfin Tuna bright yellow fins, grows far larger.
What is the record blackfin tuna?
45.5 lb in Florida (1996), Key West. Other states’ records are in the table.