Blackfin Tuna
Thunnus atlanticus
How to tell it
Football tuna with dusky-black fins and a bronze-gold side wash; rarely over 30 lb.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called blackfin tuna, and what gives it away.
- Yellowfin tuna: Bright yellow fins, grows far larger. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | 2 per person or 10 per vessel, whichever is greater | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | 2 per person or 10 per vessel, 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
How anglers catch it
Small feathers trolled fast, or live pilchards free-lined over humps and wrecks.
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 per person or 10 per vessel, whichever is greater; Florida (Gulf): 2 per person or 10 per vessel, whichever is greater.
How do you tell blackfin tuna from yellowfin tuna?
Blackfin Tuna: Football tuna with dusky-black fins and a bronze-gold side wash; rarely over 30 lb. Yellowfin tuna: bright yellow fins, grows far larger.
How do you catch blackfin tuna?
Small feathers trolled fast, or live pilchards free-lined over humps and wrecks. Methods: trolling, live bait, jigging, kite. Baits: sardine, cigar minnow, goggle-eye. Lures: feather, skirted lure, metal jig.
What is the record blackfin tuna?
45.5 lb in Florida (1996), Key West. Other states’ records are in the table.