Albacorein Florida (Gulf)
Thunnus alalunga
Also called Longfin, Longfin tuna.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). Florida (Gulf) lists no rule of its own for albacore, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
No recreational limits, unlike yellowfin's 3-fish/27-inch rule — but the boat still needs an HMS Angling permit.
NOAA HMS 2025· checked Open
Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Gulf) rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlbacoreThis page. | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-round |
| Bigeye tunaStockier with a bigger eye; pectorals never reach that far.Tell them apart | Not listed by Florida (Gulf): the default applies (No size limit, 2 fish or 100 lb per person per day, whichever is greater) | ||
| Yellowfin tunaYellow finlets and shorter pectorals.Tell them apart | Not listed by Florida (Gulf): the default applies (No size limit, 2 fish or 100 lb per person per day, whichever is greater) | ||
How to tell it
Pectoral fins absurdly long, sweeping back past the anal fin; deep-blue back, chalk belly. More on the albacore page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Albacore in other states
In the app
Point the camera at an albacore in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appAlbacore in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for albacore in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many albacore can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
No bag limit.
When is albacore season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) albacore rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 2025, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.