Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) · Massachusetts lists none of its own
SizeNo size limit
BagNo bag limit
SeasonOpen year-roundOpen today
The boat needs an HMS Angling permit to fish for Atlantic tunas.
NOAA HMS 2025 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
False albacoreWavy marks on the back, spots under the pectoral. Tell them apartSize16" min (curved fork length)
Bag5 fish combined with Atlantic bonito
SeasonOpen year-round
Atlantic bonitoStripes on the back, slimmer. Tell them apartSize16" min (curved fork length)
Bag5 fish combined with false albacore
SeasonOpen year-round
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Dark horizontal stripes on the BELLY — not the back; stout purple-backed football. More on the skipjack tuna page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for skipjack tuna in Massachusetts?
No size limit.
How many skipjack tuna can you keep in Massachusetts?
No bag limit.
When is skipjack tuna season in Massachusetts?
Open year-round.
How current is this Massachusetts skipjack tuna 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.
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