Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) · Virginia lists none of its own
No recreational limits, unlike yellowfin's 3-fish/27-inch rule — but the boat still needs an HMS Angling permit.
NOAA HMS 2025 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Bigeye tunaStockier with a bigger eye; pectorals never reach that far. Tell them apartNot listed by Virginia: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Yellowfin tunaYellow finlets and shorter pectorals. Tell them apartNot listed by Virginia: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Virginia state record
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04
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.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for albacore in Virginia?
No size limit.
How many albacore can you keep in Virginia?
No bag limit.
When is albacore season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
What is the Virginia record albacore?
73 lb, Washington Canyon (2020).
How current is this Virginia 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.
In the appPoint the camera at an albacore in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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