Tuna Fishing Trips

Tuna trips are about hard fights and good eating. They are boat trips, usually long ones, and the fish you target depends on where you go and when. Yellowfin are the most widely available. Bluefin, blackfin and bigeye each add their own regional seasons.

Yellowfin live near the surface of tropical and subtropical seas around the world and can swim across whole oceans. They can reach about 400 pounds. Rod-and-reel anglers account for a large share of Atlantic yellowfin landings, and the fishery supports charters and tournaments along the coast. In U.S. Atlantic and Gulf waters, NOAA Fisheries manages bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, skipjack and bluefin together as Atlantic tunas.

Where to go for tuna

The Outer Banks, North Carolina. This is the best-known U.S. tuna trip on the East Coast. The visitors bureau says yellowfin are caught year-round and are the most sought-after offshore fish. Giant bluefin, from about 200 to more than 1,000 pounds, are fished from roughly early January through late March. They are normally caught and released, and you should tell the captain ahead of time if you want to target them. The Gulf Stream runs roughly 30 miles off the coast. See the Outer Banks guide.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Visit Los Cabos puts yellowfin season at about September through January, and the Cabo Tuna Jackpot runs in November. Charters there usually include tackle, live bait and the fishing license. See the Cabo San Lucas guide.

The Louisiana Gulf Coast. Louisiana’s offshore fleet fishes for tuna near Gulf reefs and platforms. Grand Isle lists blackfin tuna among its offshore catches. Port Fourchon trips work the deep water around the oil rigs for tuna, marlin and wahoo. Mahi, cobia, amberjack and snapper are also caught around the same reefs and platforms. See the Louisiana Gulf Coast guide.

The Florida Keys. Tuna, sailfish and mahi are the Keys’ main open-water targets. Offshore charters run from Key Largo to Key West, with boats from 26-foot center consoles up to 65-foot sportfishers. See the Florida Keys guide.

When to go

• Winter: Outer Banks giant bluefin, about January through March.
• Year-round: Outer Banks yellowfin. The visitors bureau’s monthly calendar lists tuna in most months.
• Fall into winter: Cabo yellowfin, about September through January.
• Gulf of Mexico: for Louisiana, ask charters which months they fish the rigs for tuna.

NOAA notes that Atlantic yellowfin spawn from May to August in the Gulf. Spawning seasons and fishing seasons are different things, so use local charter reports to choose your dates. Our month pages, such as February and November, help you compare destinations.

How the trips work

Tuna fishing means an offshore charter, often a full day with a long run. Ask the captain how they plan to fish: trolling, live bait or something else. Gulf trips out of Louisiana often work the reefs and oil platforms. Giant bluefin trips are their own kind of day, with fish that can top 1,000 pounds and, on the Outer Banks, a release at the end.

Charter crews handle the boat, tackle and bait. In U.S. Atlantic waters the boat also needs a federal HMS permit. A charter’s HMS Charter/Headboat permit takes care of that for you.

If you keep fish, ask how the catch is cleaned and shared and whether you can ship it home. Commercial sale of recreational catch is not allowed.

Choosing a destination

• Biggest fish: Outer Banks bluefin in winter. We’d keep a spare day in the plan in case wind keeps the boat at the dock.
• Best mix of species: a summer Gulf Stream day off the Outer Banks, or a Gulf rig trip out of Louisiana, can turn up tuna, mahi and billfish on the same day.
• A warm-weather trip in fall or winter: Cabo yellowfin.
• Combining with family time: a full offshore day is a lot for young children. We’d save tuna for the adults and older teens, and plan shorter outings for everyone else.

Before you book

• Permits and licenses. Ask whether the charter’s federal and state permits cover you, and whether you need your own state saltwater license. Our fishing license guide explains the basics. Rules change, so check before each trip.
• Bag limits. Tuna limits change, sometimes during a season. Your captain will know the current rules.
• Run time and weather. Ask how far you run and what happens if wind cancels the day.
• Catch handling. Ask about fish cleaning, ice and sharing the catch.
• Group size. Ask how many anglers the boat takes and how the crew rotates turns on the rod.

Our guide to choosing a fishing charter covers deposits, weather days and what to bring. Pair this page with mahi-mahi, marlin and sailfish to plan a full offshore trip.