BREAKING: New Bluefin Tuna Limits Hit NY, NJ, CT Anglers HardNOAA Fisheries has just dropped a bombshell on the recreational bluefin tuna season — and it’s going to hit anglers across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut right in the cooler.
Effective June 3, 2025, new federal regulations drastically reduce how many bluefin tuna recreational fishermen can keep. This is in response to a significant overharvest during the 2024 season.
What’s Changed?The new 2025 limits are now:
• Private boats: 1 bluefin tuna per vessel per day (27” to less than 47”)
• Charter/headboats: 2 per vessel per day in the same size range
• Retention of larger class fish (47” to 73”) is prohibited
Compare this to 2024, when anglers could retain up to 3 bluefin, including a mix of school, large school, and small medium-sized fish — even more on headboats.
Why the Cut?NOAA says recreational anglers blew past the allowable harvest in 2024, particularly with school-sized fish. This triggered an immediate reduction to bring the U.S. back in line with international bluefin quotas.
The agency emphasized that without these cuts, the entire recreational bluefin fishery could be at risk of future closures.
How This Affects Us• Fewer fish, less flexibility: Most tri-state anglers target bluefin in late spring and summer. Now, a single fish per day limits what you can bring home — and for charters, what you can offer clients.
• Hard hit on businesses: Charter operations and tackle shops may feel the squeeze from fewer bookings and reduced gear sales.
• Angler frustration is growing: Many feel the cuts penalize those who follow the rules while illegal activity in other sectors goes unchecked.
Don’t ForgetYou still must have a valid HMS permit to target bluefin tuna — even if you’re fishing from a kayak
