Tuna Fishing News | Prism Hobbies

Southern California April 21 offshore action, bluefin lead mixed tuna bite

Bluefin led April 21, but the bigger story was the spread: 182 tuna across 19 trips, with mixed bags and a few boats doing the heavy lifting.

Nina Kowalski•2 min read•06:49 PM

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Rhode Island brothers help NOAA track bluefin tuna on charter trips

Brian and Peter Bacon turned charter trips into bluefin science, tagging 273 fish and feeding NOAA data that can shape future tuna rules.

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Analysis

Lower Western Atlantic Harvest Helps Rebuild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Stocks

Three decades of tagging and 75 years of catch history show why bluefin are back in western Atlantic waters: the West became a refuge that helped the stock recover.

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Updates

Palm Beach Tuna Tournament expands to two weeks, boosts cash prizes

A two-week window, a guaranteed $10,000 tuna payout and weekly blackfin money turn this Palm Beach event into a grind, not a one-day swing.

Sam Ortega2m read

Updates

NOAA updates Atlantic bluefin tuna open areas, retention rules for anglers

Open in the Gulf of Maine and Southern New England, bluefin can still be kept this weekend, but only if the fish fits the size rules. The South trophy area is closed.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Updates

UK Bluefin Tuna Licences Double, Wider Access Opens for 2026

Defra doubled commercial bluefin access to 30 vessels, but the real question is whether that opens the fishery or just widens the same small circle.

Sam Ortega2m read

Analysis

San Diego Tuna Anglers Get Key Summer Rigs From Long Range Report

Bring two tuna outfits, not six: San Diego’s summer playbook now centers on a 25/30-pound setup and a 40/50-pound yo-yo rig.

Jamie Taylor6m read

Updates

NOAA proposes Atlantic HMS rule changes affecting tuna fleets and quotas

NOAA wants to strip out Atlantic HMS indicator-species rules for longliners. Tuna fleets could gain flexibility, but the comment deadline is May 29 and a hearing is set for May 21.

Nina Kowalski2m read

News

Warming Oceans Push Tuna Toward Cooler Waters, Higher Latitudes

Tuna are burning more energy than scientists expected, and that heat burden could shove fish into cooler water, higher latitudes, and shorter seasons.

Sam Ortega2m read

Updates

Longtail Tuna Spread Across Fraser Coast Waters in Autumn Bite

Longtail tuna pushed from Platypus Bay to the western bay and the straits, forcing anglers to fish wider, run farther and follow bait instead of hotspots.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Updates

NOAA Research Finds Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Spawn Far Beyond Known Gulf Grounds

Bluefin larvae turned up at more than half of 70 sampling stations in the Slope Sea, a stretch between the Gulf Stream and the Northeast U.S. shelf long overlooked by scientists.

Nina Kowalski4m read

News

Longtail Tuna Schools Flood Northern Moreton Bay as Spring Migration Begins

Coastwatch reports active longtail schools moving into northern Moreton Bay, feeding in as little as one metre of water and turning Moreton Bay into a spring hotspot.

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News

Bluefin Tuna Shift North in Korea, Quota Overruns and Discards Mount

Juvenile bluefin turned up in northern Gangwon, while Korea also discarded more than 1,300 giant fish after quota limits were blown past.

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Updates

ISSF Repeals Conservation Measure for Indian Ocean Yellowfin Tuna

ISSF’s board voted to repeal Conservation Measure 1.3 after its January 2026 Status of the Stocks report moved Indian Ocean yellowfin from uncertain (yellow) to healthy (green).

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News

North Carolina highlights Katie's 90-inch bluefin tuna catch and release

Katie’s 90-inch bluefin at Oregon Inlet put a giant fish back in the water and put North Carolina’s spring tuna bite on notice.

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Community

Cook Islands angler lands 51.5-kilogram yellowfin to win tournament prize

Troy Henderson’s 51.5-kilo yellowfin powered a Cook Islands Easter win, while 37 boats and a mixed offshore spread pointed to a stronger tuna window.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Post-Trip and Seasonal Reel Maintenance for Tuna Anglers, WD-40 Steps

WD‑40 recommends cleaning reel exteriors after every trip with a damp microfiber cloth and scheduling a seasonal deep service to fight saltwater corrosion and abrasion.

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Analysis

Essential Rigging and Tackle Setups for Offshore Bluefin and Yellowfin

Match tackle to species and technique: run 30–60 lb conventional with braid + fluorocarbon topshot for yellowfin and 80–130 lb stand-up/chair tackle with 130 lb braid or 80–130 lb monofilamine and 30+ lb strike drags for bluefin.

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Analysis

Tuna Fishing Year-Round: Species, Seasons, Tackle, Techniques, Hotspots, Safety

Tuna fishing runs year-round with species and tactics that change by season; knowing which tuna, gear, techniques, hotspots, and safety steps matters for more consistent trips.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Analysis

Essential Post-Trip and Seasonal Reel Maintenance Checklist for Tuna Anglers

Proper post-trip and seasonal reel care prevents costly failures, extends tackle life, and keeps you ready for the fish of a lifetime.

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Analysis

Spring yellowfin tactics for Hatteras anglers and charter captains

Spring yellowfin tactics for Hatteras waters: read sea-surface temperatures and keep a flexible spread to find and hook hungry tuna.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Practical Gear and Techniques Guide for Offshore Tuna Anglers

This article lays out a practical, gear-focused guide for hobby tuna anglers targeting yellowfin, bluefin, and albacore, covering tackle selection, bait choices, and presentation strategies that improve catch rates and safety offshore. Clear recommendations on rods, reels, lines, baits, rigging patterns, and boat preparation help anglers prepare for heavy fish and changing conditions.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Essential Tuna Fishing Techniques for Sport and Charter Anglers

This compendium delivers field-ready, practical techniques for hooking, fighting and safely handling yellowfin, bluefin, blackfin and bigeye tuna. Follow clear pre-trip planning, tackle selection, baiting, fish-finding and safety steps to increase hookups, reduce fish mortality and stay in compliance with local regulations.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Beginner Tuna Tackle Primer, Five Proven Lures and Tactics

A tuna tackle primer lays out five proven lure types and practical tactics for anglers preparing trips for bluefin, yellowfin or albacore. The recommendations cover specific lure choices, tackle matchups, feeding indicators, and the mix of trolling and live baiting that improves chances offshore.

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News

Spanish Tuna Purse Seine Fleets Cut Bycatch Sharply Over 20 Years

Spanish purse seiners spent 20 years proving bycatch can fall fast: non-entangling FADs, live-release tools and tighter rules reshaped one of the biggest tuna fleets.

Sam Ortega2m read

Analysis

Tuna Gear Matchups: Choosing Rods, Reels and Lines for Bluefin, Yellowfin, Bigeye

Match species to gear: bluefin need 50–130 class reels, 50–130 lb braid and 80–300 lb leaders; yellowfin work on 30–50 class setups with 20–50 lb braid; bigeye demand heavy jig rods and 80–150 lb braid.

Jamie Taylor6m read

Analysis

Spot Schooling Tuna by Reading Surface Birds and Bait Signs

Read shearwaters, terns, and frigatebirds working bait to locate schooling tuna; spotting bird-and-bait signs turns fleeting feeding events into fishable opportunities.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Aggressive Live-Bait Tactics Produce 50-60 lb Yellowfin Off Mississippi Rigs

Capt. Zach Lewis' live-bait prop-wash tactic ignited surface feeding and produced 50-60 lb yellowfin off Horn Mountain rigs. It shows northern Gulf rigs still deliver when blue-water and bait line up.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Complete Tuna Fishing Guide: Techniques, Tackle and Reading Fish Behavior

A practical playbook for catching bluefin, yellowfin and other tuna using surface, subsurface and deepwater tactics, with tackle choices and behavior cues that turn sightings into hookups.

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Analysis

Essential tag-and-release and safety guide for tuna anglers

This primer outlines best practices for tuna tag-and-release, fish handling, and onboard safety to protect fish, validate tournament tags, and keep crews safe.

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