Waterlands

Species guide · Florida

Yellowfin tuna fishing in Florida

Thunnus albacares, a pelagic species also called ahi, yellowfin and allison tuna. Listed for the Eastern Gulf and South Atlantic regions. Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Suwannee River to Keaton Beach out 20 NM at 47, one of 11 Florida bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Shoulder season
Where it's scoring nowAll Florida waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

Eastern Gulf

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks
  1. Jan: Off season
  2. Feb: Off season
  3. Mar: Off season
  4. Apr: Shoulder season
  5. May: Peak season
  6. Jun: Peak season
  7. Jul: Peak season
  8. Aug: Shoulder season
  9. Sep: Shoulder season
  10. Oct: Shoulder season
  11. Nov: Off season
  12. Dec: Off season

Peak: May to Jul. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Oct.

Research notes, Eastern Gulf region

Mostly an Alabama, Mississippi and Florida Panhandle fishery at deepwater platforms and DeSoto Canyon 60 to 115 miles out, fished hardest May-October when weather allows. The Florida Gulf coast south of the Panhandle rarely has yellowfin within practical range.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

South Atlantic

Off season, about 6 more weeks
  1. Jan: Shoulder season
  2. Feb: Shoulder season
  3. Mar: Peak season
  4. Apr: Peak season
  5. May: Peak season
  6. Jun: Shoulder season
  7. Jul: Off season
  8. Aug: Off season
  9. Sep: Off season
  10. Oct: Off season
  11. Nov: Shoulder season
  12. Dec: Shoulder season

Peak: Mar to May. In season (shoulder or peak): Nov to Jun.

Research notes, South Atlantic region

North Carolina lands more recreational yellowfin by weight than any other state (NCDMF). Hatteras and Oregon Inlet fish peak late winter through spring along Gulf Stream edges and eddies, with a second push in late fall. South Carolina and Georgia Gulf Stream trips see them mainly in spring.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 11

Florida bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's yellowfin tuna score this hour.

1
47Good
Coastal waters from Suwannee River to Keaton Beach out 20 NM

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (47) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (54) · 20 named spots

2
47Good
Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (47) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (54) · 131 named spots

3
46Good
Apalachee Bay or Coastal Waters From Keaton Beach to Ochlockonee River Fl out to 20 Nm

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (46) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (53) · 49 named spots

4
46Good
Coastal Waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola FL out to 20 Nm

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (46) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (54) · 39 named spots

5
46Good
Coastal Waters from Mexico Beach to Apalachicola out 20 NM

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (46) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (53) · 24 named spots

6
45Good
Coastal waters from Chokoloskee to Bonita Beach FL out 20 NM

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (45) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 1 PM (53) · 81 named spots

7
35Fair
Coastal waters from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL out 20 NM

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 2 AM (35) · 22 named spots

8
35Fair
Coastal waters from St. Augustine to Flagler Beach FL out 20 NM

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 12 AM (35) · 4 named spots

9
35Fair
Flagler Beach to Volusia-Brevard County Line 0-20 nm

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 12 AM (35) · 21 named spots

10
35Fair
Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 0-20 nm

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 12 AM (35) · 88 named spots

11
35Fair
Volusia-Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 0-20 nm

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 12 AM (35) · 92 named spots

Not scored in this forecast: Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay, Pensacola Bay Area including Santa Rosa Sound, St. Andrews Bay Waterways, Tampa Bay waters and Western Choctawhatchee Bay.

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 66°F to 88°F, best between 72°F and 82°F.
Water depth
100 to 10000 ft of water.
Structure
Bluewater, canyon, ledge, bank, pinnacle and open water, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers moving water, with light current.Tide stage has little influence offshore. Current edges, eddies (warm-core eddies in the Gulf), temperature breaks and bait around platforms and FADs drive the bite.
Light
Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
Pressure
Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits
20 kt of wind and 6 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Yellowfin feed in blue water along canyon edges, the shelf break, current edges, deepwater platforms and FADs, usually from the surface to about 300 feet. Troll ballyhoo, spreader bars and cedar plugs early in the day, then chunk butterfish or sardines, fish live hardtails, or drop jigs to marks. Around Gulf platforms and in the canyons the night bite on chunks and jigs is often better than the day.

Methods
trolling, chunking, live bait, vertical jigging, popping
Lures
skirted ballyhoo rigs, spreader bars, daisy chains, cedar plugs, diving plugs, butterfly and knife jigs, poppers
Bait
ballyhoo, butterfish chunks, sardine, live blue runner (hardtail), squid, flying fish

Regulations

FWC saltwater regulations Buy a Florida fishing license License types

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Synced with FWC Sep 16, 2026.

No reviewed yellowfin tuna rule for Florida is on file yet. Check with FWC before you keep one.

Other Florida species