Species guide · Massachusetts
Yellowfin tuna fishing in Massachusetts
Thunnus albacares, a pelagic species also called ahi, yellowfin and allison tuna. Listed for the New England region. Peak season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Coastal waters east of Ipswich Bay and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary at 57.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
New England
Peak season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Not present
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Aug to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Jul to Oct.
Research notes, New England region
Offshore canyons south of Rhode Island and Massachusetts (Block, Atlantis, Veatch, Hydrographer) in late summer and early fall, with occasional inshore fish on warm-water intrusions. A long-run fishery for larger boats.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 1
Massachusetts bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's yellowfin tuna score this hour.
Best window today 4-8 PM (62) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (62) · 2 named spots
Not scored in this forecast: Boston Harbor, Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay, Nantucket Sound, Rhode Island Sound and Vineyard Sound.
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
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with MassDMF Sep 18, 2026.
No reviewed yellowfin tuna rule for Massachusetts is on file yet. Check with MassDMF before you keep one.