Species guide · Maryland
Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing in Maryland
Thunnus thynnus, a pelagic species also called bluefin, giant bluefin and school bluefin. Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 9 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Fenwick Island DE to Chincoteague VA out 20 NM at 45.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Mid-Atlantic
Shoulder season, about 9 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Off season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Peak season
Peak: Jun to Jul, Dec. In season (shoulder or peak): Jun to Jan.
Research notes, Mid-Atlantic region
School and medium bluefin show on inshore lumps and canyon edges off New Jersey and New York from June into fall. A late fall and winter fishery off Virginia and Maryland has grown; VMRC bluefin citations 2023-2025 cluster in December and January.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 1
Maryland bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's atlantic bluefin tuna score this hour.
Best window today 6-11 AM (51) · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 3 PM (55) · 53 named spots
Not scored in this forecast: Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point MD to Smith Point VA, Chesapeake Bay from North Beach to Drum Point MD, Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island to Sandy Point MD, Chesapeake Bay from Sandy Point to North Beach MD, Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island MD, Chester River to Queenstown MD, Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River, Eastern Bay, Patapsco River including Baltimore Harbor, Patuxent River to Broomes Island MD, Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island, Tidal Potomac from Indian Head to Cobb Island MD and Tidal Potomac from Key Bridge to Indian Head MD.
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 50°F to 80°F, best between 58°F and 72°F.
- Water depth
- 40 to 3000 ft of water.
- Structure
- Bank, ledge, canyon, shoal, rip, open water and bluewater, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with moderate current.Tide has a small effect offshore. On banks and ledges a moving tide sets bait up on the edges, which helps, but bait, birds and temperature breaks matter more.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk.
- 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
Bluefin tuna follow schools of herring, mackerel, sand eels and menhaden over banks, ledges and shoals, mostly in the top 150 feet. Troll spreader bars and daisy chains to find fish, then switch to live bait, chunks or stick baits once a school is located. Heavy tackle and a NOAA HMS permit are required, and size-class limits change through the season.
- Methods
- trolling, chunking, live bait, kite fishing, casting, jigging
- Lures
- spreader bars, daisy chains, stick baits, poppers, vertical jigs, ballyhoo on trolling heads
- Bait
- live mackerel, live herring, live menhaden, butterfish chunks, sand eels
Regulations
Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Synced with Maryland DNR Sep 21, 2026.
No reviewed atlantic bluefin tuna rule for Maryland is on file yet. Check with Maryland DNR before you keep one.