Species guide · New Jersey

Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing in New Jersey

Thunnus thynnus, a pelagic species also called bluefin, giant bluefin and school bluefin. Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM at 54, one of 2 New Jersey bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Shoulder season

Where it's scoring now All New Jersey waters

Season 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 10 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 · 2

New Jersey bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's atlantic bluefin tuna score this hour.

54Good

Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM

Best window today 2-9 PM (55) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (56) · 100 named spots

53Good

Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM

Best window today 4-9 PM (55) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (56) · 72 named spots

Not scored in this forecast: Delaware Bay waters north of East Point NJ to Slaughter Beach DE and Delaware Bay waters south of East Point NJ to Slaughter Beach DE.

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

NJFW saltwater regulations Buy a New Jersey fishing license License types

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with NJFW Sep 18, 2026.

No reviewed atlantic bluefin tuna rule for New Jersey is on file yet. Check with NJFW before you keep one.