Species guide · Virginia
Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing in Virginia
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 Chincoteague to Parramore Island VA out 20 NM at 53.
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 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 · 1
Virginia bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's atlantic bluefin tuna score this hour.
Best window today 9 AM-10 PM (53) · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 3 PM (55) · 89 named spots
Not scored in this forecast: Chesapeake Bay from Little Creek VA to Cape Henry VA including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Chesapeake Bay from New Point Comfort to Little Creek VA, Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA, Chesapeake Bay from Windmill Point to New Point Comfort VA, James River from Jamestown to the James River Bridge, James River from JRB to HRBT, Including the Elizabeth River, Rappahannock River from Urbanna to Windmill Point, Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA and York River.
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
Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Synced with VMRC Sep 21, 2026.
No reviewed atlantic bluefin tuna rule for Virginia is on file yet. Check with VMRC before you keep one.