Bigeye Tuna regulations in Delaware

Tunas · Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? A bigeye tuna is a keeper today if it measures at least 27 inches, with no daily limit.

Bigeye Tuna size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
State waters	Open year-round	27 inch minimum	No daily limit

Notes

Curved fork length.
Atlantic HMS Angling Permit required for private vessels in federal waters; non-retained HMS must be released without removing from the water. hmspermits.noaa.gov / (888) 872-8862.

Exact DNREC wording

Season: Open Year-RoundAll Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) not retained must be immediately released to ensure the maximum probability of survival, without removing the fish from the water.*Special permit required - All private vessel owners/operators recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) for personal use in the Atlantic Ocean must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit. Further limits and restrictions apply. Consult https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or call toll free (888) 872-8862 for specific information and permits.
Size: 27 inch minimum (measurement is taken in a line, tracing the contour of the body from the tip of the upper jaw to the fork of the tail, which crosses the dorsal insertion of the pectoral fin and the dorsal side of the caudal keel)
Limit: No Limit

Source: DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-09-20 (2026 season).

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About the bigeye tuna

Species of fish

The bigeye tuna is a species of true tuna of the genus Thunnus, belonging to the wider mackerel family Scombridae. Bigeye tuna are found in the open waters of all tropical and temperate oceans, but not in the Mediterranean Sea.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Bigeye Tuna in Delaware?

27 inch minimum in Delaware state waters.

How many Bigeye Tuna can you keep per day in Delaware?

No daily limit.

When is Bigeye Tuna season in Delaware?

Open year-round.

Is my Bigeye Tuna a keeper today?

A bigeye tuna is a keeper today if it measures at least 27 inches, with no daily limit.