Massachusetts · Cape & Islands
YELLOWFIN TUNA FISHING
IN MARTHA'S VINEYARD
Martha's Vineyard is a solid destination for yellowfin tuna fishing. Book a charter and target yellowfin tuna with local experts.
About Yellowfin Tuna Fishing in Martha's Vineyard
A powerful open-water predator prized for sashimi-grade flesh. Found in blue water near rips and structure.
Yellowfin Tuna are among the most powerful and prized offshore gamefish in the world. Their torpedo-shaped body is designed for sustained high-speed swimming, with a dark metallic blue back, silver-gold sides, and bright yellow finlets and fins that give them their name. Mature yellowfin develop extraordinarily long second dorsal and anal fins that sweep back like sickles. These warm-blooded fish (one of few fish that can maintain elevated body temperature) are found in deep blue water near oil rigs, floating debris, and temperature breaks. Their sashimi-grade flesh is among the finest seafood in the world.
Scientific name: Thunnus albacares
Yellowfin Tuna Seasonal Calendar — Martha's Vineyard
Month-by-month availability for yellowfin tuna in Martha's Vineyard, MA.
How to Catch Yellowfin Tuna in Martha's Vineyard
Techniques & Bait
Chunking (cutting fresh baitfish into chunks and creating a chum slick) with yellowfin tuna hooks baited with fresh chunk bait is deadly when fish are located near structure or rigs. Live bait (hardtails, blue runners, goggle-eyes) drifted on the surface or at depth with a balloon or kite produces the largest fish. Trolling with cedar plugs, skirted ballyhoo, and spreader bars at 6-8 knots covers water when fish are scattered. Jigging with heavy butterfly jigs under the boat when fish are marked on the sounder is increasingly popular.
Recommended Tackle
Heavy conventional rod, 50-80 lb class reel, 65-100 lb braid, 80-130 lb fluorocarbon leader (at least 15 feet), 7/0-9/0 circle hooks. For chunking: medium-heavy spinning with 40-65 lb braid. Stand-up gear for fish over 100 lbs.
Best Deep Sea Fishing Fishing Spots in Martha's Vineyard
Top spots where local captains target yellowfin tuna and other deep sea fishing species.
Vineyard Sound Bluefin Grounds
Vineyard Sound between Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands is a deep-water corridor where giant bluefin tuna feed on schools of menhaden, herring, and squid from June through November. The sound's strong currents and nutrient-rich water create a feeding ground that attracts bluefin ranging from school-sized 50-pounders to giants exceeding 1,000 pounds. Charter boats troll, chunk, and live-bait for tuna in the sound's rips and eddies.
South Shore Shark Grounds
The waters south of Martha's Vineyard over the continental shelf attract blue sharks, mako sharks, and thresher sharks that follow warm Gulf Stream eddies inshore during summer months. Charter boats run 15 to 30 miles south of the island to reach productive sharking grounds where chum slicks draw these apex predators to the surface. The area has become increasingly known for great white shark sightings as the seal population has rebounded along the New England coast.
Coxes Ledge (Vineyard Access)
Coxes Ledge is a productive offshore fishing ground roughly 50 miles south of Martha's Vineyard where an underwater ridge rises from surrounding depths to concentrate cod, pollock, and tuna. The ledge's structure attracts bluefin tuna that feed on the abundant baitfish populations over the hard bottom. Long-range charters from the Vineyard target Coxes Ledge for both bottom-fishing and tuna during summer and fall seasons.
Mud Hole (South of Nomans Land)
The Mud Hole is a depression in the seafloor south of Nomans Land Island where nutrient-rich water concentrates baitfish and attracts a variety of pelagic and bottom species. Bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, and mahi-mahi are caught over the deeper water during warm months, while cod and black sea bass hold on the surrounding structure. The area is a well-known waypoint for Vineyard charter boats running offshore trips.
Other Species in Martha's Vineyard
More fish you can target while visiting Martha's Vineyard.
Yellowfin Tuna Fishing in Martha's Vineyard — FAQ
Yellowfin Tuna fishing in Martha's Vineyard is productive during .
Yellowfin Tuna fishing charters in Martha's Vineyard are typically deep sea fishing trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Chunking (cutting fresh baitfish into chunks and creating a chum slick) with yellowfin tuna hooks baited with fresh chunk bait is deadly when fish are located near structure or rigs. Live bait (hardtails, blue runners, goggle-eyes) drifted on the surface or at depth with a balloon or kite produces the largest fish. Trolling with cedar plugs, skirted ballyhoo, and spreader bars at 6-8 knots covers water when fish are scattered. Jigging with heavy butterfly jigs under the boat when fish are marked on the sounder is increasingly popular.
No — when you book a charter in Martha's Vineyard, your captain provides all required Massachusetts fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Yellowfin Tuna regulations in Massachusetts include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Yellowfin Tuna in Martha's Vineyard, you may also catch Striped Bass, Bluefish, False Albacore, Fluke, Bluefin Tuna. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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