Massachusetts · Cape & Islands
BLUEFIN TUNA FISHING
IN NANTUCKET
Nantucket is an excellent destination for bluefin tuna fishing, with peak season in July, August, September and good catches in October. Book a charter and target bluefin tuna with local experts.
About Bluefin Tuna Fishing in Nantucket
The Atlantic bluefin tuna is the ultimate big game fish of the northeast, with giants exceeding 1,000 pounds caught off New England each year. Stellwagen Bank and the canyons off Montauk are legendary grounds for these incredible fighters.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are the largest, most powerful, and most valuable tuna species in the world. These magnificent fish can exceed 1,000 lbs and are the ultimate test of angler and tackle. Their torpedo-shaped body is dark blue-black on top with silver-gray sides and a series of yellow finlets along the tail. Bluefin are warm-blooded — they maintain a body temperature well above the surrounding water, which gives them extraordinary power and stamina. Giant bluefin tuna can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars at fish markets, making them one of the most economically important fish in the ocean.
Scientific name: Thunnus thynnus
Bluefin Tuna Seasonal Calendar — Nantucket
Month-by-month availability for bluefin tuna in Nantucket, MA.
How to Catch Bluefin Tuna in Nantucket
Techniques & Bait
Chunking (chumming with cut herring, mackerel, or butterfish while drifting) with baited hooks at various depths is the standard technique for school-size bluefin. Live bait fishing with mackerel, herring, or whiting produces trophy-size fish. Trolling with spreader bars, umbrella rigs, and large skirted lures covers water when fish are scattered. "Green stick" fishing (a specialized rig that dangles squid-shaped lures from a tall pole) is popular on the commercial and recreational fleet. Fly fishing for bluefin on 14-16 weight rods is the ultimate challenge.
Recommended Tackle
School bluefin (under 73 inches): medium-heavy spinning or 30-50 lb conventional. Giants (over 73 inches): 80-130 lb stand-up or chair gear, Shimano Tiagra or Penn International reels, 130 lb mono or braid, wind-on leaders to 300+ lb. Fights with giants can last 2-6+ hours.
Best Deep Sea Fishing Fishing Spots in Nantucket
Top spots where local captains target bluefin tuna and other deep sea fishing species.
Nantucket Offshore Tuna Grounds
The deep water south of Nantucket over the continental shelf is a premier bluefin tuna fishery where giant and school-sized tuna chase menhaden, herring, and squid from June through November. The area's proximity to the shelf edge and warm Gulf Stream eddies creates ideal conditions for tuna to concentrate in fishable numbers. Charter boats out of Nantucket run 20 to 50 miles south to reach the tuna grounds for some of the best bluefin fishing in the world.
Rosie's Ledge
Rosie's Ledge is an underwater ridge southeast of Nantucket where the hard bottom rises from surrounding depths to attract cod, pollock, black sea bass, and bluefin tuna. The ledge's structure concentrates baitfish over the hard bottom, drawing tuna and sharks that patrol the edges during warmer months. Bottom-fishing over the ledge produces consistent catches of cod and sea bass while trolling the perimeter targets passing tuna.
The Dump (South of Great Point)
The Dump is a well-known offshore fishing area south of Great Point where the seafloor drops off from the Nantucket Shoals into deeper water, creating a natural bait-concentrating feature. Bluefin tuna, blue sharks, and mako sharks cruise this transition zone following schools of baitfish pushed by currents off the shoals. It is a productive area for both chunking and trolling during summer and early fall.
Davis Bank South
Davis Bank South lies roughly 40 miles south of Nantucket where an elevated section of the continental shelf concentrates marine life in the surrounding deep water. Bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, and bigeye tuna are targeted along the bank's edges during warm-water months when Gulf Stream influence pushes bait concentrations over the structure. Long-range offshore charters from Nantucket consider Davis Bank a primary destination for big-game fishing.
Other Species in Nantucket
More fish you can target while visiting Nantucket.
Bluefin Tuna Fishing in Nantucket — FAQ
The peak months for Bluefin Tuna fishing in Nantucket are July, August, September. During these months, Bluefin Tuna are most active and abundant in the Nantucket area.
Bluefin Tuna fishing charters in Nantucket 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 (chumming with cut herring, mackerel, or butterfish while drifting) with baited hooks at various depths is the standard technique for school-size bluefin. Live bait fishing with mackerel, herring, or whiting produces trophy-size fish. Trolling with spreader bars, umbrella rigs, and large skirted lures covers water when fish are scattered. "Green stick" fishing (a specialized rig that dangles squid-shaped lures from a tall pole) is popular on the commercial and recreational fleet. Fly fishing for bluefin on 14-16 weight rods is the ultimate challenge.
No — when you book a charter in Nantucket, your captain provides all required Massachusetts fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Bluefin 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 Bluefin Tuna in Nantucket, you may also catch Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Black Sea Bass, False Albacore. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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