Massachusetts · Cape & Islands
YELLOWFIN TUNA FISHING
IN NANTUCKET
Nantucket is a solid destination for yellowfin tuna fishing. Book a charter and target yellowfin tuna with local experts.
About Yellowfin Tuna Fishing in Nantucket
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 — Nantucket
Month-by-month availability for yellowfin tuna in Nantucket, MA.
How to Catch Yellowfin Tuna in Nantucket
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 Nantucket
Top spots where local captains target yellowfin 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.
Yellowfin Tuna Fishing in Nantucket — FAQ
Yellowfin Tuna fishing in Nantucket is productive during .
Yellowfin 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 (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 Nantucket, 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 Nantucket, you may also catch Striped Bass, Bluefin Tuna, Bluefish, Fluke, Black Sea Bass. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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