Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, January 1 Update:
Happy New Year folks! We hope that everyone has made one of their resolutions to get out and fish more in 2026. It has been very cold this week, and the wind has been relentless, so not much fishing is going on. While the weather has been keeping many boats in port recently, a couple readers who snuck out off the VA coast recently reported having luck on tautog plus a few flounder. Fish In OC reports that the crew of the Ocean Princess had a very successful last sea bass trip with anglers bringing in nice sized sea bass with some bluefish and tautog in the mix as well.
As of the start of the New year, the bluefin tuna regulations have reverted to their default limits. This means that there are now great opportunities to target these ocean brutes. Recreational anglers with a HMS permit and charter vessels fishing recreationally can keep one bluefin tuna measuring between 27” and 73” in curved fork length per vessel per day or per trip. Additionally, you are allowed one trophy bluefin tuna measuring over 73” per vessel per year as long as the regional trophy subquota remains available. The general category for commercial fishing has a default retention limit of one trophy bluefin tuna that is 73” or larger per vessel per day or per trip. These limits could be adjusted based on quotas, so make sure to check the regulations frequently. For the most current details head to the official NOAA Fisheries Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) website.