Up north in the land of lobstah, offshore bluefin tuna fishing is enjoying a resurgence. After several years of spotty, inconsistent catches, anglers are enjoying steady hookups with one of the most powerful species in the North Atlantic. Of all the tuna species, bluefins stand alone for their size and strength, and also their taste at the sushi bar.
There are several advantages to fishing for bluefins in Maine. While Mainers are quick to boast about them — fish typically range from 75 to 100 inches in length — saltwater anglers around the country may not be aware of the pluses of fishing in the state that seemingly has more pine trees than people.
Yes, the regulations concerning the size and catch limits are a little tricky, but overall, fishing for bluefins in Maine is certainly underrated and often overlooked.
A Short Run to Bluefin Tuna
“The best thing about bluefin fishing in Maine is shorter travel time than you’ll find in other areas,” said Capt. Bob Humphrey, a USCG-licensed charter captain working out of Portland, Maine, one of the top spots in the state for bluefin fishing. “We can get to depths offshore of 300 to 400 [feet] just eight to 10 miles out.”
It’s a competitive edge for the fishery. Instead of traveling three or four hours to reach some of the canyons off Montauk or Cape Cod, for example, some deep water in Maine can be accessed in about an hour (if the weather cooperates).
“It’s a definite advantage for us,” said Capt. Greg Brown, who runs charters out of another bluefin hotspot, Kent, Maine. “We used to have to travel south to the Gloucester [Mass.] for bluefin action — those days are over.” Now, if the bluefins are hitting, he can simply take anglers to just off Boon Island, which he can reach just over an hour from Kent Harbor.
Bait Schools Attract Bluefin Tuna
The availability of the tuna’s favorite prey — herring, mackerel and squid — is another advantage for Maine. The increased presence of forage has led to increased catch rates, both captains say. Others indicated that changes in sea-surface temperatures in the Gulf of Maine attract the baitfish, and bluefins follow. Whether this “congregation” of warm and cool waters is caused by climate change or not is up for debate, but the fact remains that the currents that cause these temperature fluctuations carry baitfish. And fishing for bluefins on the edges of these zones is becoming increasing productive.
“There’s a lot more tuna now then there were in the early 2000s, “ said Brown. “It seems the season is longer and there are just a lot more fish.”
Humphrey said the high season for bluefin fishing run from July through September. But if you’re looking for bluefins, you may also run into sharks; threshers, blues, makos and porbeagles all make cameo appearances thanks to their ability to withstand Maine’s colder waters.
Prepping for and Locating Bluefins off Maine
Besides mapping to identifying water temperature fluctuations, spotting a school of tuna can also be as simple as locating where birds are circling near an area of topwater churn, a sure sign that bluefins are feeding near the surface. Keep in mind that topwater fishing may seem obvious in these scenarios, but there will also be fish at deeper depths near the feeding frenzy.
Catching bluefins primarily involves trolling or chunking, using cut bluefish, herring, mackerel, sardines, whiting, and squid. Chunking is particularly effective, as both the scent and visual signals are major attractants. Pay careful attention to tides; bluefins prefer slack tides for feeding and loath strong tides.
The right gear is also important. The consensus among the captains and outfitters — given the bluefin’s powerful, prolonged fights — is to use medium-heavy flex rods with 130-class reels spooled with 200-pound-test braided lines and 160- to 180-pound fluorocarbon leaders. Both 6/0 and 8/0 circle hooks holding live bait are also a clear preference.
Can you keep the bluefin tuna you catch?
Once an angler hooks up with a bluefin, it gets interesting. There are lots of conservation and environmental regulations in place limiting what fish can be kept or released. Essentially, it depends on the permits the boat holds. Don’t assume you’ll be able to keep whatever tuna you catch.
“I had a Colorado family with me last season and one of them caught a 101-inch bluefin after a six-hour battle.” Brown said. “But It was a once-in a lifetime experience for them … just seeing the bluefin on the side of the boat was so amazing.” In other words, the fish never came on the boat; but the fight and the sight of the massive creature was well worth the family’s time and energy. When in doubt, check with your charter captain or local tackle shop for clarity regarding Maine’s bluefin regulations.
Regulations, laws and permits aside, fishing for bluefins in Maine is a simple, somewhat undiscovered pleasure. Crowds are thinner, fish are increasingly available in Maine’s cold, clean waters, and the travel times to get to prime bluefin locales are minimal compared to other nearby locales. If that’s not a recipe for a tremendous fishing trip, we’re not sure what is.
