A Fishing Guru

Offshore · Thunnus atlanticus

Blackfin tuna fishing in Islamorada

Also called blackfin.

Blackfin tuna are the small, fast tuna of the Keys, and the Islamorada Hump is the most famous place in Florida to catch them. A 15–30 lb blackfin on spinning tackle pulls harder than almost anything its size.

Harvest allowedSkill: IntermediateCharter a boatBring your own boat

Season

Peak Good Slow

  1. January: good
  2. February: good
  3. March: peak
  4. April: peak
  5. May: peak
  6. June: good
  7. July: slow
  8. August: slow
  9. September: slow
  10. October: good
  11. November: good
  12. December: good

Peak Mar–May, good Jun, Oct–Feb.

Water 72–80 °F is ideal; they go quiet below 68 °F or above 85 °F.

Full season calendar →

Where to find blackfin tuna

The Islamorada Hump and the 409 Hump, where the Gulf Stream pushes over a seamount and the current piles bait on the up-current side. Also the reef edge and the deep wrecks when the bait is there.

When to go

February to June is peak, with a second push in autumn. The bite is best at first and last light on a strong current; a full moon can move it to the night. Mid-day on a slack tide is slow.

Best window on the day: First and last light. Today's window and score are on the conditions page.

  • March: Big blackfin stack up on the humps.
  • April: Peak on the Islamorada Hump at first and last light.
  • October: The autumn push starts.

How to catch them

Anchor or drift up-current of the hump and build a live-bait chum slick with pilchards, then free-line a hooked pilchard back in the slick. Vertical jigs dropped through the marks work when the fish are deep; trolling small feathers and cedar plugs finds scattered fish.

Bait & tackle

Bait
Live pilchards or threadfin herring free-lined in a live-bait chum slick; chunks of bonito or sardine in a chunk line
Lures
Butterfly and vertical jigs of 2–5 oz; small feathers and cedar plugs on the troll
Tackle
7 ft rod with a 6000–8000 spinning reel or a 20–30 lb conventional, 30–50 lb braid
Rig
8–10 ft of 25–40 lb fluorocarbon (blackfin are leader-shy); small 2/0–4/0 circle or live-bait hook

pilchardthreadfinbonito chunkvertical jigtrolling luresTackle setup →

Tips for your level

  • Blackfin are leader-shy: the captain will use light fluorocarbon and a small hook, so let the fish run and keep steady pressure.
  • Hold on when a tuna eats a free-lined bait: the first run is fast and straight down.
  • Bleed and ice blackfin at once; the meat is excellent raw or seared when handled well.

Keeping one

Very good: dark red, rich meat that is best raw, seared or grilled rare the day it is caught.

Keep only what you will eat, within the limit, and release the rest in the water where you can.

Questions anglers ask

What is the Islamorada Hump?
A seamount about 15 miles offshore where the bottom rises from 600 ft to around 300 ft. The Gulf Stream pushing over it creates upwelling that holds bait, tuna, amberjack and other pelagics.
How big do blackfin tuna get?
Most are 10–25 lb; a 30 lb fish is a trophy here.
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