Bluefin Tuna.
Rare Keys winter visitor. Mostly a Carolinas/Northeast fishery.
How they feed in the Keys
Atlantic bluefin tuna are rare in the Florida Keys. The species is a cool-water migratory predator that stages in the Carolinas, the Mid-Atlantic, and New England — only occasional fish (often juveniles) cross into Keys waters in winter. When they do show up, it's typically during cold-front pushes January–March. Targeting bluefin in the Keys is more of a long-shot bonus than a planned fishery — most Keys captains will tell you to fish further north for serious bluefin action.
60–72°F
Active 55–76°F
Less direct (offshore).
Stream edges concentrate fish when present.
Calm to moderate seas.
Stable.
All day at depth.
Less direct.
Less direct.
Most Keys anglers will not encounter bluefin in their lifetime locally. If targeting bluefin is a goal, plan a trip to Hatteras, Cape Cod, or the Maritime Provinces.
12-month outlook
What they eat, what catches them
Live mackerel
Live tinker mackerel or cero on a heavy circle. The standard if targeted offshore.
Live bonito
Bigger live bait for trophy fish.
Trolled ballyhoo (large)
Skirted ballyhoo + horse ballyhoo combos for searching.
- Vertical jigs· Heavy 400+ g jigs over deep structure.
- If you find them
Heavy 80 lb class conventional + live mackerel + 130 lb leader + 10/0 circle. Hold on.
How top captains rig it
80–130 lb mono or braid.
Heavy 50W–80W class with strong drag.
Bent-butt stand-up class.
150–200 lb fluorocarbon or mono.
- Targeted bluefin
80 lb class conventional + 80 lb mono + 150 lb leader + 10/0 circle + live mackerel.
Recreational rules
27" curved fork length minimum (HMS Atlantic).
1 per vessel per day in some seasons; HMS rules vary by quota period.
HMS Atlantic permit + reporting required. Quotas adjusted seasonally.
HMS rules apply. Fish must be reported.
Note · Bluefin harvest in the Atlantic is one of the most-regulated fisheries in the U.S. Always check NOAA HMS current rules before targeting; report harvested fish within 24 hours.
What actually moves the bite
Each factor is rated by how much it shifts the bite for this fish in the Keys. Calibrated against the Bite Score weights — see the Bite Score reference for what each factor measures.