Florida boasts some of the best fishing spots for anglers, especially if you’re looking for tuna. Tuna is a saltwater fish, and Florida’s geographical location allows for fishing in various reefs, bays, rivers, the Gulf stream, and other bodies of water, making it a superior state for tuna fishing compared to others.

Here are some examples of the best tuna fishing locations in Florida. Within this article, you will find out the best tuna locations in Florida and be presented with a handful of the best fishing charters to target those tuna.

Best Tuna Fishing Locations in Florida

1. Florida Keys

The Florida Keys, off the coast of South Florida, are considered the fishing capital of the state, bringing many tourists and anglers year-round.

These islands are excellent spots for catching tuna. The tuna feed here year-round, but the optimal months are December to February, especially for blackfin. In the Keys, it’s common practice to use Blackfin to make sushi so it’s a tourist and angler favorite.

Recommended Tuna Fishing Charters in the Florida Keys

• Tail Gator Charters (Key Largo, FL)
• High Stakes Charters (Key West, FL)
• Nauti Tails Fishing Charter (Big Pine Key, FL)

2. Stuart 

Stuart, located in Florida’s Treasure Coast, is an optimal choice if you’re looking for Yellowfin, Blackfin, or Bonito.

Yellowfin are mainly available from April through August on the east coast of the Gulfstream. Blackfin tuna can be found close to the edge of Stuart, Florida, from March through the summer.

Bonita is a subspecies that are large in numbers but are somewhat difficult to catch. Their availability lasts year-round.

Recommended Tuna Fishing Charters in Stuart, FL

• Wet-n-Wild Sportfishing (Stuart, FL)

3. West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach is located in Palm Beach County. It offers many nature reserves and beaches, which is any angler’s dream.

Visiting West Palm Beach provides direct access to the Gulf Stream within ten miles of town and many fishing tours. Blackfin is available in abundance year-round, especially during the spring and summertime months.

Recommended Tuna Fishing Charters in West Palm Beach, FL

• Reel E Sea Charters (West Palm Beach, FL)
• Miss Annie Charters (West Palm Beach, FL)

4. Destin

Destin, a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, is referred to as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” due to its popularity as a saltwater fishing spot. Here, you’ll have direct access to 2,500 quadrillion liters of saltwater through the Gulf of Mexico.

The most abundant type of tuna in the area is Yellowfin. The best time to visit is October, which is when the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo takes place. This is a month-long event in which many anglers compete for cash and prizes.

Recommended Tuna Fishing Charters in Destin, FL

• Charter Boat Rewind (Destin, FL)
• Championship Offshore Outfitting & Charters (Destin, FL)

5. Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach is very close to Disney. If you’re an angler visiting or living in Orlando, you’ll want to stop here, as it’s one of the best spots in the city if you’re looking to fish, especially for Blackfin and Yellowfin tuna. 

The best months to fish in Cocoa beach are July to August. Meanwhile, the catch slows somewhat in December and January.

Recommended Tuna Fishing Charter in Cocoa Beach, FL

• Fish Master Deep Sea Fishing (Sebastian, FL)

6. Miami

Miami is one of the largest Florida cities, located in the southeastern portion of the state.  Not only is it one of the most popular and densely populated cities in the state, it also has beaches that are great for hunting blackfin, skipjack, and yellowfin tuna, as they provide direct access to the Gulf Stream.

Blackfins can be found in Miami throughout the year; however, the most significant seasons for catching these fish are spring and summer.

Recommended Tuna Fishing Charter in Miami, FL

• Fishing Guide Capt Tom Hinterschied (Pompano Beach, FL)
• YB Normal Fishing Charter (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
• All Good Charters (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Florida Tuna Fishing (Gulf Coast vs. Atlantic Coast vs. Keys)

The Atlantic Coast has the advantage of fish for tuna and other pelagic species very close to the shore. This makes the area highly efficient for anglers who don’t want to travel very far from land to catch, especially for beginners.

On the contrary, the Gulf Coast requires more travel and is more optimal for bottom fishing for deep ocean species. However, tuna often don’t reside that deep, so the Atlantic coast is more suited for tuna fish.

The Keys has excellent fishing spots and is known as the fishing capital of the world. Similar to the Atlantic Coast, it has lots of tourist spots specifically for tuna fishing that don’t require extensive travel. Overall, the Atlantic Coast and Keys are the best areas if you’re looking to fish for tuna.

Tuna Species in Florida

Skipjack Tuna

Skipjack Tuna is the smallest and most available sub-species of tuna, typically ranging from 2-15 pounds. Their life span is about 8-10 years.

They can be found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans essentially year-round. However, the best months to search for them are May to August. The best tactic for catching Skipjacks is trolling.

Blackfin Tuna

Blackfin Tuna can be identified by their dark blue stripe across their backs and silver belly. They generally range from 20-35 pounds. Their average life span is five years.

They occupy the Western Atlantic and are often difficult to find for a significant portion of the year due to their broad migrational patterns.

The most optimal season for locating them is during their spring migration. Once located, they’re also difficult to catch due to the staggering speed that they developed to avoid being captured and eaten by predators.

The best strategies for catching blackfish are trolling, live-baiting, chunking, and vertical jigging.

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfins are torpedo-shaped tuna with yellow sides, blue backs, and silver bellies. They also have brightly colored yellow anal and dorsal fins. They’re generally up to 7 feet long and 450 pounds.

They can be found in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. For example, in the Gulf of Mexico, you’ll want to look for them from May to August. Meanwhile, in the Gulf of Guinea, they’re available from October to March.

To catch these tuna, you’ll want to use chum with live bait or cut bait chunks.

Bonito

Bonito fish, while associated with tuna, are technically not recognized as tuna in many nations. They’re considered unique due to their flavor. The flavor is harsh and is accompanied by an oily texture, making many believe it is toxic. However, these fish are 100% safe to eat.

Their range is from Chile to the Gulf of Alaska. These fish are incredibly aggressive and put up a fight. They also have an oval shape to aid with swimming, making them somewhat difficult to catch. However, if you want to try, the best methods are trolling, line fishing, and using a fishing rod.

An important recommendation is to use frozen bait to catch these fish. The best kinds to use are pilchards and sardines.

Best Seasons for Florida Tuna Fishing

Tuna fishing has a long season as the fish’s warm blood allows them to avoid inactivity when the temperatures get low in certain species. Each state has its own fishing seasons. For example, in Florida, the best months for tuna fishing are from May to September. 

However, while there is an average range, each species has its own optimal time period:

• Skipjack- May to August
• Blackfin- During their spring migration
• Yellowfin- May to August
• Bonito- Late spring through summer

Best Time of Day for Tuna Fishing in Florida

Tuna tend to like low-light conditions. Therefore, fishing during the early morning or late afternoon is an excellent way to increase your chances of catching tuna.

If not during these times, you can opt for going when it’s cloudy out as it will also reduce sunlight. These tips apply year-round.

Tuna Seasons & Regulations in Florida

While the recreational aspect is an integral part of tuna fishing, it’s always essential to adhere to any fishing-related rules and regulations in your state.

According to Florida Guidelines, the limit for the amount of Blackfin tuna you can catch is two fish per person per day or ten fish per vessel. So whichever value is greater is what you’ll have to follow. However, there is no minimum size limit.

Meanwhile, other species don’t have recorded rules. Because of this, these species are often dubbed the “unregulated species,” although this doesn’t mean that catching them is 100% rule-free.

Florida law states that any aquatic species devoid of explicit rules and regulations have a harvest limit of over 100 pounds or two fish for recreational catching, depending on which amount is larger. If you’d like to catch more than the limit, it’s legally required that you attain a commercial license.

4 Tips for Florida Tuna Fishing

1. Look for Structures

The fish themselves don’t necessarily reside in structures, but they prey on other aquatic species that do. Keep an eye out for reefs, floating grasses, ledges, and other things that could serve as a habitat to their prey as the tuna won’t be far behind. There are plenty of wrecks, reefs, and ledges in Florida coastal waters to draw in tuna. 

2. Study Temperature

Tuna fish prefer temperatures of 70-82 degrees Fahrenheit on average. Very high or low temperatures of water take a toll on the abundance of oxygen in the water. Because of this, tuna will often experience a reduction in activity and want to hunt for food.

Therefore, you’ll want to monitor the temperature prior to going out to fish for tuna by studying sea surface temperature charts. However, it’s rare that Florida waters will become exceedingly cold.

3. Shrimp Boats

There will likely be an abundance of tuna where there are shrimp boats as their chump will attract the fish. Therefore, a good tip is to wait for the haul of these kinds of boats, as tuna are likely to follow. Scallop ships are also a great place to fish for big tuna offshore.

4. Choosing the Best Bait

An important tip when pursuing any type of fish is knowing which bait to use to attract and catch the fish. A common quote used when referring to bait is “match the hatch.” Tuna feed on different bait at different times of the year so it’s important to look into that.

These are some of the top baits to use if looking to attract tuna:

• Blue Runners – Blue Runners are available in large amounts and are durable, therefore able to withstand the pull of tough tuna.
• Herring – Herring is one of the top prey for tuna. Therefore, they’re a great option to use as prey when tuna fishing.
• Flying Fish – Flying fish is a good option if you’re looking into drift fishing.
• Ballyhoo – Ballyhoo are tough to keep alive, however, it’s useful in a pinch if you run out of live prey for the fish.

Other Pelagic Big Game Species in Florida

Florida is not only home to multiple tuna species. In fact, the state is known for being home to many other pelagic species that serve as a great catch and potential meal.

Wahoo

The Wahoo fish is known as Ono in Hawaii, which translates to “delicious.” They’re characterized by blueish-green and silver colors, a streamlined body, and incredibly quick speeds.

Wahoo also have a long snout that is approximately the size of their head. Their lifespan is up to nine years.

These fish can be found all throughout the year on the Atlantic Coast of Florida from Key West to Jacksonville.

Outside of the state, they reside in worldwide tropical and subtropical waters. Whether searching in the Atlantic, Indian, or Pacific ocean, you should be able to find them.

Some reliable methods include high-speed or slow-trolling, chunking, and kite fishing when looking to catch wahoo.

Billfish

Billfish get their name from their prominent bill that resembles a spear. The purpose of this aspect of their anatomy is for slashing their prey. They also have narrow pelvic fins and long dorsal fins.

Billfish are highly migratory, and Florida is considered one of the top three spots if you’re looking to billfish, especially within the months of July to September. You’ll want to consider using live bait, artificial lures, and rigged natural bait.

Mahi Mahi

Mahi Mahi are inhabitants of worldwide tropical and subtropical bodies of water worldwide. In Hawaiian, their name means “very strong.” The fish is distinct due to its variety of colors and long body.

In Florida, they can be found on the Atlantic coast, and worldwide are found in tropical and subtropical oceans. On the East Coast, the best months to find them are from April through July.

Some of the top recommended methods for catching Mahi Mahi are rigged ballyhoo, bubblers, and bullet heads.

Mako Sharks

Mako sharks can exceed 12 feet and 1,2000 pounds. These sharks live miles off the east coast, traveling miles due to their highly migratory habits, often traveling entire oceans.

They’re incredibly fast, being able to sustain speeds of over 40 miles per hour. Unfortunately, Mako sharks are also one of the most aggressive sharks you’ll ever come across, even being known to jump into boats when anglers are attempting to catch them, making them a challenging and somewhat dangerous yet rewarding catch. 

If you’d like to take on the fish, you’ll want to use trolling and drill fishing.

King Mackerel

King Mackerels are grey and silver fish that can grow to be from 19 to over 35 inches and 5 to 10 pounds. They inhabit open bodies of water near the coast, ranging from North Carolina to Florida.

Florida’s mackerel season is year-round, but the optimal months are March, April, October, and November. Some of the best types of bait to use for these fish are pilchards, mullet, and blue runners

Conclusion

If you’re looking for tuna in the United States, Florida should be a top pick. Boasting an abundance of saltwater, fishing ports, and competitions, it’s a great option for not only tuna but also other kinds of pelagic fish. Tuna is available nearly year-round in the state. However, you’ll have the best luck in the spring and summer months. 

When looking to fish in Florida, it’s important to do extensive research on bait, temperature, seasons, and regulations to avoid any catch-related hardships.

For a complete breakdown of the best spots to catch tarpon in Florida, check out this helpful guide.