Damn Good Blackfin Tuna Fishing Charters

Check real-time availability and compare rates on blackfin tuna fishing trips. Confidently book your next day on the water.

Choose a Date
4.87/5 Average Rating

Damn Good Guides

You will only find quality, vetted guides on Captain Experiences, and we know them all on a first-name basis

Experts Available 24/7

Our US-based team is available 24/7 to help you with any questions or concerns

100% Weather Guarantee

We want to keep everyone safe, so in the case of inclement weather we'll work with you to reschedule at no cost

Top Cities for Blackfin Tuna Fishing

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and look forward to getting you out on the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

Blackfin Tuna Fishing Charters

Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Key West

Key West Fishing Slam

99% (113) Managed by Mark
36 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,050
Hot Trip
people are viewing this trip.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Fishing Trip

100% (15) Guided by Dave
52 ft 1 - 6 People From $900
Hot Trip
people are viewing this trip.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Destin

5-8 Hour Gulf Action Fishing!!

100% (16) Guided by Alex
25 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,325
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in St. Augustine

Deep Water Bottom Fishing

NEW Guided by Scott
27 ft 1 - 4 People From $1,500
Hot Trip
people are viewing this trip.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Newport

Offshore - 30' Contender

100% (6) Guided by Justin
30 ft 1 - 12 People From $1,700
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Islamorada

Full Day Deep Sea

100% (7) Guided by Timothy
39 ft 1 - 12 People From $1,600
See All Blackfin Tuna Trips

Everything to Know About Booking a blackfin tuna fishing charter

What are the best blackfin tuna fishing charters?

The best blackfin tuna fishing charters are:

What is a Blackfin Tuna?

Blackfin tuna - the youngest brother of yellowfin and bluefin tuna - is the smallest member of the tuna family but this doesn’t mean you should count them out as a fun gamefish and a tasty meal. They can be found throughout the western Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico in deep water, often staying in schools closer to the surface.

They are similar in appearance to a mini bluefin, with oval shaped bodies, black backs, and silver sides and underbelly. They generally swim together, and when you’re on a group of blackfin you can get a number in the boat - they have a strong bite and run in packs. They prefer warmer waters (over 68 degrees) although they are known to swim north or south somewhat with the seasons.

How big do Blackfin Tuna get?

Blackfin tuna are a fast-growing, short-lived species. They reach sexual maturity at around 2 years and will spawn for another 2-3 years before dying.

They are the smallest tuna of their genus Thunnus, and will grow to a max size of about 40 inches and just over 40 pounds (compared this to a bluefin, which can grow to 1500 pounds). A good day is a haul of blackfin from 15 to 25 pounds. An average fish caught might be somewhere in the 7-10 pound range. 


What's the biggest Blackfin Tuna ever caught?

The all-tackle world record blackfin tuna is 45 pounds 8 ounces caught off the coast of Florida.

Where is the best place to catch Blackfin Tuna?


While most tuna species have a broad range, that of the blackfin tuna is a bit more limited. They only inhabit tropical and sometimes temperate waters in the western Atlantic Ocean, mostly remaining south of Virginia and north of Brazil, inhabiting everything in between including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Within this range, blackfin can be somewhat migratory depending on the water temperature and season, but htey always prefer deeper water with plenty of nutrients. They can often be found on offshore structure like oil rigs or current rips, or in areas where underwater structure like reefs or humps can push nutrients up to them. 


When should I catch Blackfin Tuna?

Blackfin are migratory depending on the season and try to stick with waters close to 70 degrees, so in the summer they can move to more temperate waters. The season is always open in the US with no bag limit or size limit, and anglers can catch blackfin year-round if they can find them.


### How do you catch Blackfin Tuna?

Tuna are generally low-light feeders who spend the majority of their time below the surface hunting squid (their large eyes help here). While blackfin are not terribly different, they can often spend more time near the surface than some other tunas. They are known to migrate vertically throughout the water column in order to feed, so a good angler will try a few different depths to get on them. Early morning and late afternoon are when they are most likely to be close to the surface, although the bigger blackfin will usually stay deeper.

The best way to catch smaller blackfin can be just trolling the surface, but if you want bigger fish you can chunk bait, and it can be good to try to bring the bigger fish up towards the surface with a free snack in the form of free swimming bait. Otherwise vertical jigging at different depths can be helpful until you can mark the fish and find them.

Blackfin are predators and will each fish, squid, shrimp, crabs, and all manner of amphipods and other smaller sea critters. This means they eat a wide variety of food, but because their eyesight is so good your presentation also needs to be, and it can be good to scale down your leader and hooks for blackfin. Great choices for bait are ballyhoo or mullet, but you can also use jigs and other lures.

Are Blackfin Tuna good to eat? What are the best Blackfin recipes?

Blackfin tuna are great to eat, second only to their larger tuna cousins the yellowfin and bluefin. Many anglers talk in relative terms and will catch a yellowfin and blackfin and discard the blackfin in favor of the yellowfin. While yellowfin is probably the better of the two, blackfin is certainly something to write home about in its own right. It is great to eat raw, seared, or baked. And an insiders secret: while not the sexiest, boiled fresh tuna will make the best tuna salad you will ever have - you’ll never go back to store-bought stuff.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    This trip was far beyond our expectations! Tyler was amazing and gave us so many opportunities to catch a variety of fish. I am so thankful I chose Tyler for this experience!

    Eric S. | May 3, 2026

    Trip: Offshore Fishing Jupiter

  • ★★★★★
    Trip was a lot of fun and John did a great job hitting different spots for us to catch fish.

    Chad C. | April 20, 2026

    Trip: Nearshore Reef & Wreck Trips

  • ★★★★★
    Hi Everyone, The boat was comfortable and we got some fish. The crew was the best, always there to help. They worked hard and I would very much use the boat and crew again. I enjoy fishing on my boat in Jacksonville but I learned some techniques that were and will be used. Thanks for a great 5 hour of fishing, Chris and his sons.

    Christopher S. | April 19, 2026

    Trip: Morning Half Day 60' Hatteras

  • ★★★★★
    The trip was amazing! Captain put us on the fish immediately and was consistent through out! Four of us on the trip and we all caught more than 2 fish! Had a 100+ lb fish on but line snapped. Was a great experience and would fish with them again!

    David P. | April 18, 2026

    Trip: Niceville Gulf Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Josh was fantastic - he took grest care of my family and I, caught a ton a great fish, and enjoyed the amazing boat. He and his assistant were extremely enthusiastic and were great in teaching my kids about fishing in the Gulf. Great times had by all and would greatly recommend him.

    Christopher J. | April 13, 2026

    Trip: Nokomis Offshore/Nearshore

States

Cities

Countries

Other Fishing Species

Featured Cities

What's biting?

View Blackfin Tuna Fishing Reports from our damn good guides.

Didn't Find What You Were Looking For?

Our guides are Damn Good Guides, which means they’re vetted by our team of outdoor experts who know them on a first-name basis. We hand pick each and every one of them, and our network spans all across the US and beyond.

The proof is in the pudding, and we’re incredibly proud of our 4.9 / 5 average review score. Hit the button below to see more trip options:

Enter to Win a

$500 DAMN GOOD GIFT CARD

Gift Card

Sign up to win $500 towards ANY trip. Winners drawn monthly.

By subscribing, you agree to receive marketing communications from Captain Experiences. To opt-out, click the unsubscribe button at the bottom of our emails. Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

See All Blackfin Tuna Trips