Primary management decisions regarding commercial fishing for Pacific Bluefin Tuna occur at the international level through the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), of which the United States is a member. The IATTC periodically adopts resolutions which, among other things, establish each country’s catch limit. National Marine Fisheries Service (in consultation with the Pacific Fishery Management Council) then implements domestic regulations that satisfy the requirements of the relevant IATTC resolutions. In addition to these federal regulations, CDFW may enact additional regulations (such as a daily bag limit) to maintain consistency with federal management of the Pacific Bluefin Tuna fishery.
Current restrictions on commercial fishing for Pacific Bluefin Tuna include:
All commercial fishing for Pacific Bluefin Tuna in California, regardless of the gear used or amount of fish landed, requires both state and federal permits. Therefore, even small landings with hook and line gear are subject to these requirements. At a minimum, individuals must possess a California Commercial Fishing License and a federal Highly Migratory Species permit, and be fishing from a boat with a California Commercial Vessel Registration. Should individuals wish to target Pacific Bluefin Tuna with purse seine gear in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (east of the 150 degree longitude line), they must also be listed on the IATTC purse seine vessel registry.
In terms of catch reporting to the IATTC, Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel (CPFV) landings are considered recreational catch, and therefore are not deducted from commercial catch limits or subject to commercial trip limits. However CPFVs, both larger “party boats” and smaller chartered vessels, must possess appropriate state and federal permits (including but not limited to a federal HMS permit). Additionally, the recreational catch limit of two Pacific Bluefin Tuna per angler per 24-hour period (with a possession limit of six) applies to all individuals aboard the vessel.
For more information about state permits, please contact the CDFW License and Revenue Branch. For more information about federal permits, please contact the 
NMFS West Coast Region Highly Migratory Species Branch.
Tuna Fillet-at-Sea Regulations
Effective July 30, 2015, the following tuna fillet regulations apply for all tuna species (Yellowfin, Bluefin, Albacore, Bigeye, and Skipjack).
SOUTH of Point Conception (Santa Barbara County)
Note: Pacific Bonito (Sarda chiliensis), Pacific Mackerel (Scomber japonicus), and other mackerels and jacks are NOT considered tuna and the following fillet-at-sea regulations are not applicable to these species.
Subsection 27.65(b)(11) - FILLETING OF FISH ON VESSELS.
(b) Fish That May be Filleted: No person shall fillet on any boat or bring ashore as fillets any fish, except in accordance with the following requirements: ...
(11) For all species of tuna filleted on any boat or brought ashore as fillets south of a line running due west true from Point Conception, Santa Barbara County (34° 27' N. lat.) each fish must be individually bagged as follows:
(A) The bag must be marked with the species' common name.
(B) The fish must be cut into six pieces with all skin attached. These pieces are the four loins, the collar removed as one piece with both pectoral fins attached and intact, and the belly fillet cut to include the vent and with both pelvic fins attached and intact.
Read the news release announcing the changes, view an illustration of the South of Point Conception tuna fillet requirements (PDF), or watch a video of the fillet process, provided by Sportfishing Association of California.
NORTH of Point Conception (Santa Barbara County)
Subsection 27.65(b)(12) - FILLETING OF FISH ON VESSELS.
(b) Fish That May be Filleted: No person shall fillet on any boat or bring ashore as fillets any fish, except in accordance with the following requirements: ...
(12) . . . Each fillet shall bear intact a one-inch square patch of skin. The fillets may be of any size.
Bluefin Tuna Bag Limit Regulations
Subsection 28.38(b) – TUNAS
The following daily bag limits apply:
(b) Bluefin tuna - The special limit for bluefin tuna is 2, which may be taken or possessed in addition to the overall general daily bag limit of 20 finfish specified in subsection 27.60(a). This limit applies to all bluefin tuna possessed, regardless of where taken.
For additional information regarding ocean sport fishing regulations, including bag limits for other tuna species, please visit the Marine Region’s Ocean Sportfishing Regulations page. View a species identification guide highlighting differences between Yellowfin and Pacific Bluefin Tuna.
California's live bait fishery for CPS began in 1910 to provide the rapidly expanding sport fishing industry with live fish for bait or chum. Before their decline in the early 1950s, Pacific Sardine comprised up to 15-20 percent of the live bait catch; from 1957 until the reappearance of Pacific Sardine in the 1980s, Northern Anchovy made up nearly all of the live bait catch. Since the early to mid-1990s, prevalence of Pacific Sardine and Northern Anchovy in the live bait fishery has fluctuated.
If you have additional questions, contact Kirk Lynn at CPSHMS@wildlife.ca.gov.