Is it rockfish season or tuna season?

It may seem a little confusing.

Although the incredible rockfish bite over the last few weeks is better than it has been in several years, it is not unheard of. But the unreal phenomenon that materialized over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays has the attention of the fishing community everywhere. Local anglers are very aware of the growing number of boats surprised by stealthy bluefin tuna while trolling for rockfish within just a few miles of the beach.

Stripped reels and straightened hooks will quickly reveal the culprit, but bluefin tuna encounters close to shore are not unusual in Virginia Beach. Anglers occasionally experience the powerful strike of passing bluefin tuna as schools briefly stop in on their way south in December. Sometimes a few are even boated. But now after approaching a third week, and after dozens of boated tuna, and even more lost during the fight, we are dealing with a rare phenomenon. And these are not school-sized bluefin tuna either. They are big fish ranging from 150 to 300-pounds! And on some days, the tuna fishing is actually better than the striper fishing. Yes, right now you can catch striped bass and bluefin tuna on the same trip, in the same area-right off the beach!

One the news hit, the local recreational fishing fleet quickly adapted to this dream come true, and beefed up their striper gear in short order. If you watch the boats leaving the local inlets to fish for striped bass, you will notice a lot of big gold reels, and heavy duty rods doubling as rockfish gear. Tangling with these beasts can be a thrilling experience, and it is considered quite an achievement to conquer a big bluefin tuna. But bluefin are not considered the best tuna steaks for throwing on the grill. The high fat content, oily consistency and strong fishy taste make them more suitable for raw dishes such as sushi. Most of the tuna used for sushi is bluefin tuna.

This ongoing bluefin invasion is gaining a lot of attention. But the tuna do not seem to be in a hurry to leave. The temperate waters off the coast of North Carolina are usually home for the bluefins for the winter. But with the mild winter conditions this year, the water temperatures off Virginia are staying in the moderate range which is encouraging the bait to stick around, keeping the rockfish and the bluefins content.

This is not an endless fishery, though. Bluefin tuna are strictly managed, and it is not uncommon for the fishery to be shut down almost over night once the quota is perceived as met by fisheries management officials. But until then, and as long as the water temperatures hold, there will be no end to the hundreds of local anglers hitting the water in search of a big bluefin tuna of their own. If you have your heart set on joining the chase, be sure to obtain a highly migratory species permit, and review the bluefin tuna regulations and guidelines before each trip, as they change quickly. An illegal bluefin tuna is no joke to law enforcement officials.

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