Do You Need a Recreational Permit for Tunas, Sharks, Swordfish, and Billfish?
Yes. If you own or operate a vessel and plan to recreationally fish for or keep regulated Atlantic tunas (bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye, albacore, or skipjack), sharks, swordfish, or billfish in Atlantic federal waters—including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea—you must have one of the following:
- An HMS Angling Category Permit, or
- An HMS Charter/Headboat Permit.
Except for vessels with a General Category permit, those workers didn’t go on HMS recreational fishing but may fish for HMS as long as they are participating in a registered recreational HMS tournament and following all tournament rules.
In case your vessel is fishing only in the state waters and you want to catch and keep the regulated tunas (bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack, and albacore), it is still necessary to get an HMS Angling Permit. The rules for releasing or keeping sharks, swordfish, or billfish in the state waters differ, so to be on the safe side, always check with your state’s regulations.
Moreover, those who have a permit and fish for sharks as part of the recreation should also get the Shark Endorsement to their HMS permit.