Recreational Anglers Help Boost Bluefin Tuna Research

Imagine standing at the stern of a 50-foot fishing vessel. Your legs are pressed up against the gunwale for balance as you rock in the waves and face the churning waters of the boat's wake. All of a sudden, the reel next to you starts screaming as the mate yells, "Fish on!" Heart racing, you grab the rod and start cranking. It could be a quick 20-minute fight or an intense 5-hour battle to reveal a sleek fish built with more than 80 pounds of muscle. This is what it's like to be on a trip with the Bacon brothers.

"Once you go bluefin fishing, you'll never want to fish for anything else again," explains Captain Brian Bacon. "These fish are totally unique and unpredictable. Even the small fish are powerful."

His brother, Captain Peter Bacon, adds, "They put up a great fight, they're aggressive. And it takes a lot of maneuvering the boat to try to land them."

For Brian and Peter Bacon, brothers and seasoned charter captains, the thrill of reeling in bluefin tuna off the Atlantic coast isn't just about the catch. It's also about contributing to vital scientific research. Through NOAA's Cooperative Tagging Center , recreational anglers like the Bacons are providing important data that helps scientists understand the health and movements of bluefin tuna populations. Even when seasons are closed, tagging provides a rewarding mechanism for charter businesses to continue providing a positive experience for paying customers.

What Tuna Tagging Reveals

NOAA's Cooperative Tagging Center collects crucial information about highly migratory species including bluefin tuna. We work with recreational anglers, charter captains, and commercial fishers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts-and across the Atlantic Ocean. We tag various species of fish that are difficult to study with other methods. We also provide free tagging kits for anglers to tag fish on their own. When anglers tag a fish, we collect information on fish size, location of capture, and release condition. When a tagged fish is recaptured-days, months, or years later-scientists gain insights into migration patterns, growth rates, and how long these fish live. For instance, some tagged bluefin have been recaptured over a decade after their initial tagging. One of legendary angler Al Anderson 's fish was caught an astounding 16 years later! These long-term data are critical for assessing geographic range shifts and migratory trends of these important species.

The Bacon Brothers' Journey into Tagging

The Bacons operate fishing charters Big Game Sport Fishing out of Snug Harbor, Rhode Island. They have been fishing from Southern New England waters to the Florida Keys and the Bahamas for more than 30 years. The brothers joined NOAA's tagging program in the middle of the 2023 season-a decision that blended business with passion. Peter, in particular, was keen to find a way to further engage clients, turning a day on the water into a direct contribution to science and conservation. They quickly embraced the process-Peter tags as many as 10 fish in a single day, and the brothers snagged several top tagger titles in 2024. In fact, they tagged a whopping 273 bluefin tuna between the two of them!

Their experience highlights the rewarding aspect of tagging.

As Brian notes, "We want to get those recaptures-see where they go, where they are caught, and when."

This personal investment in the fish's journey makes the experience more meaningful for both the captains and their customers. It also reinforces a core belief among many anglers: a desire for the fishery to thrive for future generations.

The Power of Partnerships: Anglers as Citizen Scientists

The participation of charter captains, commercial fishermen, and other recreational anglers is a game-changer for fisheries science. It fosters a deeper investment in conservation and provides a wealth of data that would be difficult to collect through traditional research methods alone. Anglers are often on the water daily, observing trends and interacting directly with the fish. Their local knowledge and hands-on efforts significantly expand the reach of scientific studies.

The Bacons, for example, have observed shifts in fish sizes and bait availability over the years. In their eyes, bluefin tuna fishing has consistently improved, with each year being different in terms of fish sizes. In recent years, they've seen a greater presence of "giants" (73 inches and above) mixed in with huge schools of smaller fish, something they hadn't seen since the 80s or 90s. They've also seen a shift in size classes, with mostly 34- to 36-inch fish dominating the schools 2 years ago, and 50- to 55-inch fish being caught more last year. Additionally, they've noticed that bluefin tuna seem to be getting closer to shore each year, making it easier for smaller boats to access them. This kind of anecdotal evidence, combined with scientific data from tagging and other research, creates a more complete picture of the marine ecosystem.

The experience of tagging often sparks curiosity and a sense of stewardship among participants-including charter customers. It allows anglers to see the direct impact of their actions on scientific understanding, transforming a recreational pursuit into a meaningful contribution.

Getting Involved: How You Can Help

The Cooperative Tagging Center welcomes the involvement of anglers who want to contribute to the future of bluefin tuna and other species. By participating, you can help gather essential data, learn more about the fish you pursue, and play a direct role in conservation efforts.

For the Bacon brothers, it's become a friendly sibling rivalry, and their customers also enjoy it. As Brian Bacon puts it, "Most people who fish want the fishery to do well and be good for future years and the next generation of people. It feels good to help contribute the data to do that. We want to help contribute to the fishery whether we're keeping the fish or not."

The story of the Bacon brothers and the many other dedicated anglers involved in tagging programs is a testament to the powerful synergy between recreation and scientific discovery. Their efforts are not only expanding our understanding of bluefin tuna but also inspiring a new generation of citizen scientists dedicated to healthy oceans.

Don't forget-If you fish for tunas and other highly migratory species, familiarize yourself with the permitting requirements and fishing regulations . Be on the lookout for tags in any fish you catch!

Get your 2026 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species permits

How to report a tagged fish