(Even If You Catch One From the Shore)

Few moments in shore fishing compare to the sudden, unstoppable power of a bluefin tuna on the line. One second you are working your jig through deep water. The next moment your reel screams and the rod bends in a way that instantly tells you this is not an ordinary fish.

In recent years, anglers along the Adriatic coast have started encountering bluefin tuna more often again. From the rocky shores of islands to open coastal points, powerful strikes and lost battles are becoming part of the shore jigging story.

But here comes the surprising part for many anglers.

Even if you hook and land a bluefin tuna as a recreational fisherman in Croatia, you are not allowed to keep it.

Understanding why requires a look at the history of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean and the strict international system that now protects this species.

 

The History of Bluefin Tuna Overfishing

For centuries, bluefin tuna was one of the most valuable fish in the Mediterranean Sea. Traditional tuna traps, known as “tonnara,” existed for hundreds of years along the Italian, Spanish, and Croatian coasts.

However, things changed dramatically in the late twentieth century.

As global demand for sushi and sashimi increased, especially in Japan, bluefin tuna became one of the most expensive fish in the world. Prices at fish markets could reach tens of thousands of euros for a single large specimen.

Industrial fishing fleets quickly adapted.

Large purse seine vessels began targeting entire schools of tuna in open water. Airplanes and sonar technology helped locate fish faster than ever before. At the same time, tuna farming developed in the Mediterranean. Instead of immediately selling the fish, large tuna were captured alive and transferred to offshore cages where they were fattened before export.

The result was predictable.

By the early 2000s, bluefin tuna populations in the Mediterranean were collapsing. Scientists warned that without strong protection, the species could face severe depletion.

This triggered the creation of one of the strictest fishery management systems in the world.

 

Who Sets the Tuna Quotas

The management of Atlantic bluefin tuna is controlled by an international organization called the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, commonly known as ICCAT.

ICCAT includes dozens of countries around the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Their role is to monitor tuna populations, analyze scientific data, and determine how many fish can be caught each year without damaging the population.

Every year ICCAT establishes a Total Allowable Catch, often called TAC.

This total quota is then distributed among member countries such as Spain, Italy, France, Croatia, and others. Each country receives a limited portion of the catch that its fleets are allowed to harvest.

Croatia receives a relatively small share compared to large fishing nations.

 

Why Most Quotas Go to Commercial Fishing and Tuna Farms

The key point many recreational anglers do not realize is that the majority of bluefin tuna quotas are allocated to professional fisheries.

There are several reasons for this.

First, commercial fleets are easier to regulate and monitor. Each vessel must report catches, follow licensing systems, and operate within controlled fishing seasons.

Second, tuna farming is a major economic industry in the Mediterranean. Countries such as Croatia, Spain, and Malta operate large offshore tuna farms that supply international markets, particularly Japan.

Captured tuna are transferred to cages and fattened for months before export. This industry generates significant revenue and jobs, so governments allocate a portion of the national quota to these operations.

Because the total allowable catch is limited, there is very little quota available for recreational fishing.

In Croatia, recreational anglers are not allowed to retain bluefin tuna unless they are part of a strictly regulated big game fishing program with special permits.

For the vast majority of shore anglers and casual boat fishermen, the rule is simple.

If you catch a bluefin tuna, you must release it.

 

What Recreational Anglers Must Do If They Hook a Tuna

Hooking a tuna from shore jigging is rare but it does happen. When it does, the experience is unforgettable.

If you realize that the fish on your line is a bluefin tuna, the correct action is catch and release.

Here are the recommended steps.

Fight the fish efficiently and avoid exhausting it completely.
Bring it close to shore or the boat as quickly as possible.
Keep the fish in the water if possible while removing the hook.
Release it gently and allow it to recover before swimming away.

Taking photos is acceptable if done quickly and safely, but the fish must be returned to the sea alive.

This approach protects the fish and keeps anglers within the law.

 

What Happens If You Keep the Tuna

Keeping a bluefin tuna without the correct permits is considered a serious violation of fisheries regulations in Croatia.

Fines can be substantial and may include
• heavy monetary penalties
• confiscation of fishing equipment
• confiscation of the catch
• possible additional sanctions depending on the case

Authorities regularly monitor coastal fishing activity and fish markets to prevent illegal trade of protected species.

In short, keeping a tuna is simply not worth the risk.

 

Why Anglers Are Seeing More Tuna Again

Ironically, the strict regulations that frustrate some fishermen are also the reason bluefin tuna are returning.

Thanks to ICCAT quotas, seasonal closures, and strict monitoring, the Mediterranean bluefin population has shown strong recovery during the past decade.

Many anglers across the Adriatic now report more frequent sightings of tuna chasing baitfish near islands and coastal cliffs.

For shore jigging anglers this means something exciting.

The possibility of hooking one of the most powerful fish in the ocean is becoming real again.

Even if you cannot keep the fish, the experience itself is unforgettable.

 

Final Thoughts

Bluefin tuna are one of the greatest predators in the ocean and one of the most tightly regulated fish species in the world.

The rule in Croatia is clear.

Recreational anglers cannot keep bluefin tuna. If you catch one, it must be released.

These regulations exist because the species was once pushed close to collapse. Today the tuna is returning to the Adriatic, and that is good news for the future of the sea.

For shore jigging anglers, this means we may once again experience the raw power of this incredible fish.

Maybe one day, while working your jig along a deep Adriatic drop off, your reel will suddenly explode with speed.

If that happens, enjoy the fight. Respect the fish. Release it.

And remember that moments like this are exactly why we fish.

For more shore jigging adventures and real Adriatic fishing experiences, follow don PUFA Fishing on YouTube.

Tight lines and respect for the sea.

don PUFA Fishing