When Bluefin Are Off Rye Harbor
Tontine Fishing Charters’ site lists peak action in August, September and October, a three-month window. Plan your trip, gear prep and weather windows around those months, and finish any boat work before August so the days that line up are days you can use. For the wider coast, see the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing in the Atlantic Northeast and the Atlantic Northeast offshore fishing guide.
The Run From Rye Harbor
Savage’s site describes tuna trips as all-day trips, so plan the whole day around the run.
All-day trips
Plan for a full day rather than a few hours:
- Fuel for a full day plus reserve
- Crew stamina for a long day on the water
- Daylight for the return
- A plan for the run home if conditions change
Reading IOSN3 before you go
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC station IOSN3 (Isle of Shoals, NH, C-MAN) at 42.967N 70.623W. Before committing to an all-day run, read three values:
- Wind speed
- Wave height
- Dominant period
Then check the official NWS marine forecast for the run and the day. The buoy shows what the water is doing at the Isles of Shoals now, and the forecast shows what it is expected to do.
Grounds and Structure
Boats fish about 130 ft of water, and Jeffreys Ledge is charted at 164 ft. A 130 ft working depth against a 164 ft ledge gives you a contour range to work on the chart, so use the ledge contours as your search frame. Chart layers are not for navigation; use official nautical charts for that.
| Ground | Stated detail |
|---|---|
| Jeffreys Ledge | 164 ft |
| Isles of Shoals | Site of IOSN3 |
| Scantum | Named local ground |
| Morse A buoy | Named reference point |
| The Prong and The Curl | Named local structure |
Jeffreys Ledge (164 ft)
Jeffreys Ledge is charted at 164 ft. Since boats fish about 130 ft of water, work the contours around the ledge rather than the ledge top alone.
Isles of Shoals
The Isles of Shoals is local structure, and the IOSN3 station is named for it.
Scantum
Scantum is a named ground on the local list.
Morse A buoy
The Morse A buoy is a named reference point on the local list.
The Prong and The Curl
The Prong and The Curl are named local structure.
How Bluefin Are Fished Locally
Tontine describes live-baiting, trolling and heavy-tackle drifting. Seacoast NH Sportfishing runs light-tackle and stand-up bluefin trips. Decide on the method before you rig, then match tackle to it. For technique beyond what this port does, see our tuna fishing guides.
Live-baiting
Tontine describes live-baiting as one of its bluefin methods.
Trolling
Tontine also describes trolling.
Heavy-tackle drifting
Tontine describes heavy-tackle drifting. Savage fished 200-lb braid on heavy tuna tackle, which is the line-class benchmark for heavy gear here.
Light tackle and stand-up
Seacoast NH Sportfishing runs light-tackle and stand-up bluefin trips, a different fight from the heavy-tackle side.
Who Fishes Bluefin Out of Rye Harbor
Six local charters list Atlantic bluefin tuna.
| Operator | Website | Stated detail |
|---|---|---|
| Harvester Fishing Charters | harvesterfishingcharters.com | Captain Peter Aikens III |
| Tontine Fishing Charters | tontinefishingcharters.com | – |
| Savage Charters | savagechartersnh.com | 36 ft x 14 ft Wayne Beal, F/V Out of Line; Captain Jamie Savage |
| Pinwheel Tuna Fishing Charters | pinwheeltunacharters.com | Owner and only captain Tyler McLaughlin |
| Hooked On Fish Charters | hookedonfishcharters.com | 36 ft HH Downeast, 6 passengers |
| Clandestino Fishing Charters | clanfish.com | – |
FAQ: Rye Harbor Bluefin
When is peak bluefin season out of Rye Harbor?
Tontine puts peak action in August, September and October.
How long is a bluefin trip from Rye Harbor?
Savage’s site describes tuna trips as all-day trips. Plan fuel for a full day plus reserve, and plan the return around daylight.
What depth do boats fish for bluefin off Rye Harbor?
About 130 ft of water. Jeffreys Ledge is charted at 164 ft.
Which buoy should I check before running?
NDBC station IOSN3 (Isle of Shoals, NH). Read wind speed, wave height and dominant period, then check the official NWS marine forecast.
What methods do local boats use?
Tontine lists live-baiting, trolling and heavy-tackle drifting. Seacoast NH Sportfishing runs light-tackle and stand-up trips.
What line class do heavy-tackle boats use?
Savage fished 200-lb braid on heavy tuna tackle.
