Sea surface temperature guide

Blackfin Tuna sea surface temperature guide.

Thunnus atlanticus
Tuna
Agency-reported threshold data

Blackfin tuna are the most accessible tuna species in the southeast US — small enough boats reach them, plentiful around nearshore structure, and they sit in a cooperative SST band most of the year in southern waters.

SST threshold gauge

The temperature ranges that matter.

The water temperature ranges that determine where blackfin tuna hold and feed. Hard thresholds (dashed lines) are values outside which fish actively depart or become inactive.

Outside toleranceSuboptimalGoodPeak·Dashed line = hard threshold

Optimal range72–80°F

Preferred range68–82°F

Avoid below64°F

Avoid above86°F

Threshold source (Agency-reported) →

Depth profile & SST reliability

Typical depth

0–600 feet

SST as locator

High — SST is a strong locator

Blackfin feed near surface and are well-predicted by SST.

Current systems & structure

Gulf StreamWarm core eddiesTemperature breaksSargassum

Blackfin are accessible from SE Florida and Gulf coast ports — they hold over nearshore reefs, rigs, and the Gulf Stream's western edge.

Best zones now

Where blackfin tuna are in range — June.

Zones where typical June SST falls in blackfin tuna's preferred range.

Zone-by-zone calendar

Overlap charts by zone.

For each zone where blackfin tuna are present, the chart overlays the zone's typical monthly SST range with the species' preferred and optimal ranges. Months where the bands overlap are when fish are in range.

Mid-Atlantic

Cape Hatteras & Point OffshoreWanchese NC · Hatteras NC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

May, June, July, August, September, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	58–66°F	Outside
Feb	56–64°F	Outside
Mar	58–66°F	Outside
Apr	64–72°F	Fishable
May	68–76°F	Peak
Junnow	74–82°F	Peak
Jul	78–84°F	Peak
Aug	78–84°F	Peak
Sep	76–82°F	Peak
Oct	70–78°F	Peak
Nov	64–72°F	Fishable
Dec	60–68°F	Outside

South Atlantic

Onslow Bay & Morehead City OffshoreMorehead City NC · Beaufort NC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, June, July, August, September, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	58–66°F	Outside
Feb	56–64°F	Outside
Mar	60–68°F	Outside
Apr	66–74°F	Peak
May	70–78°F	Peak
Junnow	74–82°F	Peak
Jul	78–84°F	Peak
Aug	78–84°F	Peak
Sep	76–82°F	Peak
Oct	70–78°F	Peak
Nov	64–72°F	Fishable
Dec	60–68°F	Outside

Long Bay & Myrtle Beach OffshoreLittle River SC · Myrtle Beach SC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, June, September, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	60–68°F	Outside
Feb	58–66°F	Outside
Mar	62–70°F	Fishable
Apr	68–76°F	Peak
May	72–80°F	Peak
Junnow	76–84°F	Peak
Jul	80–86°F	Fishable
Aug	80–86°F	Fishable
Sep	78–84°F	Peak
Oct	72–80°F	Peak
Nov	66–74°F	Peak
Dec	62–70°F	Fishable

Charleston Offshore & Georgia BightCharleston SC · Hilton Head SC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, June, September, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	62–70°F	Fishable
Feb	60–68°F	Outside
Mar	64–72°F	Fishable
Apr	70–76°F	Peak
May	74–80°F	Peak
Junnow	78–84°F	Peak
Jul	80–86°F	Fishable
Aug	80–86°F	Fishable
Sep	78–84°F	Peak
Oct	74–80°F	Peak
Nov	68–76°F	Peak
Dec	64–72°F	Fishable

Northeast Florida Offshore & St. AugustineMayport FL · St. Augustine FL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

March, April, May, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	64–72°F	Fishable
Feb	64–70°F	Fishable
Mar	66–74°F	Peak
Apr	72–78°F	Peak
May	76–82°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	76–82°F	Peak
Nov	70–76°F	Peak
Dec	66–72°F	Fishable

Southeast Florida Gulf Stream AccessPalm Beach FL · Fort Lauderdale FL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	72–78°F	Peak
Feb	72–76°F	Peak
Mar	74–80°F	Peak
Apr	76–80°F	Peak
May	78–82°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	78–82°F	Peak
Nov	74–80°F	Peak
Dec	72–78°F	Peak

Gulf of Mexico

Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa OffshoreTampa FL · St. Petersburg FL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	60–68°F	Outside
Feb	60–66°F	Outside
Mar	62–70°F	Fishable
Apr	70–76°F	Peak
May	74–80°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	74–80°F	Peak
Nov	68–76°F	Peak
Dec	62–70°F	Fishable

Destin & Pensacola OffshoreDestin FL · Pensacola FL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	60–68°F	Outside
Feb	60–66°F	Outside
Mar	64–72°F	Fishable
Apr	70–78°F	Peak
May	74–80°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	72–78°F	Peak
Nov	66–74°F	Peak
Dec	62–70°F	Fishable

Alabama & Mississippi Canyon OffshoreOrange Beach AL · Dauphin Island AL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	62–70°F	Fishable
Feb	62–68°F	Outside
Mar	66–72°F	Fishable
Apr	72–80°F	Peak
May	76–82°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	74–80°F	Peak
Nov	68–76°F	Peak
Dec	64–72°F	Fishable

Louisiana Deepwater & RigsVenice LA · Grand Isle LA

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

March, April, May, October, November, December

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	64–72°F	Fishable
Feb	64–70°F	Fishable
Mar	68–74°F	Peak
Apr	72–78°F	Peak
May	76–82°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	76–82°F	Peak
Nov	70–78°F	Peak
Dec	66–74°F	Peak

Texas Offshore & Flower Garden BanksGalveston TX · Freeport TX

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

March, April, May, September, October, November, December

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	64–72°F	Fishable
Feb	64–70°F	Fishable
Mar	68–74°F	Peak
Apr	72–78°F	Peak
May	76–82°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	80–86°F	Fishable
Aug	80–86°F	Fishable
Sep	78–84°F	Peak
Oct	74–82°F	Peak
Nov	70–78°F	Peak
Dec	66–74°F	Peak

Conservation & regulations

NOAA / GMFMC / SAFMC

Stable. Federally managed. Less regulated than yellowfin/bluefin. Verify state and federal bag limits.

Stock assessment source →

Chunk bait at offshore reefs, rigs, and the Gulf Stream edge. Vertical jigging is highly effective. Sunrise and sunset bites are strongest.

Sources

SST threshold data is summarized from agency and research sources. Year-to-year ocean conditions vary; verify current SST imagery before each trip.

See live SST for your offshore zone.

Bield: Fish overlays NOAA CoastWatch SST imagery on your chartplotter view, highlights the temperature breaks that match blackfin tuna thresholds, and alerts you when your home zone hits the 72–80°F window.

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