Virginia State Record Bluefin Tuna

In January 2026, Mike Rogerson of Virginia Beach was certified as the new Virginia State record holder for Atlantic bluefin tuna by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament.

The record-setting bluefin weighed in at 832.6 pounds. The fish measured 108 inches in length overall (LOA) with a girth of 78 inches.

Mr. Rogerson caught the tuna on January 10 while fishing aboard the High Hopes guided by veteran captain David Wright. The fish was caught off the Eastern Shore of Virginia during a mid-morning bite using ballyhoo.

The fish was brought into and officially weighed at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center and certified by Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament Director Matt Hargis.

In late December and early January, bluefin tuna were migrating south with several catches being reported in Virginia waters.

A day before Rogerson’s catch was certified, angler Brandon Newsome landed a 721 pound bluefin while fishing with Captain Robbie Brown on the charter boat Just Right.

The previous Virginia state record for bluefin tuna was a 708 pound fish, caught on February 16, 2020 by Jake Hiles while fishing aboard the charter boat Toro.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) closed the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) General category January-March 2026 fishery for large medium and giant BFT (measuring 73″ or greater) effective 11:30 p.m. local time, January 14, 2025. The fishery is expected to re-open on June 1, 2026.

sources: Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, social media