Tuna Off the South West Coast: Is 2026 the Year to Chase Tuna from North Devon?

Something remarkable has been happening in UK waters over the last few years. Bluefin tuna — fish that can exceed 300kg and fight like nothing else in British seas — are returning to the South West and North Devon coast in numbers not seen for generations.
It’s one of the most exciting developments in UK sea angling in decades, and Wild Frontier Charters is positioned to take advantage of it.

The Return of the Bluefin

Atlantic bluefin tuna followed the mackerel shoals that move through UK waters each year, but were largely absent from British seas for most of the 20th century due to commercial overfishing. Since 2019, a scientific tagging programme run by the Marine Conservation Society and CHART (Caught and Released Tuna) has enabled sport fishing on a catch-and-release basis.
Numbers have increased significantly each year since. Reports from South West charter boats suggest 2024 and 2025 were exceptional seasons, with tuna encountered from late summer through autumn.
2026 is shaping up to be another strong year for anyone willing to chase them.

What the Fishing Involves

Tuna fishing is demanding. These fish are fast, powerful, and unforgiving of weak tackle or poor technique. Trips are long — typically full-day or overnight — and involve running offshore to where the fish are active.
Trolling large lures across the surface and chunking (drifting bait into an area where activity has been spotted) are the primary methods used in UK waters.
These are not trips for complete beginners, but an experienced skipper and crew will give you the best possible chance of encountering fish.
All bluefin caught in UK scientific angling programmes must be tagged and released. The experience is entirely about the fight and the encounter — not the catch.

Getting Set Up Right

Tuna fishing requires heavy gear — 50lb class rods, conventional reels loaded with substantial braid, and quality terminal tackle. We have appropriate gear available, but if you’re serious about tuna fishing and want to bring your own, talk to us about what works on these marks.
Offshore tuna trips book up quickly once the season gets going. If this is on your list for 2026, don’t leave it until the summer to enquire.