Stand Up and Fight: Mastering Bluefin Tuna in UK Waters, 2025
Atlantic Bluefin tuna (BFT) are the ultimate saltwater showdown, and in 2025, they’re thriving in UK waters—100-800lb giants, averaging 200-250lb, rolling in from mid-August through autumn. For the 180 anglers in the Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF), these fish are a bucket-list dream, but they’ll test your body, mind, and gear. The UK Bluefin Tuna Association (UKBFTA), with the Angling Trust and PBA, offers the "Stand-up Fight Technique"—a game-changing system to tackle Bluefin toe-to-toe. This 2025 guide breaks down the technique, the gear, and why it’s your ticket to epic fights and healthy releases.
The 2025 CRRF Context
Season: July–Dec 2025 (likely early August start).
Permits: 180 vessels, 13-tonne mortality quota.
Rules: Catch-and-release only, rod-and-reel, circle hooks preferred.
2024 Benchmark: 3,359 fish, 0.21% pre-release mortality (19 March 2025).
See MMO’s Bluefin page for more.
Why Stand-Up Rules
Bluefin can break you—physically and emotionally—if you’re not ready. Unlike old-school chair fights, stand-up is the default for most UK charter and private boats. It’s not just standing with a rod—it’s a science of gear and technique, born from visionaries like Marsha Bierman and Dennis Braid. In the 1990s, Bierman’s pelvic-tilt method landed a 1,270lb marlin, proving finesse beats brute force. Braid’s innovative harnesses and rods fueled California’s tuna boom—now, we’re reaping the benefits in the UK’s post-2016 Bluefin resurgence.
The Stand-Up Fight Technique
This isn’t arm-wrestling—it’s about mechanical advantage, teamwork, and your quads. Here’s how to nail it, per the UKBFTA’s training module (ukbfta.co.uk/training).
Gear Essentials
Harness: Sit-in/bucket style (e.g., AFTCO Maxforce XH, Braid Brute Buster)—wide, adjustable, worn low over hips/glutes, not back.
Pad/Plate: Large, thigh-low, non-slip, with a sturdy gimbal for No. 2-4 butts.
Rod/Reel: 6’-6’6” bent-butt, 50-80 class rod; 50W-80W two-speed reel, 800+ yards of 50-80lb line.
Extras: Fighting gloves (e.g., Pelagic Battle), safety straps to the boat.
Setup: Fit it tight pre-trip—upper pad low on back, lower pad below glutes, plate just above knees. Crew clips you in fast when the fish hits.
Fighting Smart
Take the Hit
Feet apart, knees bent, rod in harness. Let the first 100-200-yard run play out—adjust drag to slow it.
Squat, Stand, Wind
Upper body upright—load on quads, not arms or back.
Squat a foot: rod tip lifts via harness mechanics. Stand slow, wind as tip dips—1-3 turns per pump.
Rhythm matters: short pumps, steady gains. Low gear for sluggers; hand at 1 o’clock for leverage.
Team Play
Skipper angles boat side-on—shortens fights.
Pinwheeling deep? Squat and pump to corkscrew it up—swap if you’re spent.
Left hand on reel cage—stabilizes, guides line, saves your face on a break-off.
Release Clean
Gloves on, leader hand-over-hand—no boarding (it’s illegal).
Swim at 1-2 knots, then 4-6 knots for 8-10 minutes—fin flutters, tailbeats signal go-time.
Slack line—circle hooks pop free.
Fight Time Targets
<200lb: ~30 mins
200-350lb: ~45 mins
350-500lb: ~60 mins
500-600lb: ~90 mins
Over an hour on a 250lb fish? Gear or technique needs work—aim for efficiency.
The Payoff
Stand-up transforms you into a “fish-fighting machine”—safer anglers, happier fish. CHART’s 20-25 minute fights hit sub-2% mortality; 2025’s CRRF aims for the same, building on 2024’s 3,359 releases at 0.21% mortality. That Bluefin powering off after a stand-up battle? That’s the UK fishing thrill of a lifetime.
Get Ready
Gear up, practice the squat-stand-wind rhythm, and hit the water. Dive deeper at ukbfta.co.uk or atlanticbluefintuna.co.uk. Got a stand-up story? Share below or tag #AtlanticBluefinTuna on X. Tight lines—stand tall in 2025!
