We’ve gone from counting months to counting weeks, and before long we’ll be counting the days until the 2026 Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza. There’s a full week of activities planned on land and sea so be sure to mark your calendars and make your plans now.
While you’re waiting and anticipating, read through our latest newsletter to learn more about what we’ve been up to, and what lies ahead.
Saturday, July 25: Youth Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Captain’s Meeting, 4 to 6 p.m.
Sunday, July 26: Fishing begins at 12:01 a.m. through Monday, July 27. Scales open 8 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28: RFD. No fishing.
Wednesday, July 29: Fishing resumes at 12:01 a.m. through Thursday, July 30. Scales open 8 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, July 31: Dinner, Auction, Awards, 4 to 8 p.m.
Visit our website at www.bluefinbonanza.org and join our Facebook and Instagram pages to stay up to date and informed. Contact us at bluefinbonanza@gmail.com with questions.
Scholarships are one way the Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza continues our commitment to building a better community. This year 16 students throughout the Maine Community College system benefitted from our program with the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges. Each received a $1,000 scholarship to help cover the costs associated with their enrollment in trades and marine science programs.
Jeffrey Begin, Computer Technology
Teegan Myrick, Cybersecurity-Digital Forensics
Oskar Shostak, Precision Machining Technology
Johnathan Bridgnell, Computer Technology/Coding
Samuel Gaffen, Automotive Technology
Juaron Archie, Precision Machining Technology
Brad Kind, Electrical Technology
Mica Adler, Electrical Construction and Management
Jaxon Lowe, Automotive Collision Repair
John Hartford, Marine Science
Jae Howell, Marine Science
Chance Mercier, Marine Science
Steven Arnold, Diesel and Automotive Engine Overhaul
Stephen Fletcher, Nursing
Will Guild, Computer Aided Design
John Stockless, Computer Aided Design
Thanks to our partnership with W.S. Emerson and Carhartt, we were able to award an additional $6,000 in scholarships for these programs.
Sadie Denty, Criminal Justice
Krysti Hall, Nursing
Nathan Page, Fire Science
Matthew Tice, Pre-Engineering
Our endowment with the Southern Maine Community College Foundation is now large enough to award Lindsay Withers Memorial Scholarships to students enrolled in SMCC’s Emergency Medical Services/Paramedicine program. Through this effort we hope to provide more qualified medical first responders to Maine’s under-served communities. Thanks to generous donors, our endowment continues to grow. Please consider a donation.
The 2026 Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza will be dedicated to the memory of our dear friend, John Shostak.
The Captain’s Meeting will take place on Saturday, July 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. Per usual, this meeting is mandatory. A representative (captain or crew member that will be fishing in the tournament) from each registered vessel must be present and signed in prior to the completion of the meeting. The vessel representative must be at least 18 years old.
This year, we will hold a brief announcement and Q&A session. Tournament packages and captain’s buckets will not be passed out until completion of the meeting. We will have food and beverages for those attending.
Every year we have the pleasure of meeting and working with interns, along with graduate students and staff from the University of Maine’s Pelagic Fisheries Lab.
Dr. Walt Golet, Associate Professor at the University of Maine and PFL Director
Sammi Nadeau, Lab Manager
John Carlucci, Quantitative Fisheries Scientist
Mackenzie O’Donnell, Research Assistant and Marketing
Joe Dello Russo, PhD Candidate
Kay Zipp, PhD Candidate
Brian Alper, Graduate Student
Blaise Jenner, Grad Student
Tim Brewer, UMaine PFL Intern
Jamie Payavis, USM Intern
Paige Durant, Bates Purposeful Work
Maddie Collingwood, UMaine SEA BEaRS
Alex Pomroy
Mary Grace Martin
It’s a coordinated effort and they help us as much as we help them. For some, it’s a first glimpse into the real-world side of bluefin tuna fishing and a chance to gain hands-on experience. In return, results from the data they collect ensures we have a sustainable resource to fish for.
The bulk of our annual contribution to the University of Maine Foundation’s Highly Migratory Species Conservation Fund goes toward bluefin tuna research at the University of Maine’s Pelagic Fisheries Lab. Our total contribution over the last 7 years now exceeds $100,000, and results from the research we support is already paying benefits to the fishery and those who utilize it.
Genetics for Giants is a pilot program that aims to identify stock structure of the bluefin we land. Using gene tags in a close-kin mark and recapture study, researchers hope to find tuna relatives (parent-sibling matches).
Researchers use several different types of tags to track tuna including traditional plastic tags and more sophisticated electronic tags. From this, they can determine where these fish travel and at what times of the year they enter their spawning grounds or cross management zones.
Using reproductive tissues and genetic techniques, researchers can assess when bluefin spawn for the first time. This information is used to set minimum size limits and estimate total population abundance.
At the 2025 meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, the United States was awarded a 13% increase in quota for western Atlantic bluefin tuna. This will mean an economic boost to the fishery and to the waterfront infrastructure that supports it.
If you have kids, or know people who do, mark your calendars now or pass the word along. This year’s Youth Day, Saturday, July 25 from 10 to 2 at Port Harbor Marine, promises to be better than ever.
We’re always striving to do more for our community, which is why, thanks to our sponsors from The Hometown Foundation, we invite individuals from Portland’s Strive program to participate in our Annual Day on the Bay.
This special invitation-only event provides an opportunity for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to see and learn about the sights and species of Casco Bay. Then, they get to have their own crab fishing tournament back at Southern Maine Community College, where everyone is a winner.
No boat? No problem. If you’re interested in chartering a vessel for the tournament, reach out to us and we will help connect you with one of our participating charter captains. If you are a charter captain registered for the tournament and would like to book a charter, let us know and we’ll add you to the list.
Thanks to Dr. Walt Golet, we were able to produce a 20-part Tuna Science video series for our YouTube channel. It covers a broad range of topics from history and natural history to research, management and industry support. The entire series is available to all with an interest in bluefin tuna, so please visit the Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza YouTube channel.
We’re teaming up again with the Bailey Island Fishing Tournament and the Boothbay Harbor Tuna Challenge to bring you the Gulf of Maine Grand Slam, a unique award for anglers who participate in all 3 tournaments. In addition to a trophy and a check, the winner claims the title of New England’s top tuna boat.
In 2025 we were honored with the Outstanding Business Award from the Southern Maine Community College Foundation. This award is given to a business or organization that has made a significant impact through its support of SMCC and the broader business community.
Thanks to our fantastic sponsors at W.S. Emerson and Miller’s Workshop, we continue to expand our line of performance fishing and lifestyle apparel, including gear from Carhartt. If you saw something at the tournament but we ran out before you could pick it up, you can still order online. Bluefin Bonanza apparel is always open.
In addition to prizes for the top 5 fish, you’ll have a couple more chances to win this year.
DuraBrite is offering a prize package for the largest fish caught at night under DuraBrite lights.
www.duralightlights.com
Penn is offering $1,000 in reel service for the largest fish caught on a Penn reel.
www.pennfishing.com
As the rate of negative interactions continues to grow, NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Division has placed increased emphasis on evaluating incidents of shark depredation. They are currently considering changes to shark size and bag limits, and quantifying the level of encounters could influence the outcome.
This year we are asking registered participants to report shark depredation. We want to emphasize that this is voluntary, but the information you provide could be valuable to future management decisions. The more encounters we document, the better the chances of NOAA Fisheries increasing bag limits and lowering size limits on sharks in hopes of reducing negative interactions.
In addition, one vessel, randomly chosen from the pool of anglers who submit reports will receive a prize, to be awarded at the tournament banquet.
Friday, July 31, 4 to 8 p.m., Port Harbor Marine. This event is open to the public.
First Place: $25,000 | Second Place: $12,500 | Third Place: $6,000
Fourth Place: $3,000 | Fifth Place: $1,500
Total tournament payout will be based on participation. The more boats registered, the higher the purse.
Future Tournament Dates
July 25 to 31, 2026
July 24 to 30, 2027