Game fishing for southern bluefin tuna is a significant industry in Portland with up to 11 charter boats and about 200 recreational boats chasing the big fish at peak holiday times from February to June.

The industry generates millions of dollars for the city's economy with recreational anglers coming from throughout Australia to hook the fish that can weigh more than 100 kilograms and put up an epic fight, with some taking more than six hours to reel in.

Bob McPherson of Portland, a former recreational anglers' representative on the Tuna Management Advisory Committee, said he believed tighter regulation of the recreational catch was needed.

While many recreational anglers did practise catch-and-release with the tuna, Mr McPherson feared there was still overfishing off Portland with too many of the large breeding fish being caught.

Current regulations that permit recreational anglers to take two southern bluefins, and only one at more than 1.2 metres in length, were allowing too much of the breeding stock to be taken, he said.

With 210 boats put into the water at Portland at Easter, the daily recreational catch of tuna was likely to total hundreds of tonnes at the season's peak.

Mr McPherson said the southern bluefin and albacore tuna fisheries off Portland were "world class" fisheries and their resources should be respected.

Paul Benbow, a fishing tackle salesman at Portland, said more catch-and-release was needed and excessive catches were still occurring.

Mr Benbow said there was enough southern bluefin tuna for all recreational anglers if they did not each take two large fish each day.

Two tuna weighing about 30-40 kilograms each should be enough for individual anglers, he said.

"You do not have to bring a boatload full of fish, especially the big fellas," he said.

Mr Benbow expected the cutback in the commercial catch would flow through to the recreational catch.

Wayne Sharrock of Sharkmen Charters said an accurate tally of the recreational tuna catch at Portland should be done before any reductions were imposed.

"If it is proven we have to be reduced, I would be all for it," he said.