Tuna

Tuna fishing is popular in ALL the eastern coastal states though bluefin are limited to the cooler waters in the mid-Atlantic and northeast. The two most popular species of tuna are the Yellowfin Tuna and the Bluefin Tuna.

The Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) reaches a maximum size of 450 pounds. Yellowfin have football shaped bodies, dark blue or black above with yellow on the sides and fins tinged in yellow with the finlets yellow. Yellowfin occur in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Yellowfin Tuna are schooling fish and are the most important commercially of all the tunas.

Bluefin Tuna are identified by the finlets that run down their dorsal and ventral sides toward the anal fin. Bluefin are the largest of the tuna family and can weigh in excess of 1200lbs. These are big tough fish that can battle for many hours and require the heaviest fishing tackle used by recreational anglers.  “After so many years of fishing, there are very few fish that really challenge me, and giant tuna are certainly the most challenging”.  Capt Andy LoCascio.  Capt Andy is one of the few anglers that have caught giant tuna on standup tackle that were over 1,000lbs (Prince Edward Island, Canada – video appears in the clips below)

Tuna Fishing

Tuna fishing can be very demanding.  Tuna are some of the toughest fighting fish in the ocean.  Serious tuna anglers focus much of their attention to making sure their tuna fishing gear is capable of subduing these fish.

Click here for all of our Tuna Shows (with loads of tuna fishing tips)

Click here for our recommended Tuna Tackle.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE TUNA VIDEO CLIPS! 

Tuna Fishing Techniques

There are many tuna fishing techniques.  Yellowfin tuna and smaller bluefin tuna can be jigged, trolled, plugged, chunked, and targeted using poppers.  Though giant bluefin tuna can be caught on the troll, they are most often caught on whole dead baits and live baits.

Learn more about giant tuna fishing techniques:

Do you Dare? Giant Tuna on Stand-up Gear – by Capt Andy LoCascio.  Everything you need to know for catching giant bluefin tuna on standup gear.

Giant Bluefin Tuna – 1100lbs+ in 45 Minutes – by Capt Andy LoCascio (Includes video).  Giant bluefin tuna techniques and tips when using a fighting chair.

Tuna Fishing Tips

Bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna are only rarely found in the same waters, though they can often be found in the same regions.  Bluefin are typically found in near-shore waters and very rarely close the beaches.  However, giant bluefin tuna can be found surprisingly close to the shore especially in Canadian waters.  Yellowfin typically prefer water waters and bluefin are very comfortable in cooler waters.