Thunnus albacares
Torpedo-shaped body with dark metallic blue/black back, transitioning to silver-gold on the sides and silver-white belly. Bright yellow second dorsal and anal fins that become elongated sickle shapes in mature fish. Yellow finlets with black edges run along the tail. Yellow stripe along the sides. Streamlined head with large eyes.
Males and females are identical in appearance. Both develop elongated dorsal and anal fins with age. Yellowfin tuna are relatively short-lived, rarely exceeding 7-8 years.
Average catch is 30-80 lbs. Quality yellowfin run 80-150 lbs. Trophy fish exceed 150 lbs. The world record is 427 lbs, caught in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 2012. Gulf of Mexico fish regularly exceed 200 lbs, with Venice, Louisiana being the premier U.S. destination for giant yellowfin.
Chunking (cutting fresh baitfish into chunks and creating a chum slick) with yellowfin tuna hooks baited with fresh chunk bait is deadly when fish are located near structure or rigs. Live bait (hardtails, blue runners, goggle-eyes) drifted on the surface or at depth with a balloon or kite produces the largest fish. Trolling with cedar plugs, skirted ballyhoo, and spreader bars at 6-8 knots covers water when fish are scattered. Jigging with heavy butterfly jigs under the boat when fish are marked on the sounder is increasingly popular.
Heavy conventional rod, 50-80 lb class reel, 65-100 lb braid, 80-130 lb fluorocarbon leader (at least 15 feet), 7/0-9/0 circle hooks. For chunking: medium-heavy spinning with 40-65 lb braid. Stand-up gear for fish over 100 lbs.
Federal minimum size is 27 inches curved fork length. Bag limit typically 3 fish per person per day. No closed season in the Gulf. Highly migratory species managed federally.
Regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with your charter captain or state wildlife agency before fishing.
The Bahamas · Central Bahamas
North Carolina · Crystal Coast
New Jersey · Jersey Shore
New Jersey · Jersey Shore
South Carolina · Lowcountry
North Carolina · Crystal Coast
The Bahamas · Northern Bahamas
Barbados · Barbados Coast
New Jersey · Jersey Shore
North Carolina · Cape Fear
Grenada · Grenada Coast
The Bahamas · Southern Bahamas
California · Southern California
South Carolina · Lowcountry
Massachusetts · Cape & Islands
California · Southern California
Florida · Panhandle
The Bahamas · Central Bahamas
Antigua & Barbuda · Antigua Coast
Puerto Rico · San Juan Metro
Florida · Southeast
Florida · Panhandle
The Bahamas · Northern Bahamas
New York · Long Island
Massachusetts · North Shore
Grenada · Grenada Coast
Saint-Martin · Saint-Martin Coast
Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana
The Bahamas · Southern Bahamas
Hawaii · Oahu
North Carolina · Outer Banks
South Carolina · Lowcountry
Hawaii · Oahu
Florida · Keys
Antigua & Barbuda · Antigua Coast
Hawaii · Big Island
Florida · Keys
Florida · Keys
South Carolina · Lowcountry
Hawaii · Maui
California · Southern California
New Jersey · Jersey Shore
North Carolina · Outer Banks
Florida · Keys
Saint-Martin · Saint-Martin Coast
The Bahamas · Northern Bahamas
Massachusetts · Cape & Islands
Florida · Southeast
New York · Long Island
North Carolina · Crystal Coast
South Carolina · Grand Strand
South Carolina · Grand Strand
North Carolina · Outer Banks
Massachusetts · Cape & Islands
Rhode Island · Rhode Island Coast
The Bahamas · Central Bahamas
Rhode Island · Rhode Island Coast
California · Southern California
Virginia · Hampton Roads
South Carolina · Grand Strand
Maryland · Ocean Coast
Barbados · Barbados Coast
Alabama · Gulf Coast
North Carolina · Outer Banks
Saint-Martin · Saint-Martin Coast
Florida · Panhandle
South Carolina · Grand Strand
Florida · Panhandle
Sint Maarten · Sint Maarten Coast
New Jersey · Jersey Shore
Hawaii · Kauai
Hawaii · Kauai
Louisiana · Cajun Coast
Dominica · Dominica Coast
Puerto Rico · West Coast
Dominica · Dominica Coast
California · Southern California
Puerto Rico · San Juan Metro
Georgia · Georgia Coast
Dominica · Dominica Coast
Sint Maarten · Sint Maarten Coast
North Carolina · Cape Fear
Barbados · Barbados Coast
Grenada · Grenada Coast
Antigua & Barbuda · Antigua Coast
Florida · Southeast
Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana
California · Southern California
Virginia · Hampton Roads
Florida · Southeast
North Carolina · Cape Fear
North Carolina · Cape Fear
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