Side by Side

Albacore Thunnus alalunga

Typical: 26–34 in, 15–30 lb

Key field mark: Albacore's pectoral fins are exceptionally long (reaching past the second dorsal and anal fins) and the tail has a clean white trailing margin — both unique among the local tunas.

• Steel-blue back grading to dusky silver sides
• Extremely long pectoral fins reaching past the anal fin origin
• White trailing edge on the tail (caudal) fin
• Rounded football body with a relatively small second dorsal
• Finlets dusky/dark, not bright yellow

Full Albacore guide — season, gear and rules →

Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares

Typical: 36–50 in, 30–80 lb

Key field mark: Long, bright-yellow sickle-shaped dorsal and anal fins plus yellow black-edged finlets distinguish yellowfin from the much smaller blackfin, which keeps short fins and dark, dusky finlets.

• Dark metallic blue back, silvery-white belly, and a golden-yellow stripe down the side
• Greatly elongated, sickle-shaped (falcate) second dorsal and anal fins on larger adults
• Bright yellow finlets edged with a narrow black margin
• Lower flanks/belly often marked with alternating pale lines and rows of dots
• Pectoral fin moderately long, reaching to about the second dorsal origin (not past the anal fin as in bigeye)

Full Yellowfin Tuna guide — season, gear and rules →

When Each Is Running July — current month highlighted

Where Albacore and Yellowfin Tuna Overlap

Both run in Southern California — that is where telling them apart actually matters.

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