The Fishing Report
Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus
Bluefin Tuna Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 40–73 in, 50–300 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to 13 ft and about 2,000 lb |
| Lifespan | About 20 years or more |
| Range | Western Atlantic from Newfoundland and New England down to the Gulf of Mexico; the Southern California fishery is for the closely related Pacific bluefin. |
| Habitat | Cool to temperate open ocean — shelf edges, canyons, offshore banks and temperature breaks — feeding near the surface but diving well below 1,000 ft. |
| Diet | Herring, mackerel, bluefish, sand eels and squid chased down in open water. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Bluefin Tuna
- very short pectoral fins (clearly not reaching back to the second dorsal)
- short second dorsal and anal fins
- dark metallic blue-black back, silver-white belly with no bright yellow stripe
- dusky/grayish finlets edged with a thin black line (not bright yellow)
- stout, deep, football-shaped body
Tell it apart: The distinctly SHORT pectoral fin (not reaching the second dorsal), the dull dusky finlets, and the heavy football body separate bluefin from the long-pectoraled bigeye and the long-finned, yellow-striped yellowfin; bluefin alone has a heavily striated liver, the definitive lab check.
Easily confused with: Yellowfin Tuna, Bigeye Tuna
Side by side: Bluefin Tuna vs Albacore, Bluefin Tuna vs Bigeye Tuna, Bluefin Tuna vs Yellowfin Tuna
How to Catch Bluefin Tuna
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- Best August-October - troll spreader bars and chunk butterfish on inshore lumps; jig sand eel imitations when fish hold tight to bait.GearSpreader barsJigging luresStand-up tuna combo
- Best May through September — match the bite with sinker-rig sardines, flat-fall jigs worked deep, or surface poppers on schools busting bait.GearFlat-fall jigsSinker-rig hooksHeavy stand-up combo
When & Where Bluefin Tuna Are in Season
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic Offshore | ||||||||||||
| Northeast Offshore | ||||||||||||
| Southern California Offshore |