Tag: tuna species

Yellowfin Tuna Species Guide and Yellowtail Tuna

Yellowfin Tuna Species Guide and Yellowtail Tuna

Species Highlight – Yellowfin Tuna – Picture from oceanbluefishing.com

Yellowfin Tuna (also known as Thunnus albacares or “Ahi” in Hawaiia) is a species of tuna that is deep blue on top with a shallow yellow line in the middle of their body going to the tail. Their fins are also yellowish in color. Yellowfin is one of the larger tuna species and very tasty.

Yellowfin tuna have the potential of reaching up to a weight of 400lbs or 180kg. They are mainly found in the warmer offshore waters such as Gulf of Meixco, Hawaii, Caribbean, Eastern and Western Pacific.

Yellowfin tuna group together in enormous schools and can be seen feeding as they break the surface chasing after bait. Like other Tuna species they eat a large number of different bait fish like sardines and mackerel, squid, and even small pelagic crabs. 

Yellowfin tuna are strong fighters. Like all tuna they pull hard for their size, and as mentioned above, they can get quite large.  They almost never jump when hooked, instead swim in large circles making it a long process to get them in the boat.  They are a great gamefish and a pleasure to catch. As a bonus, they are also great to eat. 

Difference between Yellowfin and Yellowtail Tuna

Yellowfin vs Yellowtail Tuna

Yellowfin tuna and Yellowtail tuna are both species of fish that belong to the same family, Scombridae, but they are different species. Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) is a species of tuna that is found in the open waters of the tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, while yellowtail tuna (Thunnus albacares) is a species of tuna that is found primarily in the waters off the coast of Japan and Australia.

Yellowfin tuna is a large fish that can grow up to 6.5 feet in length and weigh up to 440 pounds. It has a metallic blue-black back and upper sides with a silver belly and bright longer yellow fins. Yellowtail tuna, on the other hand, is a medium-sized fish that can grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh up to 110 pounds. It has a dark blue back and upper sides with a silver belly and smaller yellow fins. The two species can be distinguished by the size, color, and location of the yellow fins. Yellowfin tuna has yellow fins that are located at the top of its body and are longer, while yellowtail tuna has yellow fins that are located at the bottom of its body and are smaller.

Yellowfin tuna is considered to have a stronger flavor and firmer texture than yellowtail tuna. Yellowfin tuna is often used for sashimi and sushi, while yellowtail tuna is often grilled or served as sashimi. Yellowtail tuna is considered to be a good choice for grilling or cooking because of its milder flavor and softer texture. It is also considered to be a good choice for raw fish dishes because of its softer texture and milder flavor.

Specific details on How to Catch Yellowfin Tuna

Check out other species of tuna.

Tuna Fishing Tips for Catching Albacore Tuna

Tuna Fishing Tips for Catching Albacore Tuna

Catching Albacore Tuna Fishing
Catching Albacore Tuna

Albacore Tuna, also called thunnus alalunga or albies, is one of the smaller tuna species with metallic dark blue top and silver white belly. Its flesh is pink in color and will turn white when you cook it. Most of the Albacore tuna caught are young and weigh in between 10 – 30 pounds. Because they are young, there is a lower accumulation of mercury in their flesh. Albacore tuna is rich in omega 3 and they are often made into canned tuna.

Albacore tuna is an active fish typically found in tropical/temperate ocean so the best way to catch Albacore Tuna is trolling. It will be difficult to catch tuna from a boat that stands still in the water since they travel in large schools at high speed. When trolling for albacore, it is best to maintain at a boat speed of 6 – 10 knots.

Trolling is a tried and traditional technique for tuna. Visit this post for detailed Tuna Trolling Info

How to catch Albacore Tuna – Lures to use, methods, tips and tricks.

Glittery baits that are designed to troll at high speed can be used in the day time. In the late evening, you can use darker color lures. The ideal length of the lure for catching albacore tuna is 3″ – 4″. Different types of baits are hooked differently, for example, when you use a anchovies bait, you must hook it with the mouth closed. The hook must be strong and sharp, for example, the 4/0 hooks.

Catching Albacore Tuna
Catching Albacore Tuna

The bait is to be installed  in the correct position behind the boat. To get an idea of what bait to use, you can check out the stomach of the first tuna you caught. When you cut open its belly, you’ll be able to see what size and type of bait inside. The size of the bait you use must match the size of the hook. Many anglers have successfully used baits like hex head, yo zuri squid lip rupper, tuna ‘P’nut and mackerel maulers to catch tuna.

To get the tuna to swim up to the surface, you must stir up some commotion, for example dragging an old tire behind the boat. When they are stirred in excitement, they will come up and bite on any bait they see. You can mix 5 – 6 baits to create your own school of fish in order to attract the tuna up to the surface. Typically, it will take about 1 hour to get the tuna into the boat once it bite on the bait.

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