Fishing for Bluefin Tuna is a surprisingly recent phenomenon. Before refrigerators became commonplace, Bluefin meat was fast to expire and these fish were held in low regard. Anglers often tossed them away or, at best, sold them for decent cat food!
But, some savvy marketing in the 1970s turned these fish into a hot commodity – first in Japan, and eventually worldwide as sushi gained popularity. By the 1990s, Bluefin Tuna was catapulted to fame, and high-quality meat is now sold on the Japanese fish market for millions of dollars.
With a price tag like that, it’s no wonder why anglers are eager to spend hours, if not days, trolling the deep sea. Catching this delicacy quite literally pays for itself. But there’s more to the hype than that. With their fast, hard runs and hundreds of pounds behind them, hooking into a Bluefin Tuna feels like hitching your rod to a freight train.
How to Identify Bluefin Tuna
With such a sterling reputation, people often don’t need to hear that the Tuna filet before them is anything other than Bluefin. But there are several subspecies swimming the globe, so exactly what type of Bluefin you can catch depends on where you’re fishing…
- Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Known as Giant Bluefin or Northern Bluefin, this subspecies inhabits the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean Sea. There are separate western and eastern stocks, based on where they spawn. As the largest Bluefin subspecies, Atlantic Bluefin are true mammoths. They can grow to 12 or 13 feet long and weigh well over 1,500 pounds.
- Pacific Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus orientalis). This subspecies is mostly found in the North Pacific, from the Sea of Japan down to the Philippines and across to Southern California. They also occasionally migrate as far south as Australia. Though smaller than their Atlantic counterparts, Pacific Bluefin also reach impressive sizes – up to 10 feet and 1,000 pounds.
- Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii). Southern Bluefin occupy subtropical waters around the globe, including reaches of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, where there are no other Bluefin. Reeling in one of these still counts as a workout, with trophies reaching 8 feet and 600 pounds.
It goes without saying that Bluefin are the largest Tuna species out there. But on most occasions, you’re not going to catch the biggest of them. So when you reel in an average-sized Bluefin, how can you tell that it’s really a Bluefin and not some other kind of Tuna?
The species you’re most likely to confuse with a Bluefin is Yellowfin Tuna. Almost equally sought-after, they also reach impressive sizes and span most of the globe. This means you’ll catch them in many of the same places you’ll target Bluefin. But there are a number of differences between them:
- Anal and dorsal fins. On a Yellowfin Tuna, the anal fin and second dorsal fin grow much longer than those on a Bluefin. True to their name, these are usually yellow in color, whereas the same fins on a Bluefin Tuna are often gray.
- Finlets (the “spikes” leading to the tail). On a Yellowfin, these are always yellow. They may appear slightly yellow on a Bluefin as well, but often look faded or gray.
- Pectoral fins. Bluefin Tuna have short side fins. When folded against the side of the fish, they don’t reach past the first dorsal fin. On a Yellowfin Tuna, these fins grow long enough to reach the second dorsal fin.
- Tail color. The tail on a Yellowfin Tuna will often appear slightly yellow, whereas a Bluefin tail is dark.
- Belly markings. Bluefin Tuna have pale broken lines or spots running horizontally across their bellies – usually most visible near the tail. On a Yellowfin, you’ll sometimes see alternating lines and spots that run vertically up their belly.
- General coloration. Bluefin Tuna are gray with dark backs. Yellowfin also have dark backs, but you’ll often see a band of yellow running across the side of the fish which separates the dark hue of their back from their belly.
Usually, you can see at least some of these clues. However, sometimes, none of them will be apparent. You can learn more about the difference between Bluefin and Yellowfin Tuna in this article.
Bigeye Tuna is another species that often swims in the same waters which may look a lot like Bluefin. Just remember that Bigeye Tuna have side fins long enough to reach their second dorsal fin. And, they don’t have any markings on their belly.
Best Bluefin Tuna Fishing Spots
With multiple Bluefin species around the globe, there’s plenty of opportunity to catch them. Anglers based in North America are lucky enough to have both the Pacific and the Atlantic in reach, including some of the world’s best Bluefin Tuna fishing spots:
Nova Scotia, Canada
Subtropical waters usually hold the world’s biggest trophy Bluefin Tuna but Canada’s Maritimes of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia offer a major exception. A number of record-breaking catches have been landed here, specifically in the Northumberland Strait and waters surrounding PEI. With some luck, you might hook a Bluefin in the 200–600-pound range.
Peak Bluefin season is a relatively short window between late summer and early fall. Bear in mind that Bluefin Tuna fishing in Canada’s Maritimes region is strictly catch-and-release for recreational anglers.
Cape Cod, MA
Cape Cod is famous for Bluefin Tuna, mostly due to its historic commercial fishery but, more recently, thanks to the hit series Wicked Tuna! Here, anglers start to catch them as early as June when juvenile Bluefin are within reach of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. By September, Bluefin of all sizes swim through the area, staying strong through November (and sometimes into December).
The bite tends to be hit and miss throughout the season, so a savvy charter captain will serve you well around here. Size and bag limits vary by season, region, and vessel type. See the NOAA’s Atlantic Bluefin recreational limits for more info.
The Outer Banks, NC
As Bluefin Tuna migrate south, they make their way to North Carolina’s Outer Banks in November. Some swim so close to shore that anglers have landed them just 10 miles from the beach! For the biggest Bluefin, however, you’ll want to time your trip between February and April. Landing a monster requires some strong sea legs as you have to travel about 50 miles offshore to find them.
Bluefin season in the Outer Banks usually lasts through May. Depending on the current Atlantic Bluefin regulations, your boat may be able to keep one fish. Just beware, the rules surrounding this can change at any time.
San Diego, CA
For a chance to catch Pacific Bluefin, set your sights on San Diego. It’s common to board an overnight charter here, taking you to renowned deep sea fishing grounds off the coast of Southern California, as well as Mexico. While many fish are in the 20–50-pound range, you still have a fair chance at catching some over 100 pounds.
Bluefin are available much of the year in these waters, with peak season running between April and November. California’s recreational bag limit allows anglers to keep up to two Bluefin Tuna per day. Note that regulations for fish caught in Mexican waters may differ.
Ensenada, Mexico
If you’re keen on fishing south of the border, head to Ensenada in Baja California. There’s great Bluefin action from June through November, when warm waters draw these fish to the surface. July marks the peak season, when it’s possible to land Bluefin up to 200 pounds. For one of these, you’re likely to travel around 45 miles offshore, so prepare to make a full day out of it.
Mexico’s sportfishing regulations aren’t easily accessible in English so we recommend hiring a local charter boat to help you follow the rules.
How to Fish for Bluefin Tuna
More often than not, a charter boat will have you trolling for Bluefin Tuna. However, anglers in different parts of the world (even different parts of the same country) utilize some other creative methods, too.
Trolling
Bluefin Tuna are pelagic fish that can swim up to 40 miles per hour. With that in mind, you can count on trolling as a surefire way to catch them. You’re likely to troll up to 10 miles per hour while dragging your bait or lures about 100 yards behind the boat. Heavy-duty trolling rods and outriggers will help you maintain a sturdy spread behind the boat.
In some areas, trolling might be paired or replaced with a more specialized, local technique. One example of this is flylining, a popular method in Southern California where you allow your bait to swim freely and carry the line with it.
Kite Fishing
Rather than relying on speed, chum, or a flurry of surrounding fish to mask their line, some anglers avoid submerging it altogether. This is the idea behind kite fishing – a popular method in San Diego – where your bait and hook skim the surface while your line is attached to a kite hovering overhead. This setup also allows you to fish farther from the boat, targeting any Tuna that might eye your vessel with suspicion.
Topwater Lure Fishing
On the other side of the country, anglers have come up with a totally different way of fishing for Bluefin Tuna. In the Outer Banks specifically, it’s popular to target them with topwater lures like oversized plugs, poppers, and stickbaits.
For this technique, bring a 7′ medium-to-fast-action rod paired with any reel that has a fast gear ratio, and use a 40–60 lb mono or 60–100 lb braided line. Look for a school of Tuna feeding close to the surface and approach upwind. As your boat drifts closer, make a long cast just past the school of fish and retrieve your lure straight through them.
Jigging
When targeting Tuna deeper below the surface (say, more than 100 feet down) it’s time to swap out those topwater lures and trolling rods for some jigging gear. In this case, you’ll have to rely on technology like a sounder to locate the fish. Then, you want to drop your line just below them in order to jig up through the feeding zone. Use a colored fishing line so you can count out the depth once you drop your line rather than feeling your way blindly.
For large Bluefin, you’ll be served well by a 5′ jigging rod. Pair it with a high-capacity, heavy-drag reel (usually a 4000 series) spooled with an 80–100 lb test braided line. Due to Tuna’s razor-sharp teeth, you’ll want to attach a 60–100 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Fly Fishing
Yes, surprising as it is, you can target small Bluefin on the fly! In this case, you’ll be chasing juveniles rather than monster fish. But, trust us, it will still be one heck of a fight now that you’re using fly gear!
Use a 12 wt rod paired with a large arbor reel that holds 300–400 yards of backing. For larger Tuna, you’ll want a 14–15 wt rod and matching arbor reel.
Have in mind that you’re likely to have the most success fly fishing for Bluefin when they feed on slow-moving bait fish. Due to their excellent eyesight, “matching the hatch” is a must. Choose fly patterns, sizes, and colors that best represent the natural bait your target fish are feeding on.
Bluefin Tuna Bait and Lures
For every technique you might use to catch Bluefin Tuna, there are dozens of baits and lures to choose from. Common Bluefin baits include:
- Mullet
- Sardines
- Herring
- Mackerel
- Half beaks
- Whiting
- Squid
- Sand eels
- Flying fish
- Bonito
- Smaller Tuna (like Skipjack)
Meanwhile, depending on the technique you choose, you can target Bluefin using a wide variety of lures. Spoons, plugs, feathers, and skirted lures are common when trolling. There’s a wide selection of topwater lures to choose from when casting, too, such as stickbaits, poppers, plugs, and even flies.
When to Catch Bluefin Tuna
As migratory fish, Bluefin Tuna appear in different places at different times of the year. Western Atlantic Bluefin feed near the far Northeast and Canada between June and November. They then make their way past the Carolinas, where the bite is strong through winter and into April. From around April to early June, they spawn in the Gulf of Mexico before heading back up the coast again.
In Southern California and Mexico, you can target Pacific Bluefin much of the year, with a peak season roughly between April and November.
Bluefin Tuna: The Million-Dollar Fish
Needless to say, Bluefin have come a long way from cat food. With so many ways to hook them and the eternal promise of landing a monster, it’s easy to catch the Bluefin bug. It might take years to land your own trophy fish but, luckily, you have no shortage of places to choose from. You could literally spend a lifetime fishing for Bluefin Tuna around the globe and it would be time well spent!
Have you ever landed a Bluefin Tuna? How big was it? Are there any techniques you swear by? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
The post How to Go Bluefin Tuna Fishing: The Complete Guide for 2024 appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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