The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), is the king of Mediterranean sport fishing. Discover the best techniques and essential equipment to catch it, just as described in our definitive guide to sport fishing. It is a circumtropical species, widely distributed in all warm seas of the globe, particularly in the western Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Indian Ocean and the southern area of the Atlantic Ocean.

This pelagic fish shares some characteristics with the bluefin tuna, but unlike the latter, it can occasionally be spotted even near the coast. The yellowfin tuna prefers waters with temperatures above degrees Celsius and tends to live in schools.

Habitat of the Yellowfin Tuna

The yellowfin tuna thrives in the tropical and temperate regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. This large predator is known to travel long distances at sea. It can also be found in the Adriatic Sea, although it is thought to be a fish of the great oceans, it is also abundant in the Mediterranean Sea. During the spring and autumn seasons, it enters canals and bays, including the Sea of Novigrad and Lake Prokljan.

Baits and Fishing Techniques

To catch the yellowfin tuna, it is essential to understand its behavior and habitat. These fish tend to form large schools and are highly migratory, following food sources in warm ocean waters. Some effective techniques include trolling, spinning, and jigging. Surface strategies, such as the use of popper, ranger, and stickbait lures, can attract yellowfin tuna that feed near the surface. Deep-water strategies involve metal jigs and live bait fished with downriggers. Chumming with live bait, such as anchovies or sardines, can attract the yellowfin tuna.

Distinctive Features

The yellowfin tuna is distinguished from the bluefin tuna by some features:

• The second dorsal fin and the anal fin have a falcate lobe much longer than the bluefin tuna. In adult specimens, these fins take on a bright yellow color instead of blue.
• The pectoral fins extend to the beginning of the second dorsal fin, being longer than the bluefin tuna, but shorter than the albacore.
• The finlets on the caudal peduncle are bright yellow with a black border.

The coloration of the yellowfin tuna is blue or black-bluish, often with lighter transverse bands. Furthermore, it is generally smaller than the bluefin tuna.

The body of the yellowfin tuna is muscular and strong, spindle-shaped but noticeably rounded in the middle. The back and tail are dark purple, almost black, while the color downwards and towards the head becomes silver-gray. Its flesh is dark red and delicately yellow around the belly. While not particularly agile in smaller spaces, the tuna is an extremely fast swimmer and can reach speeds of over km/h. It can grow up to meters in length and kg in weight, and the largest specimen caught was cm and kg. In the Adriatic, the average fishing weight of tuna does not exceed kg. It lives up to years, although it is believed that it can live up to years.