Tuna fishing
Tuna fishing is a fishing technique that brings together all the ways to fish this incredible predator. You can fish via trolling, spinning or jigging among others. Tuna is a fierce fighter, so adequate material is required to face this magnificent fighter.
Equipment required for Tuna fishing
Because of the tuna species size and strength a strong rod, reel, line, leader and lure or hook is required for this fishing style.
There is specialised equipment for this fishing technique and the reels especially can be expensive. The best saltwater tuna fishing reels are Shimano Tiagra, Alutecnos Albacore or Gorilla, Daiwa Sealine, Accurate or Penn for example.
Species to target when Tuna fishing
We have many different types of tuna:
Little Tunny, Skipjack Tuna, Dogtooth Tuna, Longtail Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, Albacore Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Bluefin Tuna and the Yellowfin Tuna.
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The Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) has large eyes and long pectoral fins. This is why this species is also known as longfin tuna. The largest Albacore can reach up to 140 cm (4.6ft) and weigh up to 40 kg (90lb).
MORE INFO >Albacore
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Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda) is a rapid fish species known for being great hunters. They have striping on their backs with silver-coloured undersides and they grow up to 30 inches long. They have a hydrodynamic body shape, even more so than larger tuna.
MORE INFO >Atlantic Bonito
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Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus) belong to the tuna family just like Bluefin Tuna, Albacore or Yellowfin Tuna. They can grow up to 200kg (450lb) and over 2 meters long. These pelagic fish are found in temperate and tropical waters (off shore) and are targetted mainly trolling.
MORE INFO >Bigeye Tuna
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The Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a pelagic fish that can grow up to 500kg (1000lb). The biggest Bluefin Tuna ever caught was 780kg (1496lb). These great fighters can be caught trolling, jigging, casting or drifting; mainly off-shore.
MORE INFO >Bluefin Tuna
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Dogtooth tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), also referred to as Doggies or white tuna, is probably one of the most sought after species for sportfishermen, being jigging and spinning the preferred fishing techniques. Apart from braking your back, landing one of these brutal fighting machines is arguably an unforgettable experience. They can grow as large as 250cm (8 feet) and can weigh a whopping 130kg.
MORE INFO >Dogtooth tuna
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The Little tunny or False Albacore (Euthynnus alletteratus) is easily identified by the dark spots under its pectoral fins. They like warm temperate and tropical waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The larger Little Tunny weigh up to 35lb and can reach 1,2m.
MORE INFO >Little tunny
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The skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) have a strong body with black stripes on the side. The largest skipjack tuna can reach up to 100 cm (40 inch) and weigh up to 10 kg (22 lb). Skipjack are mainly caught trolling lures.
MORE INFO >Skipjack Tuna
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Yellowfin tuna grow fast, up to 400 pounds (180kg) in about a 7-year lifespan, and they range in length from 59 inches to 88 inches long. They’re known for their torpedo shape, with a pointed nose and a sickle-shaped tail, and have dark blue backs with yellow sides (thus their name) with a silver underside.
MORE INFO >Yellowfin Tuna
Best Places to try Tuna fishing
Best places in the world to fish for tuna:
Kona in Hawaii, Outer Banks in North Carolina, San Diego in California, the Canary Islands, Mediterranean Sea (Croatia, Italy, Spain ...) , Puerto Vallarta in Mexico and Nuova Scotia in Canada.
