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How to catch Bigeye tuna

Thunnus obesus (Lowe, 1839)

About Bigeye tuna fishing

The bigeye tuna is a large pelagic fish belonging to the mackerel family Scombridae and the genus Thunnus. It features a robust, streamlined fusiform body with a large head, exceptionally large eyes, and long pectoral fins that reach past the second dorsal fin. Individuals can grow to a maximum length of 250 cm and weights exceeding 200 kg. This oceanodromous species inhabits deep open waters across tropical and temperate oceans, operating comfortably in depths ranging from the surface down to 1,500 metres. Bigeye tuna form schools near floating objects or with other tunas when young, while large adults occupy deeper, cooler sub-surface layers during daylight before ascending near the surface to feed during low-light hours. Their diet consists primarily of epipelagic and mesopelagic fishes, squids, and crustaceans. Highly prized for its quality meat, this species is a prominent target for commercial fisheries and offshore sport anglers.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    180 cm FL

  • Market value

    Very high

  • Habitat

    Saltwater

  • Season

    Summer, Autumn

  • Also known as

    Albacore, Big eye, Big eye tuna, Big eye tunny, Bigeye, Bigeye Tuna

Bigeye tuna

Forked caudal fin

Deeply forked caudal fin helps identify this robust tuna species.

Terminal mouth

Terminal mouth position is characteristic of this pelagic predator.

Straight forehead

More or less straight forehead profile typical of bigeye tuna.

Bigeye tuna fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    180 cm FL (max 250 cm TL )

  • Typical weight

    35 kg (max 210 kg )

  • Preferred temperature

    16.8–28.6 °C

  • Depth

    0–1,500 m

  • Longevity

    17 years

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    55.5

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Peak

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Low

  • Midday

    High sun

    Low

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Low

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Peak

  • Night

    After dark

    Active

When to fish for Bigeye tuna

01
January
02
February
03
March
04
April
05
May
06
June
07
July
08
August
09
September
10 Now
October
11
November
12
December

How to catch Bigeye tuna

Tips for catching Bigeye tuna

Anglers targeting bigeye tuna should focus their efforts around deep submarine canyons, drops, and offshore shelf edges where upwelling currents concentrate baitfish and squid. Because these fish spend daylight hours deep in the water column, success relies on presenting deep-diving or heavy trolling spreads during daylight, or switching to surface and mid-water presentations during low-light windows around dawn, dusk, and nighttime when the tuna rise to feed. Pulling large skirted lures, rigged natural baits like mackerel or squid, and spreader bars at steady speeds close behind the boat yields the best results. A stealthy approach with heavy clear monofilament leaders is essential, as these fish possess sharp vision in deep clear water and will shy away from visible hardware.

Other names for Bigeye tuna

Local and alternate names anglers use for Bigeye tuna.

  • Bigeye tuna
  • Bigeye
  • Big eye tunny
  • Big eye tuna
  • Big eye
  • Coffrey
  • Mackerel tuna
  • Bigeyed tuna
  • Bigeye tunny
  • Big-eye tuna
  • Bigeye tuna fish
  • Big-eye tunny
  • Bigeye-tuna
  • Japanese tuna
  • Tuna
  • Albacore

Best equipment to catch Bigeye tuna

Compare fishing methods for Bigeye tuna — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 35 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for Bigeye tuna

Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.

How Bigeye tuna migrates — Oceanodromous

Migrates within the sea between spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, and never enters fresh water. Follow its seasonal shifts along the coast and offshore.

How Bigeye tuna migrates — Oceanodromous 1. Eggs: Laid on the spawning grounds. 2. Larvae: Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds. 3. Juveniles: Grow up in sheltered nursery waters. 4. Adults: Range widely over the feeding grounds. 5. Spawners: Return to the spawning grounds each season.
Spawning grounds Nursery grounds Feeding grounds

1 Eggs

Spawning grounds

Laid on the spawning grounds.

2 Larvae

→ Nursery grounds

Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds.

3 Juveniles

Nursery grounds

Grow up in sheltered nursery waters.

4 Adults

Feeding grounds

Range widely over the feeding grounds.

5 Spawners

→ Spawning grounds

Return to the spawning grounds each season.

It stays in the sea and never runs up into fresh water.

Hover or tap a number to read each stage.

Diet and behavior of Bigeye tuna

  • Diet

    Top predator

  • Feeds by

    Hunts animals

  • Hunts

    Dawn · Dusk

  • Main prey

    Baitfish

Prey and predators of Bigeye tuna

Prey is what Bigeye tuna eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.

That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.

Prey

What it eats

Predators

What hunts it

Where Bigeye tuna lives

Pelagic in the open ocean beyond the shelf break.

Habitats
Saltwater
Depth zone
Epipelagic, Mesopelagic, Bathypelagic
0–1,500 m
Usually 0–500 m
Water column
Open water
Does not use the seabed

Where this species lives

Where to fish for Bigeye tuna

Mapped fishing spots where Bigeye tuna is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.

Ría de Avilés

Asturias / AsturiesAsturias / AsturiesSpain

Bahía de Santa Águeda

Las PalmasCanariasSpain

El Puerto

Las PalmasCanariasSpain