How to catch Yellowfin tuna
Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788)
About Yellowfin tuna fishing
The yellowfin tuna is a large pelagic teleost belonging to the mackerel family Scombridae. It features an elongated fusiform body with a dark metallic blue back transitioning to a silver belly marked with faint vertical lines, alongside signature bright yellow second dorsal and anal fins that can grow sickle-shaped in mature specimens. This oceanic species inhabits warm tropical and subtropical waters down to significant depths, typically remaining above the thermocline where it forms schools segregated by size or associates with floating debris and marine mammals. As an active apex predator, it feeds voraciously on small fishes, squids, and crustaceans throughout the water column. Highly regarded for its incredible strength and stamina, it remains a premier target for offshore sport fishermen worldwide.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
150 cm FL
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Market value
High
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Habitat
Brackish, Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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Also known as
Albacore, Allison tuna, Allison's tuna, Atlantic yellowfin tuna, Autumn albacore, 'Fin
Caudal shape
Deeply forked caudal fin typical of fast-swimming pelagic tunas.
Mouth position
Terminal mouth position adapted for predatory feeding.
Striking fins
Bright yellow second dorsal and anal fins identify this species.
Vertical bars
Faint vertical lines and spots present along the lower belly.
Yellowfin tuna fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
150 cm FL (max 239 cm FL ) -
Typical weight
20 kg (max 200 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
16.5–28.9 °C -
Depth
1–1,602 m -
Longevity
18 years -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
45.6
Best hours
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Peak
Dawn
First light
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Peak
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Active
Afternoon
Late day
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Active
Dusk
Last light
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Low
Night
After dark
When to fish for Yellowfin tuna
How to catch Yellowfin tuna
Tips for catching Yellowfin tuna
Successful offshore angling for yellowfin tuna relies heavily on locating surface activity such as diving seabirds, floating flotsam, or pods of dolphins that frequently herd baitfish into open water. Anglers should target the upper water layers during early morning hours and late afternoon when these pelagic predators hunt actively near the surface. Trolling high-speed skirted lures or subsurface minnows across current edges and temperature breaks covers large areas efficiently to find roaming schools. When fish show on the surface or around structure, casting heavy metal jigs, poppers, or offering live baits on sturdy saltwater spinning gear triggers aggressive strikes from these powerful fighters.
Other names for Yellowfin tuna
Local and alternate names anglers use for Yellowfin tuna.
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Yellowfin tuna
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Yellowfinned albacore
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Yellow-fin tuna fish
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Autumn albacore
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Allison's tuna
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Atlantic yellowfin tuna
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Allison tuna
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'Fin
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Fin tuna
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Long fin tunny
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Longfin
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Longfin yellowfin tuna
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Pacific long-tailed tuna
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Yellow-fin tuna
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Tuna
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Yellow-fin tunny
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Yellow fin tuna
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Yellow tunny
Best equipment to catch Yellowfin tuna
Compare fishing methods for Yellowfin tuna — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 20 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.
Trolling
Drawing lures or baits behind a moving boat.
90% Effectiveness
Rod
Trolling rod
A trolling rod is built to sit in a holder and pull a lure or bait at speed. Moderate action so the rod, not the reel, plays the fish.
Sized for a typical fish
extra-heavy · 2.29 m
- Reel seat
- Casting
- Form factor
- One-piece
- Action
- Moderate
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Trolling reel
A trolling reel is the dedicated lever-drag fishing reel for pulling lures behind a boat, often in a holder all day.
Sized for a typical fish
30 · 20 kg drag
- Spool
- Revolving
- Mount
- Over
- Drag
- Lever
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
45.4 kg · 0.46 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
59 kg · 1.087 mm · 150 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Spinning
Casting and retrieving lures with a spinning rod and reel.
80% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
extra-heavy · 2.18 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
10000 · 25 kg drag · 810 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
45.4 kg · 0.46 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
59 kg · 1.087 mm · 150 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Popping
Working surface poppers or stickbaits for inshore and tropical predators.
75% Effectiveness
Rod
Offshore rod
An offshore rod is the one-piece boat fishing rod for deep jigging, trolling, and live bait in open salt water.
Sized for a typical fish
extra-heavy · 2.03 m
- Reel seat
- Casting
- Form factor
- One-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
10000 · 25 kg drag · 810 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
45.4 kg · 0.46 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
59 kg · 1.087 mm · 150 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Live Baiting
Fishing a live baitfish or live invertebrate as the primary presentation.
70% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
extra-heavy · 2.18 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
30000 · 30 kg drag · 1107 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
91 kg · 1.4 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
136.1 kg · 1.885 mm · 180 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Hook
Circle hook
A circle hook turns in the mouth and usually finds the corner of the jaw. You do not strike hard — you come tight. It includes freshwater.
Sized for a typical fish
6/0
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Best lures and baits for Yellowfin tuna
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
01
Metal jig
- Trolling
- Spinning
A long metal lure for speed-jigging the deep column.
03
Sardine
- Trolling
Elongated silvery baitfish body releases strong scent trails.
04
Squid
- Trolling
Elongated muscular body holds internal organs and secretes scent in the water.
06
Live baitfish
- Live Baiting
Elongated segmented worm body provides natural movement to attract fish.
How Yellowfin 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.
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 Yellowfin tuna
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Diet
Top predator -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Dawn · Morning -
Main prey
Baitfish
Prey and predators of Yellowfin tuna
Prey is what Yellowfin 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 Yellowfin tuna lives
Pelagic in the open ocean beyond the shelf break.
1–1,602 m · usually 1–250 m
Estuary
Where this species lives
Yellowfin tuna photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.
Where to fish for Yellowfin tuna
Mapped fishing spots where Yellowfin tuna is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.
