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| Courtesy of California Dept. of Fish and Game |
Common name: Bluefin Tuna
(Other names: Giant tuna, horse mackerel, footballs, shortfin tuna, great albacore and bluefin.)
Scientific name: Thunnus thynnus (Tuna originates from the Greek word “to rush”) :: Scombridae (Mackerel and Tunas)
Description: Bluefins are the largest species in the tuna family. They can reach up to 12 feet, weigh up to 1,500 lbs. and can live for about 15 years.
Bluefins are dark blue on top, blending to silver along their sides and belly. They have two dorsal fins, one anal fin and have seven to ten anal and dorsal finlets. The first dorsal fin is a yellowish blue and the second fin is reddish blue, which is larger than the first one. They also have alternating colorless lines and rows of dots along their lower sides. Its torpedo shaped body and its crescent shaped fin are made for speeds of up to 30 mph.
The differences between a bluefin and other tuna are that they tend to have smaller eyes; larger mouths and their pectoral fins are shorter. Also, bluefins are warm-blooded and can change their body temperatures, up to 20? warmer than the surrounding waters.
Like other tuna, bluefins are migratory and travel in large schools when they are young. Older bluefin, between 350-500 lbs., travel in smaller schools of 40 or less, and the very larger bluefin tend not to migrate at all.
Habitat: Bluefins are pelagic and can be found along the Pacific coast of the Baja peninsula. They are said to migrate according to food availability, water temperature and spawning habits. A bluefin prefers water at 55?-75? and depths of 3,000 feet.
Reproduction: When a bluefin reaches maturity between the ages of three and six, they will spawn in warm waters between Japan, the Philippines and Hawaii from April to early August. Female bluefin can produce up 10 million eggs a year. After being hatched a bluefin will stay in the waters where it was spawned and then after a year it will migrate easterly towards the waters of So Cal.
Eating habit: Bluefin are surface feeders and can consume 5% of their body weight. They feed mainly during dusk because they hunt by sight rather than smell. They also tend to prey on sand dabs, surfperch, sardines, squid, pelagic red crabs and white croaker, but mainly feed on anchovies.
Fishing methods, tips, and best lures and baits: A bluefin will put up a fight, so be sure you’re willing to fight back. They are also smart, so when you try chum to lure the tuna up, test them by using chunk to see if they’ll bite. Trolling feathers and anchors can also catch Bluefin.
Best times of the year for targeting this species: Bluefin tend to arrive in Baja between April and May and sometimes will migrate to So Cal from May to June.
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