Also known as
- Northern Bluefin Tuna US
Identification
A massive Pacific basin tuna with a thick-shouldered torpedo build engineered for sustained high-speed cross-ocean migration.
- Deep metallic blue-black back, silvery-white belly
- Yellow finlets edged with black
- First dorsal yellow to bluish; second dorsal and anal fins dusky yellow
- Very short pectoral fins that do not reach the second dorsal — key ID feature
- Small eyes relative to body size
Where it holds
- Offshore
- Oceanic
Behaviour
A trans-Pacific apex with extraordinary endothermic capability — sustains hunting in cold temperate water that excludes most pelagics. Migrates between subtropical breeding grounds and temperate North American feeding grounds. Schools by size class and aggregates around seamounts, thermal fronts, and productive upwellings. Hunts throughout the water column 0-500m+, with explosive surface bust-ups when bait schools concentrate. Juveniles use coastal nursery zones.
Diet: Sardines, Anchovies, Saury, Mackerel, Small Bonito, Squid
How it's caught
Line Fishing
Spinning
The defining modern Pacific approach — Southern California and Baja San Diego long-range fleets, plus Japanese stickbait culture. Pitch 200-400g large stickbaits, poppers, or knife jigs to bust-ups, breezers, and foamers under birds. Aggressive walk-the-dog or fast-pop retrieves trigger explosive strikes. PE6-10 popping setups with 100-130lb fluoro leader.
Live Lining
The legendary Southern California long-range approach — bait-tank a load of live sardines, mackerel, or anchovies and chum a slick along thermal edges. Free-line a bridled live bait on a 4/0-6/0 non-offset circle hook with long fluorocarbon leader. Kite fishing keeps baits in the surface zone. Slow-troll live mackerel for trophy-class fish. 24-37kg gear.
Trolling
A high-mileage approach for finding fish across temperature breaks, current edges, and bait concentrations. Pull a spread of x-large skirted lures, jet heads, daisy-chained cedar plugs, and rigged mackerel at 6-9 knots. 37-60kg gear standard for trophy-class fish. Watch bird activity and slick patches. Zucchini and Mexican-flag patterns produce well.
Jigging
Productive when fish hold at 50-150m on banks, seamounts, and structure or in heavy current. Drop a 250-500g knife jig or slow-pitch jig and rip with sharp 1-2m cadence sweeps; many strikes come on the flutter fall. PE5-8 braid with 5-7m of fluorocarbon topshot. Match weight to current.
Chunking
An effective drift-and-chum approach over canyons, shelf-break ground, and known feeding zones. Establish a steady chum slick of cut sardines, mackerel, or anchovies and free-line unweighted chunks on 8/0-10/0 non-offset circle hooks. 37-60kg gear with long fluorocarbon leaders. Best around dawn, dusk, and new-moon windows.
Spear Fishing
Bluewater Spearfishing
An elite Pacific bluewater target — Southern California, Baja, and Japanese spearos work surface schools at 15-40m during summer-autumn feeding migrations. Cautious circlers — flasher and chum bag help draw them in. Use a 130-150cm bluewater speargun with 9.0mm shaft, slip-tip, breakaway rig, and 100L+ float system. Brain or spine shots only.
