Yellowfin Tuna(Thunnus albacares)

Quick Facts

  • Size Range: They grow to 400 plus pounds.
  • Native Species?: Yes
  • Food Value: Excellent eating for sushi and cooking.

State Record

  • Louisiana State Record: 251lbs
  • State Record Date: 10/1/2012
  • State Record Holder Elliot Sale

The yellowfin tuna has a black to bluish back and a bronze and silver belly. They have distinct yellow fins and fairly long pectoral fins. Smaller tuna have a series of white spots and lines on their sides, but these fade with age.

These tuna inhabit all tropical and temperate oceans of the world and are normally found well offshore in clean water. They are a schooling fish, and, in some areas, they tend to travel or feed with other larger creatures like sharks, whales and dolphins.

Yellowfin are very popular sport fish and are caught trolling baits, both live and dead, and on a variety of lures and vertical jigs. They are typically a voracious feeder but also very wary of visual aspects. Minimal terminal tackle and fluorocarbon leaders greatly improve an angler’s ability to trick the tuna into a bite. As with any fish, yellowfin sometimes devour anything that hits the water or ignore their favorite morsels.

Yellowfin Tuna Rules and Regulations

Bag and Possession Limit : 3 daily per person
Seasons : No Closed Season

Tuna Click to Toggle

All recreational anglers, including those not normally required to have a fishing license, and charter captains must obtain a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit to possess tuna.

Anglers fishing for tunas within or outside Louisiana state waters are subject to both state and federal laws, rules and regulations. Federal regulations regarding the recreational harvest of tunas change often, especially for bluefin tuna. Prior to angling for or harvest of tuna, be aware of the most current federal regulations for fishing or harvest, including sizes, bag limits and closed seasons. For updates on tuna quota monitoring and tuna retention limit adjustments, anglers may call the Atlantic Tunas Information Line at 888-872-8862. The “Atlantic Tunas Regulations Brochure” is available at http://hmspermits.noaa.gov/ library.asp and announcements of changes may be accessed via the web at http:// hmspermits.noaa.gov/news.asp.

Permanent Louisiana regulations on tuna harvest may be superseded by seasonal changes within the federal regulatory system. See websites referenced above for current federal regulations.

Bluefin Tuna

All bluefin tuna must be reported within 24 hours of landing to NMFS by calling 888-872- 8862 or visiting www.hmspermits.noaa.gov. For further information about angling category permits call the NMFS HMS Division at 888-872-8862 or 301-713-2347.

General Info:
Related Habitats:
Other Most Popular Sport Fish Species: Red Snapper Dolphin Channel Catfish White Crappie White Bass Striped Bass Southern Flounder Spotted Seatrout
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Related Fishing Methods

The use of chunks of cut bait, usually fish, to attract game fish to the boat. The hook is then placed in one of the chunks and tossed out to free-line down. Also could be considered chumming, but the size of the pieces are bigger and gives the fish something to start feeding on.

A versatile method of fishing for many types of fish in both freshwater and salt. A jig is a lure, normally a lead-headed lure with many various types of body/tail configurations made of rubber, hair and feather. Jigs are one of the most versatile of all lures and can be tipped with bait or not. Traditionally jigs are worked in variety of up and down motions, and can be fished throughout the entire water column, depending on the fishery. A modern form of jigs called metal jigs has taken hold and many varieties and shapes have been developed to work different ways. Made famous by the Shimano Butterfly Jig and now produced by many companies in many variations. If I could only have one lure to fish with it would be a jig.

Live bait is a term given to many different types of fish, crustaceans, insects and worms that are popular food items for fish and used by fishermen for bait. There are many benefits to live bait as well as a few cons. The pros normally out weigh the negatives, and live bait is widely used. The biggest benefit for fishermen is that they are using the real thing and often puts a fish's guard down. Small fish, crabs, shrimp, clams, crickets and the good ole earthworm are all used to entice a fish to the hook. The only negatives to live bait is just that, keeping it alive. Sometimes catching it can be a challenge, as only some species can be bought as live bait. No matter how you get it, live bait is a great way to target many types of fish.

Topwater fishing refers to the working of lures that are designed to float on the surface and twitch, splash and swim like a wounded prey. The visual aspect of the bite makes this a very popular way to fish. Most predatory fish will crash a topwater plug at one time or another. Early morning, evening times are traditionally better in freshwater and inshore saltwater fisheries. Offshore for pelagics like tuna, it is more about getting in range of feeding fish and working the lure in the zone. Hang on!

Trolling is the presentation of lure and/or baits from a moving boat. Many types of predatory fish are caught this way in both fresh and salt water. Speeds and presentations vary greatly depending on the target species. One may troll a small beetle spin for crappie with trolling motor in the lake, or charge around oil rigs at 15 knots with a high-speed wahoo spread. Trolling ballyhoo offshore is one of the most common, broad spectrum ways to catch all types of gamefish. Again there are many different methods to choose from.