Tuna

For strength and speed, tunas offer unmatched challenge as elite big game species.

Maryland Longfin Tuna Record Smashed

The giant albacore breaks a state record which has stood since 2004, and comes within spitting distance of the world record.

240-Pound Yellowfin Landed Despite Broken Hook

A snapper trip for a bunch of buddies out from New Orleans turned into an even better day when they hooked into a heavyweight yellowfin.

Capt. John McMurray’s Top Topwater Lures for Tuna

Catching tuna on a topwater is one of the greatest thrills in angling.

mate gaffing yellowfin tuna into the boat

Five Things To Look For in a Fishing Mate

An experienced captain explains the top five characteristics he looks for in a deckhand.

Technically the tunas are part of the mackerel family, Scombridae, but for anglers’ purposes, they fall under the genus Thunnus, apart from kingfish, wahoo, mackerel, and other members of the family. The mostly pelagic tunas, from the diminutive bonitos, often favored as bait for larger bluewater predators, to bluefins, that can top half a ton, offer a range of sport in the world’s oceans, on an equally varietal range of tackle, from fly-rods to 130-pound trolling gear, on everything from feathers, to live baits and trolled lures.

The middleweights, blackfins in the Atlantic, which run to 40-pounds, and albacore in the Pacific, generally 20 to 40 pounds, provide fast action to trolled baits and lures around rips and seamounts on medium tackle. For strength and speed, the royalty of the oceanic tribe, bluefins, yellowfins and bigeye offer unmatched challenge as elite big game species; and provide some of the best table fare that swims.