Fish

Pacific bluefin tuna

Atún aleta azul del Pacífico

Thunnus orientalis

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

20–100 lb off Southern California; fish over 200 lb are caught every year.

Depth

Surface to 300 ft.

Best time

Dawn and dusk are best; they also feed under working birds during the day.

Found in

1 area

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Huge, football-shaped tuna with a dark blue back, silver belly with faint lines, short pectoral fins and yellow finlets.
Typical size: 20–100 lb off Southern California; fish over 200 lb are caught every year.
Maximum size: About 10 ft and over 1,000 lb.
Diet: Sardines, anchovies, mackerel and squid.
Behavior: Fast, roaming schooling fish that follow bait along the kelp, islands and offshore banks.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southern California. Offshore banks and open water from San Diego to the Channel Islands, Tanner and Cortes Banks; follows sardines and squid.
Habitat: Offshore banks and open water from San Diego to the Channel Islands, Tanner and Cortes Banks; follows sardines and squid.
Depth: Surface to 300 ft.
Fishing depth: Surface to 100 ft; deeper on the banks in the middle of the day.
Best season: Spring through fall, peaking in summer in warm-water years.
Best time: Dawn and dusk are best; they also feed under working birds during the day.
Best tides: Current and moving water over the banks and around the islands.
Best weather / conditions: Warm, clear blue water and calm seas.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live sardines and mackerel, flylined on light fluorocarbon; slow-trolled live mackerel.
Best artificial lures: Flat-fall jigs, knife jigs, kite-flown and surface poppers, and sinker-rigged sardines at night.
Tackle setup: 7–8 ft conventional rod with a strong star-drag or lever-drag reel.
Hook size: 1/0–4/0 live-bait hooks; surface and yo-yo iron jigs.
Line: 25–50 lb mono or 50–65 lb braid with a topshot.
Leader: 25–40 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

As an Amazon Associate, BigJoe earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep this guide free.

Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Offshore banks and open water from San Diego to the Channel Islands, Tanner and Cortes Banks; follows sardines and squid.
Rig up: 7–8 ft conventional rod with a strong star-drag or lever-drag reel. 25–40 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live sardines and mackerel, flylined on light fluorocarbon; slow-trolled live mackerel. Lures: Flat-fall jigs, knife jigs, kite-flown and surface poppers, and sinker-rigged sardines at night.
Fish it: Find them by sonar, birds and breaking fish, then flyline a sardine or drop a flat-fall jig. Bluefin are leader-shy — use the lightest fluorocarbon you dare and a smooth drag.
Time it: Dawn and dusk are best; they also feed under working birds during the day. Current and moving water over the banks and around the islands.

Fishing techniques: Find them by sonar, birds and breaking fish, then flyline a sardine or drop a flat-fall jig. Bluefin are leader-shy — use the lightest fluorocarbon you dare and a smooth drag.
BigJoe's tip: Bleed the fish right away, take out the gills and guts, and pack it in ice slurry — that's what makes great sashimi.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Prized for sashimi and sushi; also seared, grilled or poke.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Strong runs — keep fingers clear of the line and reel, and gaff carefully.
Regulations: Pacific bluefin are managed internationally; California has a low daily bag limit. Check CDFW and NOAA Fisheries. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits