Description
The yellowfin tuna is among the larger tuna species, reaching weights of over 400 pounds (180 kg), but is significantly smaller than the Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tunas, which can reach over 1,000 pounds (450 kg), and slightly smaller than the bigeye tuna and the southern bluefin tuna.
The second dorsal fin and the anal fin, as well as the finlets between those fins and the tail, are bright yellow, giving this fish its common name. The second dorsal and anal fins can be very long in mature specimens, reaching almost as far back as the tail and giving the appearance of sickles or scimitars. The pectoral fins are also longer than the related bluefin tuna, but not as long as those of the albacore. The main body is very dark metallic blue, changing to silver on the belly, which has about 20 vertical lines.
Reported sizes in the literature have ranged as high as 239 centimeters (94 in) in length and 200 kilograms (440 lb) in weight. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) record for this species stands at 388 pounds (176 kg)for a fish caught in 1977 near San Benedicto Island in the Pacific waters of Mexico. In 2010 a 405 pounds (184 kg) yellowfin was caught off the tip of Mexico's Baja peninsula, 86-inch (2,200 mm) long with a girth of 61 inches (1,500 mm). The catch is still pending verification by the IGFA.. In 2012, a fisherman in Baja, California caught a 427 pound yellowfin. If the catch is confirmed by the IGFA, the fisherman will receive a prize of $1 million.
Read more about this topic: Yellowfin Tuna
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