Plate 24 of 79SaltwaterOffshore

Yellowfin Tuna

Thunnus albacares

The summer-and-fall canyon tuna of the offshore fleet — a federal-permit fish taken trolling and chunking well beyond the beach.

Typically present

advancedBoat recommendedOffshore ocean

Practice this species

Try a simulated catch in Seven Casts. Use this guide and its official sources to plan a real trip.

This profile has not yet been checked against an official regional data source — confirm identification, seasons, and regulations before you rely on it.

Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) — Fig. 24. Thunnus albacares
Photo: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research / National Undersea Research Program (NURP), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — Public domainLong edge is 1558px, below this project's 1600px preference. Accepted because it is the best rights-clear, correctly-identified photo found for this species — see SPECIES_PHOTO_AUDIT.md for the source search record.

Habitat: Offshore waters
Methods: Offshore
Difficulty: advanced
Eating: good

Identification

Look for

Bright yellow finlets and, on larger fish, long sickle-shaped second dorsal and anal fins
A gold stripe along the side above a silver belly; the pectoral fin reaches about to the second dorsal fin

Local waters

Offshore canyons and blue water
Temperature breaks and weed lines

Primarily a boat fishery here — typically fished by offshore boat.

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When to fish

Typically present: summer, fall

Summer into fall, when boats run out to the canyons off the Virginia/North Carolina coast.

Water temperature

The water, not the calendar, sets the season here — a warm October or a cold snap moves these bands.

Water temperature and the seasons

How to catch it

Primarily a boat fishery here — typically fished by offshore boat. Technique notes for this species have not been written yet; the baits and rigs below are the documented starting points.

Bait & lures

Trolled ballyhoo or skirted artificial lures
Chunking with butterfish or menhaden
Vertical jigging or popping over structure

Terms usedPresentation

On the table

Deep red, firm flesh — seared, grilled, or cooked through per the safe-temperature guidance this guide follows. A federal HMS permit is required to keep it.

Recreational retention of Atlantic tunas (including yellowfin) requires a federal HMS Angling or Charterboat/Headboat permit — a Virginia saltwater license alone isn't sufficient. Bluefin tuna specifically carries its own, more complex size/season rules not covered here.