Bigeye TunaThe bigeye tuna is a tough, beautiful fish much sought after by offshore fishermen. Next to the Atlantic bluefin, it is the largest tuna that may be found in the Atlantic Ocean and may reach sizes in excess 400 pounds. The current record fish is a giant of 392 pounds 6 ounces caught off Gran Canaria.The bigeye tuna is dark metallic blue on the back with silver sides and a white belly set off with bright yellow finlets along the tail and tinges of yellow in the dorsal and anal fins. Although similar in appearance to the yellowfin tuna, the bigeye does have a larger eye, a chunkier body shape and a prominent lateral keel on the caudal peduncle. Bigeye tuna seem to prefer deeper water and are rarely caught on the inshore grounds, as yellowfin and bluefin. They also have a preference for night feeding and especially active at dawn and dusk. |
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