Family: Scombridae

Description: Blackfin Tuna are the smallest tuna species in the Thunnus genus. They have oval-shaped bodies, black backs with a slight yellow on the finlets, and yellow on the sides of their bodies.

Similar Fish: Yellowfin Tuna

Where found:  With close proximity to the coastline, the blackfin tuna prefers clean water and warm temperatures, usually seaward from the continental shelf. It is a strongly schooling, migratory fish, often forming large mixed schools with skipjack tuna

Size: Common from 2 to 20 pounds; exceeds 40 pounds

*Florida Record: 49lbs, 6 oz

Remarks: Pound-for-pound, among the best.

Regulations

Minimum Size Limit: None

Daily Bag Limit: The default bag limit for all “unregulated” species is two fish or 100 pounds per day, whichever is more.

Gear: lures, jigs, feathers, spoons, and plugs

Fishing Tips: Light classes of ocean tackle, plus spinning and baitcasting outfits. For trolling, choose small offshore lures, feathers, spoons, small rigged baits such as Ballyhoo and strips. Deep-diving plugs are also good. Blackfins also can be chummed with live Pilchards or similar small baitfish, and fished for with the same bait, or by casting. Best hard lures are white jigs, tied with bucktail or feathers to provide a larger profile. Flies should be similarly tied—to imi- tate size and color of the live chum.