Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)
Description
Yellowfin have a dark blue back with a yellow lateral band on the upper sides. The lower sides and belly are silvery-gray, often with chains of white vertical lines and spots. The 2nd dorsal and anal fins are yellow, and the finlets are yellow with a narrow black margin. They have small eyes and head and longer second dorsal and anal fins than any other tuna. The pectoral fins usually reach beyond the origin of the second dorsal fin but not beyond the end of its base.
Size
Can range from 16 to 67 inches and weigh from a few pounds to more than 200 pounds.
Habitat
A warm-water species, yellowfin is the most tropical species of tuna. They are found on the surface and at mid-depths in the open oceans and near dropoffs. Yellowfin are often found mixed with other species, especially skipjack and bigeye.
Range
In the Atlantic from Massachusetts to Brazil. In the Pacific from Point Buchon, California to Chile.