Big Eye Tuna < back

The body of the bigeye tuna is cigar-shaped. The head is pointed and the eye is relatively large. The color is dark metallic brownish-blue to dark yellow on the back, fading to gray or white below.

In most individuals, the length of the pectoral fins should enable one to identify the species properly. Both bigeye and yellowfin tuna look similar, but bigeye tuna have pectoral fins which extend well past the anal fin, while yellowfin tuna have much shorter pectoral fins. The diet of bigeye tuna includes fish, squid, and crustaceans. They are opportunistic feeders, eating whatever is abundant in the area.

These fish are occasional visitors to Ensenada,usually from June until August. They prefer temperate water in excess of 70 degrees, but have been caught in water as cool as 65 degrees F. Bigeye tuna travel far below the surface during the day, surfacing only momentarily while feeding. Most bigeye are taken incidental to albacore or marlin fishing.