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Yellowfin tuna ( Thunnus albacares ) in the Gulf Stream

Yellowfin tuna

Fast tropical tuna with bright yellow fins

Photo: OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The yellowfin tuna is a large pelagic fish found in tropical and subtropical oceans globally. It supports major commercial fisheries through purse seining and longlining, while also serving as a prized target for sport anglers due to its speed and size.

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  • Reaches weights over 180 kg and lengths of 2.4 m
  • Bright yellow second dorsal and anal fins
  • Warm-blooded with high swimming speeds
  • Often associates with dolphins and floating objects
  • Major target for purse seine and longline fisheries

What it is

This species is one of the larger tunas, though smaller than bluefin varieties. Its body features dark metallic blue above and silver below, marked by roughly twenty vertical lines on the belly. The second dorsal and anal fins are bright yellow and can grow very long in mature adults, resembling sickles. These fins, along with yellow finlets near the tail, give the fish its common name. Pectoral fins are longer than those of bluefin tuna but shorter than albacore fins.

Where it lives

Yellowfin tuna inhabit pelagic waters across tropical and subtropical regions globally. They live in the mixed surface layer above the thermocline, typically staying within the top 100 metres. While they rarely penetrate deep thermal layers, tracking shows they can dive to over 1,500 metres. They often approach shorelines near mid-ocean islands, volcanic formations, or continental shelves when water clarity and temperature suit their needs.

How it lives

These fish travel in schools of similar sizes, often mixing with skipjack tuna or associating with dolphins, whales, and floating debris. Their warm-blooded nature and unique cardiovascular system allow for rapid bursts of speed up to 47 mph. They hunt fast-moving baitfish like flying fish, mackerel, and squid. Young yellowfin face predation from sharks, seabirds, and larger tuna, while adults are threatened mainly by toothed whales, marlin, and industrial fisheries.

Yellowfin tuna
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Commercial fleets catch yellowfin using purse seines, longlines, and historically pole-and-line methods. Purse seining dominates today, often targeting schools associated with dolphins or floating objects, which raises ecological concerns regarding bycatch. Longliners supply the sashimi market with larger specimens. Artisanal fisheries in places like the Philippines and Maldives use handlines. Sport anglers pursue them globally, with notable records set in Hawaii and Bermuda.

Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares , loaded to truck for transportation. Palabuhanratu, West Java.
Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares , loaded to truck for transportation. Palabuhanratu, West Java.. Photo: Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ahi tuna, pan seared rare and crusted in seasame seeds. Served over a vegetable julienne, with wasabi, wasabi cream, an orange ginger sauce and topped with pickled ginger.
Ahi tuna, pan seared rare and crusted in seasame seeds. Served over a vegetable julienne, with wasabi, wasabi cream, an . Photo: Teke, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Steack de thon albacore sauté et flambé au cognac. Endives et céleri branche sautés.
Steack de thon albacore sauté et flambé au cognac. Endives et céleri branche sautés.. Photo: Mon Œil, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Yellowfin tuna

Why is it called yellowfin tuna?

The name comes from the bright yellow colour of its second dorsal fin, anal fin, and the finlets between these fins and the tail. In mature specimens, these fins can become very long.

Is yellowfin tuna the same as ahi?

In Hawaii, the term ahi refers to both yellowfin tuna and the closely related bigeye tuna. Elsewhere, ahi is often used specifically for yellowfin in marketing contexts.

How fast can yellowfin tuna swim?

They are built for speed and can swim at up to 20.8 metres per second, which is approximately 47 miles per hour. This speed helps them capture fast prey and escape predators.

What do yellowfin tuna eat?

Their diet consists mainly of other fish such as flying fish, mackerel, and lanternfish. They also consume pelagic crustaceans and squid, using their speed to chase down agile baitfish.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Yellowfin tuna", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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