Catching Yellowfin Tuna from Cabo Fishing Boats

Cabo fishing boats are a great way to catch many of the most impressive fish in the Pacific Ocean, and that includes the yellowfin tuna. Perhaps the most commonly caught offshore game fish, the yellowfin tuna is both delicious and beautiful, calling the warm waters of the world home. They can exceed 300lbs in size, and fish of this stature are generally caught off the shores of Mexico. Find out more about this elusive fish and know what you might be able to expect on your next Baja fishing boat trip.

Habitat

Yellowfin tuna inhabit the ocean’s mixed surface layer, and they mostly range in the top 300 feet of the water column. Although they usually stay relatively close to the surface, they do have diving capabilities. For example, a yellowfin that was tagged in the Indian Ocean was shown to spend a vast majority of its time in waters shallower than 250 feet, but it was also shown to have made a dive of over 3,810 feet.

Behavior

Yellowfin tuna are often found in schools with fish that are similarly sized. In some cases, they may school with tuna from other species, and they are often associated with drifting pallets and logs. Some sonic tagging has indicated that they may actually follow moving vessels at times.

Tackle and Bait

When fishing for yellowfin, it is important to use heavy outfits when it comes to tackle, such as 50 or 80 pound outfits. Most fish are caught trolling with the use of offshore lures or rigged bait, but in other cases, the best approach may be to anchor near a reef and to bring in the fish by chumming using small baitfish. When chumming is in play, artificial lures with bait casting or spinning may be preferred.

Sport Fishing and the Yellowfin

Yellowfin tuna are extremely common for sport fishing due to their strength and speed when caught on rod and reel. Many experienced anglers feel that large yellowfin are the strongest and fastest of all the big game tuna.

Cuisine

The yellowfin tuna is commonly used in raw fish dishes like sashimi. Buyers recognize two grades: sashimi grade and other. While it is an excellent grilling meat, it is often served rare, and in many cases it is becoming a popular replacement for southern bluefin tuna, which has shown depleting supplies over the last several years.