Bigeye Tuna

Oceans & Range: All tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. In the Pacific, found from the Hawaiian Islands east to the Americas, ranging from Southern California to Chile. In the Atlantic, caught from New England to Brazil including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. A deep-water species most commonly caught by offshore long-range party boats and private sportfishers targeting 200–500 foot depths.

Preferred Water Temperature: 65°F–75°F at the surface. Bigeye dive to extreme depths (1,000+ feet) during the day to feed in cold, oxygen-minimum zones, making surface temperature less predictive than for other tunas.

Size & Weight: Typical sport catch is 30–100 lbs. Trophy Bigeye regularly exceed 200 lbs. World record: 435 lbs from off Peru. Pacific fish average 50–150 lbs; Atlantic fish run similar sizes with more very large individuals.

Best Lures: Large skirted trolling lures (10–16 inch) in dark colors — purple-black, green-black — produce well for trolling. Large deep-diving crankbaits trolled on downriggers reach deeper fish. Rigged ballyhoo trolled at 7–9 knots produces consistent strikes. Large surface iron jigs (Tady 45, Salas 6X Jr.) cast into schools catch fish when topwater activity occurs at dawn. High-speed lures at 9–12 knots work on scattered fish.

Best Baits: Rigged whole squid, either trolled or slow-trolled, are highly effective. Large live skipjack and small Yellowfin Tuna are top natural baits for trophy fish. Whole mackerel rigged for slow trolling produce large fish. Deep-dropping chunk baits of squid and mackerel on daytime drops catches fish near their deep holding depths. Live bonito are excellent bait at night when Bigeye are more surface-oriented.

All tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. In the Pacific, found from the Hawaiian Islands east to the Americas, ranging from Southern California to Chile. In the Atlantic, caught from New England to Brazil including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. A deep-water species most commonly caught by offshore long-range party boats and private sportfishers targeting 200–500 foot depths.

65°F–75°F at the surface. Bigeye dive to extreme depths (1,000+ feet) during the day to feed in cold, oxygen-minimum zones, making surface temperature less predictive than for other tunas.

Best Lures: Large skirted trolling lures (10–16 inch) in dark colors — purple-black, green-black — produce well for trolling. Large deep-diving crankbaits trolled on downriggers reach deeper fish. Rigged ballyhoo trolled at 7–9 knots produces consistent strikes. Large surface iron jigs (Tady 45, Salas 6X Jr.) cast into schools catch fish when topwater activity occurs at dawn. High-speed lures at 9–12 knots work on scattered fish. Best Baits: Rigged whole squid, either trolled or slow-trolled, are highly effective. Large live skipjack and small Yellowfin Tuna are top natural baits for trophy fish. Whole mackerel rigged for slow trolling produce large fish. Deep-dropping chunk baits of squid and mackerel on daytime drops catches fish near their deep holding depths. Live bonito are excellent bait at night when Bigeye are more surface-oriented.

Typical sport catch is 30–100 lbs. Trophy Bigeye regularly exceed 200 lbs. World record: 435 lbs from off Peru. Pacific fish average 50–150 lbs; Atlantic fish run similar sizes with more very large individuals.

2 official records on file for Bigeye Tuna