Bigeye Tuna Facts

All About Bigeye Tuna


The Bigeye tuna is often referred to by the scientific name Thunnus obesus. Although these fish can generally be found in just about any area, there are some endangerment issues that have recently developed in regards to younger fish in the species. Furthermore, the Bigeye is commonly confused with the Yellowfin and this article will clear up any confusion in that department. Finally, we will briefly discuss fishing and consuming this type of tuna. Throughout this article we will highlight a few key facts about the Bigeye tuna to increase your knowledge of this species.

Bigeye Tuna Facts #1: Difference from Yellowfin

Many people undergo the common error of mistaking a Bigeye tuna fish as a Yellowfin. These two are quite similar; however, there are some distinct characteristics that can assist in distinguishing between these two fish. The biggest physical difference between these two species is the longer pectoral fins of the Bigeye tuna in comparison to the Yellowfin. This is the key way to make the distinction between these two similar species. Both tend to be metallic blue and “tuna-shaped” (or cigar shaped). There is also a somewhat visible blue stripe along the side of the body as well. The Bigeye has white on its belly and yellow dorsal fins that vary in shades. Along with physical characteristics, this specific tuna fish tends to inhabit deeper waters than its counterpart.

Bigeye Tuna Facts #2: Endangerment

Believe it or not, this tuna tends to be one of the species that are becoming threatened by fishing. The biggest concern is with the younger fish of this species. Typically they are increasingly susceptible to being removed from the water since they can be mistaken for other floating objects, such as logs, debris, etc. This common mistake results in the removal of many of these younger species before they are mature enough to breed, which drastically decreases the overall population of the species. Many scientists and fishermen have recently become concerned about this endangerment.

Bigeye Tuna Facts #3: Fishing and Eating

The Bigeye tuna can pretty much is found in any area with open waters, regardless of temperatures or tropical area. However, there is one expectation—you will not find this species in the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, these fish tend to reside in deeper waters than your other common fish (Yellowfin), which is essential to understand when planning a fishing trip with the Bigeye tuna in mind.

In regards to consumption, the Bigeye tuna is available year around—it is not a seasonal fish. Therefore, it should not be too hard to find on the menu unless the previously mentioned endangerment gets out of hand. In regards to taste, people describe the tuna as medium in flavor and a bit firm in texture.

Overall, the Bigeye tuna should be relatively easy to find if you are planning a fishing trip in open waters outside of the Mediterranean Sea. Be sure to compare the physical characteristics of the fish to ensure that you truly have caught a Bigeye and are not mistaken it for the similar Yellowfin.

About Tuna Types

Learning About Tuna Types

If you are a fan of tuna, then learning about tuna types will more than likely be right up your alley. These little fish may be tiny, but they supply food for millions of people around the world. What's more is that you can take tuna meat and mix it with a variety of ingredients to get the perfect snack or meal. Tuna also are an important part of the marine food chain, which allows many diverse and unique species to survive. If you are up for learning about tuna types, then keep reading.

A Brief Introduction to Tuna

Let us begin by talking about the fish in question: tuna. Tuna is a term used to denote species of fish that live primarily in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. These fish are carnivorous and dwell in cold water and warm water alike, which makes them very accessible to fishermen. In fact, tuna fish are some of the most heavily fished sea creatures in the world. They can grow anywhere from 3 feet to 10 feet, and can weigh from a few pounds to hundreds of pounds. Indeed, the largest tuna ever caught – a bluefin tuna – weighed in at a whopping 1,496 pounds! The size of the tuna will depend on what type of tuna it is, ranging from the smallest – bullet tuna – to the largest – northern bluefin tuna. We will now learn more about the tuna types themselves.

All About Tuna Types and What They Are

The term 'tuna' actually refers to a collection of species in the family Scombridae. They are divided into five smaller groups called genera: Thunnus, Euthynnus, Allothunnus, Auxis, and Katsuwonus. Typically, fish in the Thunnus genus are the largest, and fish in the Auxis are the smallest. We will mostly talk about tuna that belong to the Thunnus genus, since they are the ones that are most common recognized.

When you eat tuna from the grocery store, chances are you are eating albacore tuna. Albacore is the most popular type of tuna and is the only type whose meat can legally be called white. Other popular types of tuna as far as commercial purposes go are yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna. As mentioned above, bluefin tuna are the largest tuna in the world and have a strong yet delicious taste. If you buy light canned tuna, chances are you are buying skipjack tuna, a genus that tends to be smaller (around 4 feet long). This type of tuna is in the same genus as bullet tuna, which is the smallest type out there.

One of the most interesting thing about tuna types is how they all adapt to their environments. Most types of tuna are highly mobile and migrate from place to place – or ocean to ocean with the bluefin. This makes them hard to pin down at times. Also, some of the larger tuna types, like bluefin tuna and bigeye tuna, have the ability of raising their temperature above the temperature of the water around them – which means they can better adapt to their surroundings and survive. Furthermore, there are other types of tuna, like dogtooth tuna, that are not types of tuna at all (but are closely related).

In conclusion, there are many wonderful things about tuna types and the similarities and differences between them that are worth exploring. Whether you enjoy them for their taste, or are just a marine enthusiast or fisherman, learning about tuna types will surely prove to be quite interesting and useful to you in the future.

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