Tuna, Yellowfin

Yellowfin are a true prize among game fish and are the most strikingly colored of the tunas. Their coloration ranges from blue to black along the fish’s back, silver to silvery gold on the flanks and silvery white towards the belly. A band of bright gold or iridescent blue (sometimes both) runs along the upper flank, separating the dark back from the lighter belly area. As the name suggests, the tuna’s fins are bright yellow—the finlets in particular are canary yellow with black margins. The tail fin is distinctly notched in an "M" shape at the center of its fork.

Adult yellowfin are distinguished by a long pectoral fin that is one-third to one-fourth the body length. In large fish, the second dorsal and anal fins may be elongated and bright yellow.

The Pacific coasts of Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama, where light tackle fishing for large pelagic species has been honed to an art form, are perhaps the best places to chase yellowfin. Even so, these large, fast, pelagic fish are almost too much of a challenge for the fly rodder. Nevertheless, juveniles are caught each year by anglers chasing sailfish and smaller billfish. Tackle for tackling yellowfin should be the stoutest available.  Anglers routinely use rod weights in the ‘teens with the biggest, toughest reels that money can buy in the hopes of boating a baby yellowfin.