Thunnus atlanticus
Bermuda Tuna, Blackfinned Albacore, Deep-Bodied Tunny, Football
The pectoral fins of the Blackfin Tuna reach to somewhere between the twelfth dorsal spine and the origin of the second dorsal fin, but they never extend beyond the second dorsal fin as in the Albacore. There are a total of 19 to 25 (usually 21 to 23) gill rakers on the first arch (15 to 19 are on the lower limb), which is fewer than in any other species of Thunnus. The finlets are uniformly dark, without a touch of the bright lemon yellow usually present in those of other tuna, and they may have white edges. Light bars alternate with light spots on the lower flanks. The first dorsal fin is dusky; the second dorsal and anal fins are also dusky with a silvery luster. The back of the fish is bluish black, the sides are silvery gray, and the belly is milky white.
The diet of Blackfin Tuna consists of small fish, squid, crustaceans, and plankton. Blackfin often feed near the surface, and they frequently form large mixed schools with Skipjacks.
All Florida, the Bahamas and Caribbean.
From the collection of ripe females and distribution of larvae, it appears that the species spawns offshore in the warm, clear waters of the Gulf Stream along the southeastern United States as well as in the Caribbean and western and northern sections of
Blackfin Tuna may attain a maximum length of 40 inches, although they are common at about 28 inches and weigh in the 10 to 30 pound range.
45 pounds, 8 ounces (IGFA)