Bigeye TunaorYellowfin Tuna
Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.
How to tell them apart
Bigeye Tuna
Stockier than yellowfin, oversized eye, duskier fins; honest answer — hard to call, measure and check.
Bigeye tuna, next to yellowfin tuna: bigger eye, stockier; hard to call — when in doubt, measure and check.
Yellowfin Tuna
Long yellow second dorsal and anal fins that grow with age; yellow lateral stripe.
Yellowfin tuna, next to bigeye tuna: brighter yellow fins, slimmer profile.
Side by side
| Bigeye Tuna | Yellowfin Tuna | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Thunnus obesus | Thunnus albacares |
| Also called | — | Ahi |
| Waters | Offshore | Offshore |
| Heaviest state record | 375.5 lb · Maryland (1977) | 290 lb · New Jersey (1980) |
| On the table | Excellent — fattier than yellowfin. | Excellent raw or seared rare. |
| Rules of its own in | 5 states | 5 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
The two fish are regulated differently in 4 of 5 states with a rule for either. In Alabama, bigeye tuna is 27 in curved fork length minimum, No creel limit and yellowfin tuna is 27 in curved fork length minimum, 3 per person. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.
| State | Bigeye Tuna: size · bag · season | Yellowfin Tuna: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 27 in curved fork length minimumNo creel limitOpen year-roundOpenAL MRD 2026 · checked | 27 in curved fork length minimum3 per personOpen year-roundOpenAL MRD 2026 · checked |
| Louisiana | 27 in curved fork lengthNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenLDWF 2026 · checked | 27 in curved fork length3 per personOpen year-roundOpenLDWF 2026 · checked |
| Mississippi | 27 in curved fork length minimumNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenMS DMR 2026 · checked | 27 in curved fork length minimum3 per person per dayOpen year-roundOpenMS DMR 2026 · checked |
| North Carolina | 27" curved FL min3 per person per dayYear-roundOpenNC DMF 2026 · checked | 27" curved FL min3 per person per dayYear-roundOpenNC DMF 2026 · checked |
| South Carolina | 27 in curved fork lengthNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · checked | 27 in curved fork length3/dayOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · checked |
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, bigeye tuna or yellowfin tuna, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell bigeye tuna from yellowfin tuna?
Bigeye Tuna: Stockier than yellowfin, oversized eye, duskier fins; honest answer — hard to call, measure and check. Yellowfin Tuna: Long yellow second dorsal and anal fins that grow with age; yellow lateral stripe. Yellowfin tuna, next to bigeye tuna: brighter yellow fins, slimmer profile. Bigeye tuna, next to yellowfin tuna: bigger eye, stockier; hard to call — when in doubt, measure and check.
Which gets bigger, bigeye tuna or yellowfin tuna?
Bigeye Tuna. The heaviest state record we hold is 375.5 lb in Maryland; the heaviest yellowfin tuna record is 290 lb in New Jersey.
Which is better to eat, bigeye tuna or yellowfin tuna?
Bigeye Tuna: Excellent — fattier than yellowfin. Yellowfin Tuna: Excellent raw or seared rare.
Do bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna have the same limits?
Not everywhere. They differ in 4 state rulebooks. Alabama: bigeye tuna 27 in curved fork length minimum, No creel limit, yellowfin tuna 27 in curved fork length minimum, 3 per person; Louisiana: bigeye tuna 27 in curved fork length, No bag limit, yellowfin tuna 27 in curved fork length, 3 per person; Mississippi: bigeye tuna 27 in curved fork length minimum, No bag limit, yellowfin tuna 27 in curved fork length minimum, 3 per person per day; South Carolina: bigeye tuna 27 in curved fork length, No bag limit, yellowfin tuna 27 in curved fork length, 3/day.