Blackfin 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
Blackfin Tuna
Football tuna with dusky-black fins and a bronze-gold side wash; rarely over 30 lb.
Blackfin tuna, next to yellowfin tuna: smaller, dusky fins, bronze lateral wash.
Yellowfin Tuna
Long yellow second dorsal and anal fins that grow with age; yellow lateral stripe.
Yellowfin tuna, next to blackfin tuna: bright yellow fins, grows far larger.
Side by side
| Blackfin Tuna | Yellowfin Tuna | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Thunnus atlanticus | Thunnus albacares |
| Also called | — | Ahi |
| Waters | Offshore | Offshore |
| Heaviest state record | 45.5 lb · Florida (1996) | 290 lb · New Jersey (1980) |
| On the table | Very good — best fresh, bled and iced. | Excellent raw or seared rare. |
| Rules of its own in | 2 states | 5 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
The two fish are regulated differently in 7 of 7 states with a rule for either. In Alabama, yellowfin tuna is 27 in curved fork length minimum, 3 per person while blackfin tuna has no rule of its own there. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.
| State | Blackfin Tuna: size · bag · season | Yellowfin Tuna: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. | 27 in curved fork length minimum3 per personOpen year-roundOpenAL MRD 2026 · checked |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit2 fish or 100 lb per person, whichever is greaterOpen year-roundOpenFWC 2026 · checked | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit2 fish or 100 lb per person, whichever is greaterOpen year-roundOpenFWC 2026 · checked | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. |
| Louisiana | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. | 27 in curved fork length3 per personOpen year-roundOpenLDWF 2026 · checked |
| Mississippi | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. | 27 in curved fork length minimum3 per person per dayOpen year-roundOpenMS DMR 2026 · checked |
| North Carolina | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. | 27" curved FL min3 per person per dayYear-roundOpenNC DMF 2026 · checked |
| South Carolina | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. | 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, blackfin 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 blackfin tuna from yellowfin tuna?
Blackfin Tuna: Football tuna with dusky-black fins and a bronze-gold side wash; rarely over 30 lb. Yellowfin Tuna: Long yellow second dorsal and anal fins that grow with age; yellow lateral stripe. Yellowfin tuna, next to blackfin tuna: bright yellow fins, grows far larger. Blackfin tuna, next to yellowfin tuna: smaller, dusky fins, bronze lateral wash.
Which gets bigger, blackfin tuna or yellowfin tuna?
Yellowfin Tuna. The heaviest state record we hold is 290 lb in New Jersey; the heaviest blackfin tuna record is 45.5 lb in Florida.
Which is better to eat, blackfin tuna or yellowfin tuna?
Blackfin Tuna: Very good — best fresh, bled and iced. Yellowfin Tuna: Excellent raw or seared rare.
Do blackfin tuna and yellowfin tuna have the same limits?
Not everywhere. They differ in 7 state rulebooks. Alabama: blackfin tuna no rule of its own, yellowfin tuna 27 in curved fork length minimum, 3 per person; Florida (Atlantic): blackfin tuna No size limit, 2 fish or 100 lb per person, whichever is greater, yellowfin tuna no rule of its own; Florida (Gulf): blackfin tuna No size limit, 2 fish or 100 lb per person, whichever is greater, yellowfin tuna no rule of its own; Louisiana: blackfin tuna no rule of its own, yellowfin tuna 27 in curved fork length, 3 per person; Mississippi: blackfin tuna no rule of its own, yellowfin tuna 27 in curved fork length minimum, 3 per person per day; and more in the table on this page.