According to the National Fisheries Institute, 88% of American households have dined on canned tuna. For an animal that ends up on dinner plates so often, it is surprising to discover that tuna can grow to gigantic sizes. Some tuna species can weigh as much as a cow. Determined anglers have caught some truly massive tuna over the years. Have you ever wondered about the largest tuna ever caught? Keep reading to learn all about this record-breaking catch.
Facts About the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin tuna are notoriously fierce predators.
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The largest tuna species is the western Atlantic bluefin tuna. They have torpedo-shaped bodies that can grow to 13 feet in length and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. These fish are dark blue to black on their backs with white bellies and reddish-brown dorsal fins. Their lower sides are white with colorless lines and spots. They also have short pectoral fins.
These fish can be found from Newfoundland, Canada to the Gulf of America. They prefer temperate waters close to the surface, although they can also be found at depths of 500-1,000 feet. Atlantic bluefin tuna are apex predators in their ecosystems, feeding on baitfish such as mackerel, herring, and bluefish. They are a slow-growing species, with a lifespan of over 20 years.
One of the most significant threats to Atlantic bluefin is overfishing. In the U.S., NOAA Fisheries manages Atlantic bluefin tuna populations to ensure sustainable fishing practices and also maintain the long-term health of the species. Fortunately, Atlantic bluefin tuna populations have stabilized or increased in some regions. This led to the species being reclassified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List in 2021.
What Is the Largest Tuna Ever Caught?
After 46 years, an Atlantic bluefin tuna remains the largest tuna ever caught. Ken Fraser caught this world-record tuna off the coast of Nova Scotia. Not only is the bluefin tuna caught by Ken Fraser the largest tuna that has ever been documented by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), but it is also one of the most famous records in the history of fishing.
On October 26, 1979, Fraser was fishing with Captain Eric Samson aboard the Lady and Misty out of Port Hood, Nova Scotia. Later that day, Fraser reeled in the bluefin tuna that would later become a world record catch. Incredibly, it took him only 45 minutes to bring the largest tuna near enough to gaff it after it had consumed a baited mackerel. Even after being in the boat for nearly 10 hours, the bluefin tuna still weighed an amazing 1,496 pounds. This record for the largest tuna ever caught has stood for almost 46 years and may never be surpassed.
More Record-Breaking Tuna Catches
Many of the largest bluefin tuna ever found were caught in Canada.
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There have been other amazing discoveries of massive tuna caught by different anglers. Of course, none of them were big enough to surpass Ken Fraser’s catch, but they are incredible catches, regardless.
In 1978, a large Atlantic bluefin tuna was caught off the shore of Prince Edward Island, Canada, by angler Coletta Perras. The bluefin weighed an amazing 1,170 pounds and was caught on 130-pound tackle. In 1985, angler Dr. J. Steffey caught a bluefin tuna that weighed about 1,116 pounds while fishing off the coast of Prince Edward Island. On 50-pound-class tackle, angler Eryn Jacobsen caught a 911-pound tuna in September, 2011 off Nova Scotia.
While many of these records have remained unbroken for over 40 years, there are still gigantic tuna out there in the oceans. As recently as April 2025, angler David Esslinger caught a massive Atlantic bluefin tuna off the coast of Galveston, Texas. The previous state record was a whopping 876 pounds. However, the bluefin hoisted aboard the 46-foot catamaran beat the record by 8 pounds, weighing in at 884 pounds. All the fishermen on board were needed to land the massive fish, which measured 115 inches long and 80 inches wide.
