Discover the Largest Ahi Tuna Ever Caught

Ahi is used to refer to yellowfin and bigeye tunas in Hawaii. Both types of ahi tuna belong to the Thunnus genus and the mackerel family Scombridae. Ahi tunas prefer to swim in open oceans with depths of about 100 to 300 feet.

Although they are not the largest species of tuna, they can grow quite large. Some of the largest recorded ahi tunas weigh over 400 pounds, making them a rewarding catch for anglers.

About Ahi Tunas

Before we dive into the largest ahi tuna catches, let’s take a look at the different species below.  

Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)

Yellowfin tuna are pelagic fish recognized by distinct yellow fins. They are native to subtropical and tropical waters around the world, but primarily in the Pacific Ocean.

Their torpedo-shaped bodies are a vibrant silverish blue to green coloration, with yellow along the sides. These fish have about seven to 10 yellow fins, consisting of a pair of pectoral fins, anal fins, caudal fins, and elongated dorsal fins. Their most distinctive features are the rows of around six finlets between their dorsal fins and caudal fins. Yellowfin tunas are known to occasionally exceed 400 pounds and reach a length of 94 inches.

Yellowfin tunas are carnivores that hunt and eat smaller fish. They are one of the fastest swimming fish in the world, which makes it easy for them to prey on smaller fish.

Most yellowfin tunas are caught as a bycatch in fisheries. However, they are commonly caught to be eaten. Unfortunately, their population numbers are decreasing according to the IUCN Red List.

Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus)

Bigeye tunas are tropical and temperate water fish with distinctive large eyes. They are classified into different types, namely the Atlantic and Pacific bigeye tuna.

Other than their larger eyes, bigeye tuna look relatively similar to yellowfin tuna although they are slightly larger. Their bodies are a silverish blue color with yellow fins and finlets. Bigeye tunas have a plumper body shape than yellowfin tunas, and significantly larger eyes too. They can grow up to 98 inches long and weigh over 400 pounds.

These fish are distributed in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. They can inhabit deeper waters than yellowfin tuna thanks to their unique physiology. They have a varied carnivorous diet consisting of fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans that they hunt.

Bigeye tunas are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Their numbers are decreasing due to overfishing. They are usually caught for consumption and their flesh is in high demand.

What Are the Largest Ahi Tunas Ever Caught?

There are three records for ahi tunas, as we would need to consider the records for yellowfin and two types of bigeye tuna. The following records have been made official. This means that although there could be larger catches out there, these ones were recorded with certified equipment. They have been made official by The International Game Fish Association, or IGFA for short.

1. Official Yellowfin Tuna Record: 427 pounds

So far, the largest yellowfin tuna ever officially caught on all-tackle record weighed a whopping 427 pounds. It was caught by Guy Yocom off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Yocom caught the fish using a 130-pound line on the 18^th of September 2012.

He was aboard his boat El Suertudo throwing baits to a school of yellowfin tuna when he made the impressive catch. The yellowfin tuna was weighed on a certified digital scale and made official by the IGFA.

2. Official Atlantic Bigeye Tuna Record: 392.6 pounds

The other largest ahi tuna on all-tackle record would be the Atlantic bigeye tuna caught by Dieter Vogel on July 25, 1996. The bigeye tuna weighed a record-breaking 392 pounds and 6 ounces on an 80-pound line. Vogel caught the massive ahi tuna during his fishing trip in Spain. Aside from its record-breaking weight, the Atlantic bigeye tuna measured 83.07 inches long and 59 inches wide.

3. Official Pacific Bigeye Tuna Record: 435 pounds

Dr. Russel Lee was responsible for the largest Pacific bigeye tuna on an all-tackle record weighing 435 pounds. He made the catch on April 17, 1957, using a 130-pound line. This record big catch took place in Peru, and the ahi tuna measured about 93 inches long and 64 inches wide.

Dr. Lee is said to have wielded a Sila Flex rod with Sunset line when he caught the Pacific bigeye tuna. He beat the previous record of 336 pounds the same year in Peru, just three months later.

In Conclusion

Ahi tunas can grow very large, despite not being the largest species of tunas in the world. Although there are potentially much larger catches that have not been officially recorded, the largest official catches are around the 400-pound mark.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © FtLaudGirl/iStock via Getty Images