Discover the Largest Albacore Tuna Ever Caught

Tuna are saltwater fish in the tribe Thunnini. A tribe is a taxonomic rank that is below a subfamily and above a genus. There are 15 species of tuna in the Thunnini tribe residing across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Different tuna species have a great range in size, from the bullet tuna that grows up to four pounds to the Atlantic bluefin tuna that grows up to a whopping 1,500 pounds. Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) is one of the smaller tuna species, but the largest one ever caught is still pretty massive. This article explores the largest albacore tuna ever caught.

About Albacore Tuna

Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) is a widely distributed species of tuna, with populations in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Additionally, they live in the Mediterranean Sea. Albacore have long, sleek bodies that are a shiny silver-blue color. They are most recognizable by their long pectoral fins.

Albacore is an important species in commercial fishing worldwide. In fact, it is one of the most common species of canned tuna. Commercial fishing of albacore boomed in the 20th century. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) eventually listed the albacore tuna as Near Threatened due to overfishing. However, conservation efforts around the world supported albacore populations, and in 2021, the IUCN changed albacore’s status to Least Concern. At this time, the IUCN also changed the status of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from Near Threatened to Least Concern.

How Big Do Albacore Tuna Get?

Albacore are a smaller tuna species. They can grow up to around 4 feet long and 80 pounds. This makes them larger than the average blackfin, longtail, or skipjack tuna but smaller than the average yellowfin or bigeye tuna.

What Is the Largest Albacore Tuna Ever Caught?

According to the International Game and Fish Association, the largest albacore tuna ever caught weighed a whopping 88 pounds and two ounces. It measured 48.5 inches long and 37 inches in girth. The massive fish was caught by Siegfried Dickemann on November 19, 1977. Dickemann caught the albacore off of Gran Canaria, one of the Canary Islands of Spain. This is such an amazing record that it has stood for over four decades!

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