Massive Bluefin Tuna Jets Out of the Water While Chasing Garfish

This is a magnificent sight and also an unusual one for the coast of the UK. It shows around eight bluefin tuna hunting a shoal of garfish and was captured close to the shore. The garfish are panicking and leaping out of the water in an attempt to escape the larger predatory fish. This isn’t going to work because tuna can leap out of the water as well. These large fish are remarkably agile and are rewarded with a fishy snack.

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Bluefin Tuna Return to UK Waters

Bluefin tuna have not been seen in UK waters for 60 years. Then, in October 2020, a magnificent sight was spotted just off the shore near Watergate Bay in Cornwall. It was an enormous bluefin tuna that was leaping out of the water and landing with a splash just like the individuals that we see in this clip.

Sadly, bluefin tuna disappeared from the UK coastline in the 1960s. They were likely wiped out by commercial fishing operations. In the early 2010s, there were reported sightings in the English Channel and off the west coast of Ireland. Then, sightings were reported off the coast of Devon. The clip that you see here is one of those sightings and was captured in 2023.

This return has probably been brought about by restrictions on the quantity of tuna that can be legally caught. Also, it is thought that rising sea temperatures may be playing a part. Also, the fish that they prey on are currently present in large numbers in the Atlantic and this may be luring them further north than before.

What Do Bluefin Tuna Normally Eat?

Atlantic bluefin tuna live near the surface of the water but can dive to depths of 1000 m. They are a highly migratory species and travel long distances across oceans. These guys are the largest of the tuna species and can reach at least 550 pounds and a length of over 8 feet when fully mature. The largest ever recorded Atlantic bluefin tuna was almost 1500 pounds! They are top predators in their ecosystems and are usually near the top of the food chain. Juvenile bluefin tuna typically eat zooplankton and then move on to small fish, squid, and crustaceans when they are a bit larger.

Adults eat a variety of fish species including herring, bluefish, and mackerel which they swallow whole. They are impressive hunters and can reach speeds of 40 miles an hour when they are chasing fish.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © bekirevren/Shutterstock.com