Fish Id Guide

ID Guide For Atlantic Tunas
Additional Info found on NMFS Permit Shop
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See also NMFS Tuna Guide 2009 (.pdf)

Species	Gill Rakers on First Gill Arch	Markings on Lower Body	Markings on Upper Body	Trailing Edge of Caudal Fin	Bottom Surface of Liver	Pectoral Fin Length	Finlets	Length (fork length) & Weight Maximum
Bluefin	34 - 43	Grey spots & bands, sometimes resembles treebark	none	not white	Striated	Very short: does not reach origin of second dorsal fin	Yellow, often with narrow black margin	118+ inches 1000+ lbs
Yellowfin	26 - 35	Chains (20+) of white streaks & spots	Yellow gold band on sides, fading at death	not white	Without striations	Extends beyond origin of second dorsal fin	Lemon yellow with a very narrow black margin	80 inches 400 lbs
Bigeye	23 - 31	none	none	not white	Striated margin	Reaches origin of second dorsal fin	Yellow with a black margin	90 inches 450 lbs
Albacore	25 - 32	none	none	white	Striated	Extends beyond anal fin	dorsal: yellowish anal: silver or dusky	50 inches 90 lbs
Bonito	16 - 23	none	Oblique dark stripes - seven or more	not white	Without striations	very short	dusky	36 inches 20 lbs
Skipjack	53 - 63	4 - 6 dark longitudinal stripes on belly	none	not white	Without striations	very short & broad	dusky	40 inches 40 lbs
Blackfin	19 - 25	alternating bars & spots, light in color	none	not white	Without striations	Reaches origin of second dorsal fin	uniformly dusky with white margins	40 inches 40 lbs
Little tunny	37 - 43	Chest spots	wavy lines on back	not white	Without striations	short and broad	dusky	40 inches 35 lbs

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