Photo Courtesy of Fishing Booker.com
With both yellowfin and blackfin aplenty, tuna fishing “season” in Venice, Louisiana is year-round with prize catches just waiting to be hooked when you’re on one of our offshore chartered fishing trips. While yellowfins seem to get most of the glory, blackfins are also a tremendously popular catch for recreational anglers. They fight hard and are just as delicious when seared over a hot grill. The captains at Home Run Charters know all about this feisty tuna species and we’re sharing the info with you in case you catch one out on the water with us…
Habitat
Research has shown that blackfin tuna spend 90 percent of their time within the first 187 feet of the surface but periodically dive to depths of 650 feet or more. Research also found that blackfins favor warmer waters between 71 and 80 degrees (perfect for our neck of the woods). Blackfin tuna also prefer to stay deeper during the day and swim to more shallow waters at night. Another interesting behavior trait is that they exhibit site-fidelity (staying in one area for an extended period of time) and have been known to stay in one specific area for 28 days or longer.
Age, Growth Rate, & Characteristics
The smallest of the tuna species, blackfin generally grow to a maximum of 39 inches in length and a weight of 46 pounds. On average mature blackfin will reach 27 inches in length. Blackfin tuna have oval-shaped bodies, black backs with a slight yellow on the finlets, and yellow on the sides of their bodies. They are a short-lived, fast-growing species where the average life span is about 5 years or less.
Diet
Blackfin tuna hunt both surface and deep-water fish and squid. They also eat crustaceans such as shrimp, crabs, amphipods, stomatopods, and the larvae of decapods.
Reproduction
Blackfin spawning season ranges from region to region, but typically occurs during the warm spring and summer months (May through June). Some of the offspring will reach sexual maturity within one year (at around 16 inches), but typically spawning doesn’t occur until the males reach about 20 inches-around a year and a half-and females reach 24 inches-around age 2.
Want to take a blackfin tuna fishing trip? Come to Venice, Louisiana! The captains at Home Run Charters promise an exciting offshore chartered fishing trip. Afterall, Venice, Louisiana isn’t called Tuna Town for nothing! What are you waiting for? Book your trip today! For more information on our fishing charters or our lodge, please give us a call at (504) 909-TUNA.
