For anglers looking to reel in the biggest catch of their lives, tuna fishing is a sport like no other. Tuna are some of the strongest and most sought-after fish in the sea, and the thrill of the hunt for them is unparalleled.
Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-filled tuna fishing experience or a relaxing day on the water, the best places to fish for tuna are all over the world. From the warm waters of the Mediterranean to the deep blue seas of the Pacific and Atlantic, the options for tuna fishing are seemingly endless.
From the open ocean to the coastal waters, no matter where you travel in the world, there’s sure to be a great spot to fish for tuna. So, grab your tackle box and join us on a journey to discover the best places to fish for tuna.
The United States
Venice, Lousiana, the United States is home to a tuna fishery that offers year-round fishing. It includes bluefin, yellowfin, and blackfin tuna. Tuna can be found around 50 miles from Venice, Louisiana, at the notorious midnight Lump.
Researchers have discovered that bluefin tuna returns to the Gulf of Mexico in the spring to spawn. Yellowfin tuna is more widespread in the warm Gulf waters, and they occupy the area throughout the year.
Mexico
Mexico is home to many famous fishing spots. However, for yellowfin tuna, Puerto Vallarta or Baja California are the best options. A southern current pushes warm waters towards Puerto Vallarta from August to December, filling the water with baitfish and luring huge yellowfin tuna.
Baja California is home to yellowfin between March to November. The peak season runs from the summer months into October.
Canada
Canada’s Nova Scotia is a great place to fish for big game. Temperate waters in Nova Scotia lure schools of Giant Bluefin Tuna to the area. These fish thrive in these conditions.
From June through October, the fishing is at its best. Sport Fishing Magazine ranked Nova Scotia among the top 10 destinations in the world for giant tuna fishing in 2013.
Sicily & Sardinia
Italy is surrounded by water by the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The island of Sicily, (located at the toe of the boot), has both access and is an excellent spot to hunt bluefin tuna in the months of April to December.
Sardinia, an island off the coast of Italy in the Mediterranean, is where the local fishermen of Carloforte follow a 600-year-old bluefin tuna fishing tradition similar to the Almadraba in Spain. The best time to fish is between May to December. However, catch-and-release is required until mid-June.
From Ancona, a fishing village on the Adriatic Coast boats searches the Adriatic Sea year-round for bluefin.
The Azores: Atlantic tuna fishing destination
The Azores, another great destination for Atlantic bluefin fishing, is also a top choice. The Azores, located off the coast of Portugal near the migration route of bluefins from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, is the temporary feeding grounds for bluefin, yellowfin, and bigeye tunas from April through June.
Croatia Tuna Power
The Adriatic Sea, off the coast of Croatia, is a prime area for bluefin tuna fishing. To encourage bluefin tuna’s resurgence, fishing restrictions were recently imposed in the area. Allan Rocca, of Adriatic Big Game tuna fishing charters, “In just three years, in which the excessive tuna fishing has been stopped, the tuna population has regenerated in such a manner that now you may find massive tuna in the Adriatic Sea.
You could say that tuna fishing has caused damage to other species. Fishing is now good all year, with a halt in June.
Tuna Fishing in Spain
Spain is a popular destination for bluefin tuna fishing. Boat hire is available from Barcelona or the Ebro Delta in the south. This area is home to bluefin tuna due to its diverse marine ecosystem. April through September is the best time to search for larger tuna. The peak bluefin season in Ebro Delta is from April to October.
L’Ametlla de Mar, which is between June and September, is the best place for chumming. Bluefin tuna can also be found in Barcelona, which is open from May-June and September-October. Majorca, in the Balearic Islands on the Mediterranean, is well-known for its bluefin tuna bite.
This is especially true as large fish migrate into the Mediterranean during summer feeding migrations during August and September. Marbella and Puerto Banus are great spots for tuna fishing, just north of Gibraltar. Bluefin Tuna is the top target fish in Marbella. Its prime time to catch the big one is August. However, if the weather is warm, the bite can last up to October.
New Zealand
New Zealand is another great tuna hotspot, with yellowfin and pacific bluefin readily available from all angles. Yellowfin tuna can be found in northern areas like the Bay of Islands or North Cape, where they are most abundant from January through July.
March is the best month for fishing. The Pacific bluefin tuna is abundant in Western New Zealand, where they can be found from December to April.
Panama
Salt Water Sportsman says that the Pacific coast of Panama is a great place to cast big yellowfins. January to May is the best time to fish these waters for yellowfin. The Gulf of Chiriqui is located off Panama’s Pacific coast, on the west side of the Isthmus.
Numerous game species can be found in the fertile waters offshore of this Gulf. Here is the famous Hannibal Bank, Islas Cocoba and Montuosa are all popular fishing spots.
True Giants in the Canaries
Another beautiful destination for large tuna is the Canary Islands. It has all three species of large tuna, bluefin, yellowfin, and bigeye. Bluefin tuna is best in March when they migrate north to the Mediterranean, Scotland, Norway, or Canada. In May and April, bigeye tuna are plentiful, while yellowfin tuna is hot in July and August.
In conclusion, the best places to fish for tuna are in the waters of the North Atlantic, the Pacific, the South Atlantic, and the Mediterranean. Tuna is a highly prized fish and these locations provide some of the best fishing opportunities.
Additionally, anglers should consider the different types of tuna and the season for the best results. With the right preparation and knowledge, anglers can enjoy a great fishing experience and hopefully land their prize catch.