Imagine the thrill of hauling in a yellowfin tuna while taking in views of the sparkling Gulf of Mexico. An activity that avid anglers enjoy, a deep-sea tuna fishing charter is an exciting way to experience the thrill of catching yellowfin.
Yellowfin Tuna 101
One of the fastest swimmers in the ocean, the yellowfin tuna is a large, torpedo-shaped fish that can reach up to seven feet long and weigh up to 400 pounds. This fish gets its name from its bright yellow dorsal fins, anal fins, and finlets. It eats everything it can by swallowing its prey whole.
This species is highly migratory, making long swims across the seas to spawn and look for food. Like sharks, they must constantly swim to get oxygen from the water.
Yellowfin tuna is highly sought after as a source of food for their vitamins like b-12, niacin, zinc, and potassium.
Yellowfin Tuna Management in the Gulf of Mexico
Even though yellowfin tuna is highly prized, experts say it’s not in danger of overfishing, thanks to good management and regulations. Reports show that the US makes up only 2.6% of the yellowfin tuna caught in the Atlantic.
Federal regulations state that catching, tagging, and releasing are allowed in the Gulf. In Texas, there is a bag limit on yellowfin tuna: three fish at least 27 inches long per person per day.
Fishing for Yellowfin in Port Aransas
Yellowfin tuna are in season all year in the Gulf of Mexico, but the best time to get them in Port Aransas is during high season, from July through September. There is no closed season, so fishing charters are permitted throughout the year.
Yellowfin tuna are most active at night when they’re hunting for food. In the open sea, these fish swim in slightly choppy waters, with waves that reach three or four feet high. Small baitfish cast a shimmery glow in the water at night, attracting the tuna.
While yellowfin tuna is the prize, it’s not uncommon to find some other top species while out tuna fishing in Port Aransas. Some others that are commonly caught are:
- Black-fin tuna
- Dorado
- Barracuda
- Wahoo
- Mako sharks
- Other shark species
Experience the Thrill of Tuna Fishing with Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Aransas offers a 56-hour tuna fishing charter in which you’ll spend two nights out at sea. Our trips are run on the Wharf Cat and the Sea Cat, both of which are catamarans that have hulls that are designed for stability, so you’re guaranteed a comfortable experience at sea. So much so that we are confident that we have the most stable party boats on the water in Port Aransas.
During your adventure, we’ll take you to sea and put you where the most fish are. All bait and tackle are included, but we recommend you bring your favorite gear. Whatever you bag, you can take it to our onsite fish house to have them cleaned and ready to go.
Give us a call to arrange a fishing charter that you’re sure not to forget any time soon!
