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Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Atlantic bluefin tuna vanished from UK waters by the 1990s after decades of overfishing, but they've been returning in growing numbers since the 2000s.

Today a tightly regulated catch-and-release recreational fishery runs each summer and autumn, primarily off the South West and increasingly off Yorkshire.

Charters operate out of Cornwall and Devon ports, and the fish draw serious big-game anglers looking for one of the largest pelagic species in British waters.

Scientific Name: Thunnus thynnus

Also known as Tunny, Giant Bluefin, BFT

Physical Characteristics:
  • Deep metallic blue-black on the back, silver-white on the belly, with a torpedo-shaped body built for sustained open-ocean speed.
  • Short, bright yellow finlets run along the top and bottom of the tail wrist — a quick ID marker that separates bluefin from other large pelagics.
  • Common fish in UK waters run 100–250 kg; the 338 kg specimen landed off Whitby in 2024 gives a sense of the upper end possible in British waters.
  • Unlike most fish, bluefin are warm-blooded — their swimming muscles generate heat, which is why they can sustain high speeds in cold North Atlantic water.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • A native migratory species in UK waters — not introduced — that crosses the Atlantic between the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic on feeding migrations.
  • Historically abundant off Yorkshire (Scarborough, Whitby) in the 1930s–50s; absent from the North Sea for roughly 60 years before reappearing in the 2020s.
  • Currently most reliably encountered off the South West — Cornwall, Devon, and the Western Approaches — from mid-summer through late autumn.
  • Open, deep offshore water is the primary habitat; fish follow prey concentrations and are typically found well offshore, not in inshore marks.

Key Locations

  • Cornwall — waters off Newlyn, Falmouth, and St Ives are the most established UK charter grounds, with fish present from August through November.
  • Devon — Plymouth and the Western Approaches; charters operate from Plymouth targeting fish in the same South West grounds.
  • Yorkshire coast — Whitby and Scarborough; bluefin returned to the North Sea here after a 60-year absence, with fish now being tagged by University of Exeter researchers and landed by permitted charter vessels.

Specific Spots

  • Bird activity over the surface is the single most reliable locator — diving gannets and gulls mark baitfish being pushed up from below by feeding tuna.
  • Colour changes and temperature breaks in offshore water concentrate prey and hold fish; skippers watch sea-surface temperature charts closely.
  • Floating debris, weed lines, and current edges in open water can aggregate the mackerel and herring that bluefin are chasing.
  • Off Yorkshire, fish have been found roughly 10–16 km offshore from Whitby, working herring and mackerel shoals in the North Sea.

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna?

Live mackerel is the go-to bait on UK charters, fish are hooked through the nose or back and either free-lined or fished under a float; fresh-caught bait from the charter grounds is standard practice.

When is the best time to fish for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna?

South West (Cornwall, Devon): fish typically arrive in August and are present through November, with September and October generally the most productive months.

How do you catch Atlantic Bluefin Tuna?

Almost all UK recreational bluefin fishing is boat-based, running from charter vessels out of South West ports or, increasingly, Yorkshire harbours. Skippers locate fish by reading bird activity and sea-surface temperature breaks, then deploy live mackerel, trolled lures, or surface poppers depending on conditions.

What do Atlantic Bluefin Tuna eat?

In UK waters bluefin feed heavily on mackerel and herring, the same shoals that drew them back to Yorkshire after herring stocks recovered. Live mackerel is the most consistently productive bait on UK charters.

Where do Atlantic Bluefin Tuna live?

A native migratory species in UK waters, not introduced, that crosses the Atlantic between the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic on feeding migrations. Historically abundant off Yorkshire (Scarborough, Whitby) in the 1930s–50s; absent from the North Sea for roughly 60 years before reappearing in the 2020s.

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