Photo: Courtesy of El Budster Pride Sportfishing · Aug 2020
Yellowfin Tuna
Atún aleta amarilla
Thunnus albacares · Scombridae
- Category
- Tuna & Bonito
- Found in
- Pacific Baja, Sea of Cortez, Pacific Mainland, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean
- IUCN status
- Least Concern
- Mexico fish counts
- 5,191 counted, 84 so far in 2026
About Yellowfin Tuna in Mexico
How to recognize it
Yellowfin are sleek, with a dark blue back, a golden band along the side, and bright yellow finlets. On larger fish the second dorsal and anal fins grow into long yellow sickles. Pectoral fins reach back to or past the second dorsal, which helps separate them from bluefin and bigeye. Fish off Mexico range from small school fish to giants weighing a couple of hundred pounds or more.
Where and when in Mexico
The atún aleta amarilla is the most widely caught tuna in Mexico Fish Reports' counts, with Cabo San Lucas boats logging the most, followed by Ensenada. Off Los Cabos it is available much of the year, often peaking in summer and fall on the Gorda Banks, Golden Gate Bank and with porpoise offshore. In northern Baja, Ensenada boats find yellowfin mostly in warm-water summers and early fall. Mainland ports such as Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Manzanillo have strong offshore runs, and the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean see them in deeper water.
How it's fished
Finding porpoise, diving birds or a kelp paddy is the classic approach. Crews troll cedar plugs, feathers and small lures to locate fish, then fly-line sardines, slow-troll live mackerel or caballito, or drop knife jigs. Kites and balloons work well for the largest fish.
Good to know
The Revillagigedo Islands, once a famous yellowfin destination, are now a national park where fishing is not allowed.
Fishing rules in Mexico
- General limit: 10 fish per angler per day, max 5 of one species
Source: NOM-017-PESC-1994 §4.9.1 (2013 mod.). Rules change; confirm current limits, seasons and permits with CONAPESCA before you fish.
Where Yellowfin Tuna are caught in Mexico
- Cabo San Lucas 3,795 counted · last Sep 2026
- Ensenada 1,396 counted · last Jul 2026
Fish counts by year
| Year | Kept | Released | Trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | 81 | 3 | 26 |
| 2025 | 186 | 6 | 43 |
| 2024 | 22 | 0 | 9 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| 2022 | 19 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 | 32 | 0 | 11 |
| 2020 | 40 | 0 | 10 |
| 2019 | 111 | 0 | 18 |
| 2018 | 26 | 10 | 6 |
| 2015 | 25 | 0 | 10 |
| 2014 | 29 | 0 | 8 |
| 2013 | 153 | 0 | 23 |
From fish counts posted by the Mexican landings on Mexico Fish Reports. Years with no posted counts are not shown.
Boats catching Yellowfin Tuna (2025–2026)
- El Budster Cabo San Lucas 134 counted on 34 trips
- El Budster Pride Cabo San Lucas 128 counted on 32 trips
- El Budster I Cabo San Lucas 10 counted on 1 trip
- Super Panga Ensenada 3 counted on 1 trip
- No Limitz Ensenada 1 counted on 1 trip
Yellowfin Tuna photos from Mexico
Photo: Courtesy of El Budster Sportfishing
Photo: Courtesy of El Budster Sportfishing
Photo: Courtesy of El Budster Sporfishing
Recent Yellowfin Tuna reports
Fishing on the EL BUDSTER. The MAX LORENTZ´S party, CAUGHT ONE 90 LB. YELLOWFIN TUNA. The fish was caught 14 to 16 miles from the coast of Cabo San Lucas.…
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Fishing on the EL BUDSTER. The GARY GOODE´S party, CAUGHT AND RELEASED TWO 100-120 LB. STRIPED MARLIN. They also caught ONE 100 LB. YELLOWFIN TUNA. The fish was caught 14…
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Fishing on the EL BUDSTER PRIDE. The JEFF HELDENBRAND´S party, CAUGHT ONE 160 LB. YELLOWFIN TUNA.The fish was caught 14 to 16 miles from the coast of Cabo San Lucas.…
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Fishing on the EL BUDSTER PRIDE. The FEDERICO ARGUETA´S party, CAUGHT THREE 90-100 LB. YELLOWFIN TUNA.The fish was caught 12 to 14 miles from the coast of Cabo San Lucas.…
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Fishing on the EL BUDSTER. The KEN PARKER´S party, CAUGHT SIX FOOTBALL SIZE YELLOWFIN TUNA. The fish was caught 12 to 14 miles from the coast of Cabo San Lucas.…
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Fishing on the EL BUDSTER PRIDE. The JOHN SMITH´S party, CAUGHT EIGHT 35-40 LB. YELLOWFIN TUNA. The fish was caught 14 to 16 miles from the coast of Cabo San…
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