Damn Good Yellowfin Tuna Fishing Charters

Check real-time availability and compare rates on yellowfin tuna fishing trips. Confidently book your next day on the water.

Choose a Date
4.67/5 Average Rating

Damn Good Guides

You will only find quality, vetted guides on Captain Experiences, and we know them all on a first-name basis

Experts Available 24/7

Our US-based team is available 24/7 to help you with any questions or concerns

100% Weather Guarantee

We want to keep everyone safe, so in the case of inclement weather we'll work with you to reschedule at no cost

Top Cities for Yellowfin Tuna Fishing

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and look forward to getting you out on the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing Charters

Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Quepos

Billfish, Wahoo, Mahi & Tuna

100% (1) Managed by Brook
46 ft 1 - 8 People From $2,300
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in San Diego

Coronado Islands Fishing Trip

100% (4) Managed by Ezekiel
49 ft 1 - 6 People From $3,600
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Eleele

4 Hour Hawaiian Sportfishing

100% (1) Guided by Rob
42 ft 1 - 6 People From $990
Hot Trip
people are viewing this trip.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore, Snorkeling in Kaiminani

Kaiminani, HI Offshore Fishing

NEW Guided by Charles
42 ft 1 - 12 People From $900
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Ocean City

Ocean City Nearshore/Offshore

NEW Managed by Sean
46 ft 1 - 6 People From $2,450
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Shelter Island

Overnight Canyon Tuna

100% (1) Guided by Damian
34 ft 1 - 3 People From $3,000
See All Yellowfin Tuna Trips

Everything to Know About Booking a yellowfin tuna fishing charter

What are the best yellowfin tuna fishing charters?

The best yellowfin tuna fishing charters are:

What is a yellowfin tuna?

Yellowfin tuna (thunnus albacares) is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, and is common throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It is a pelagic fish, and is among the larger of the many types of tuna. It is smaller than a bluefin and bigeye yet generally larger than a blackfin, skipjack, or albacore.

Yellowfin are distinguished from other tuna mainly by the crazy shape of their second dorsal and anal fins, which are bright yellow and extend out far from their bodies as long curved skinny fins. In mature fish these can extend quite a ways and reach back almost to the tail.

How big do yellowfin tuna get?

Yellowfin tuna will commonly reach maturity at around 2 years and 40 inches, and will weigh under 100 pounds. The fish live a relatively short lifespan of 5-10 years, but can reach upwards of 300 pounds in that span. They are certainly a much better prize than the blackfin they are often caught with.

Whats the biggest yellowfin tuna ever caught?

While yellowfin can purportedly get up to 94 inches and 440 pounds, the IGFA record currently stands at 388 pounds for a fish that was caught in 1977 off the Pacific coast of Mexico. There are a few challengers that have not been IGFA certified though, including a 405 pounder and a 425 pounder. Additionally, a massive 480 pounder was caught by spear in 2018 off the coast of the Dominican Republic. While this is not rod and reel fishing, it is certainly awesome to see such a beautiful fish and impressive to see the true potential of the size of a yellowfin.

Where is the best place to catch yellowfin tuna?

The biggest yellowfin tuna are known to be hanging around the Pacific side of Mexico, especially off the Baja Peninsula or Catalina Island. These are often targeted from San Diego in longer-range boats. Other common destinations include Puerto Vallarta, Hannibal Bank, Panama, Hawaii (where they are called Ahi), the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and Venice, LA (known for having very little travel time between marina and tuna).

Yellowfin are epipelagic, meaning they live in the open ocean, but are close to the surface where plenty of sunlight feeds plenty of plankton and life. They are usually in the top 300 ft of water.

When should I catch yellowfin tuna?

Yellowfin tuna will come closer to the shore when the water temperature is higher, so the best fishing is usually in warmer months. Because you need to head far offshore to catch them, you will also be relying on a good weather window and calm seas.

The season for yellowfin tuna in the US is always open, with the Carolinas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi having a 27'' curved FL minimum (other states have no size regulations). The Carolinas and Mississippi have a 3 fish bag limit while California has a 20 finfish bag limit, with no more than 10 fish of a single species allowed (including yellowfin tuna). Other states have no yellowfin bag regulations.

How do you catch yellowfin tuna?

Yellowfin will be caught by either trolling baits and lures, sight casting, or jigging. You can chum them up to the surface (they usually aren't too far below). They are often schooled up, so when you're on them, stay put. They also tend to like some structure, and in the Gulf of Mexico tend to be found around offshore oil rigs.

Yellowfin have great eyesight so it is recommended to have fluorocarbon leaders to reduce visibility. In terms of lure, artificials are popular and you can use tuna feathers, rapala plugs, or metal jigs. If they're on the surface, you can use flies or poppers to good effect.

Once you get one on, it's a unique fight. Rather than wearing themselves out quickly, yellowfin (and all tuna) are notorious for their deep dive and circular motion - they'll swim downward in broad circles and pull on the line all the way up. They are a powerful fish and their size combined with their strategy for staying alive makes for a tough fight.

Are yellowfin tuna good to eat? What are the best yellowfin tuna recipes?

Yellowfin is a delicacy both raw or cooked. While not as popular as its relative the bluefin, yellowfin is fast becoming a sashimi treat. Eat the fish raw right after you catch, and cook into thick steaks after that.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Great crew…. Had a great time. Thank you!

    Jesse E. | July 1, 2025

    Trip: Yellowfin & Mahi Mahi Combo

  • ★★★★★
    In that I run several hundred charters a year myself I'm pretty sure I understand the difference between a good and a bad day on the water. I went out with Captain Poncho three days in a row and I will summarize all three in this one write up. First of all, these guys can and do catch fish. That they do it without particularly good equipment and virtually no electronics (one boat had a VHF and a GPS/no transducer, another , the panga, didn't have either.), says to me that the fishing is pretty good! On day one my wife was out and we stayed in a lee so she wouldn't get sea sick. The sierra mackerel bite was pretty much non stop and we had our limit in pretty short order. We tried jigging in deeper water but no one was home but on the way back towards the fleet we saw some bait and stopped off for a crazy jack crevalle bite that would have lasted far longer than my arms could take! They were blasting surface plugs in spectacular fashion but would have hit anything you threw at them, they were quite aggressive, We also got a few small skipjacks and small grouper (released) as well. Made Mackerel cevechi for dinner. On day 2 my wife stayed at the apartment and Poncho and I went out in a panga. He used land ranges to put up on a shelf in about 150 ft of water to the east of the marina by about 10 miles. It was pretty windy and rough for that little boat but there were a couple of crazy commercial handliners in the same area in an even smaller boat! We had a few bonito and then Captain Poncho jigged a nice red snapper before I nailed a 55 pound AJ on a Squidtrex with a 25 pound flurocarbon leader. AJ Steaks for dinner was a lot like swordfish. Day 3 Captain Poncho had the center console again and my wife was with us. We went to "the mackerel area" again and we were getting them quite steadily even though there was no live bait available and we were using frozen stuff. It didn't seem to matter to the fish. While drifting for the mackerel I jigged a soft plastic near the bottom (50-60 ft) and got several large sculpins, a couple of triggerfish and a bonito. Kept only the bonito for fish tacos. All in all it was a great trip well taken care of by good people. My only suggestion would be to bring good tackle if you have it.

    Jason C. | April 3, 2025

    Trip: 26ft Mako Half Day

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Ralph and Mike were super fun guys. They taught us a lot and were a great hang for us on my bachelor party. We reeled in a few decent sized fish, but the whole experience with the Miami skyline made it worth it. Thanks Captain Ralph!

    Brandon J. | January 25, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Deep Sea Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    I booked this fishing trip for my wife’s birthday. Being workaholics, it’s the first vacation we’ve taken in YEARS. Captain Mike and Cody could not have possibly gave us a better time. Cody is friendly, polite, knowledgeable, and takes the time to explain everything before the boat ever left dock. Mike is also incredible. Mike not only makes sure you’re going to find fish, he wants to make sure you enjoy yourself, and he genuinely cares about your safety. You can tell that these men are genuinely good people. We had a great time and can’t wait to book our next adventure with these guys. If anyone wants a great fishing experience, I would HIGHLY recommend these gentlemen!

    Michael E. | August 26, 2024

    Trip: Yellowfin & Mahi Mahi Combo

  • ★★★★★
    Our family had a great time with Ralph, Tati, and Mike! We’ve never deep sea fished before and Mike taught us everything we needed to know! We would definitely book with them again.

    Kevin M. | July 11, 2024

    Trip: Offshore Deep Sea Fishing

States

Cities

Countries

Other Fishing Species

Tour Species

Featured Cities

What's biting?

View Yellowfin Tuna Fishing Reports from our damn good guides.

Didn't Find What You Were Looking For?

Our guides are Damn Good Guides, which means they’re vetted by our team of outdoor experts who know them on a first-name basis. We hand pick each and every one of them, and our network spans all across the US and beyond.

The proof is in the pudding, and we’re incredibly proud of our 4.9 / 5 average review score. Hit the button below to see more trip options:

See All Yellowfin Tuna Trips