Tuna Facts

Longfin Albacore Tuna

This article contains an assortment of information about tuna species including Atlantic bluefin, skipjack, yellowfin, and longfin albacore.

Western Atlantic bluefin tuna are the largest of the Atlantic tuna species. They can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.

Bluefin have a lifespan of 20 years or more, and generally don’t spawn until they are 8 years old.

On May 27, 2011, NOAA announced that Atlantic bluefin tuna currently do not warrant species protection under the Endangered Species Act.

In 2011, an angler set a North Carolina state record for Atlantic bluefin tuna by catching an 805 pound, 8 ounce fish off Oregon Inlet.

Also in 2011, a North Carolina state record blackfin tuna was caught off Wrightsville Beach.

A bluefin tuna tagged by Captain Al Anderson was recaptured after 16 years.

Pacific bluefin tuna are the largest species of tuna in the Pacific. Adults can reach nearly 10 feet in length and 990 pounds, with an average lifespan of 15 years.

In 2025, Marc Spagnola was recognized as the new Maryland state record holder for longfin albacore (Thunnus alalunga) for the Atlantic Division. Spagnola’s 78-pound catch exceeded the previous record for longfin albacore set in 2004 by four pounds.

Longfin albacore have torpedo-shaped bodies, high metabolism, and other traits that allow them to swim at approximately 50 miles per hour. Longfins are migratory fish that travel in schools throughout the Atlantic Ocean.

Yellowfin tuna are distinguishable from other tunas by their long, yellow dorsal fin and a yellow stripe along their sides.

Yellowfin tuna are fast-growing and can weigh up to 400 pounds.

Skipjack tuna are identified by stripes along their lower body, and a faint lateral line running lengthwise down each side. Their back is dark purplish blue.

Skipjack tuna grow fast and can weigh up to 40 pounds. They have a relatively short life span of around 7 years.

How To Catch Sheepshead

Sheepshead

This article has tips on catching sheepshead including tackle, techniques, baits, and more.

What are Sheepshead?

Sheepshead are silver with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bands along their sides.

These colorful members of the grunt family are caught from Maryland to Florida.

Sheepshead are common around rocks, reefs, bridges, wrecks, inlets, and other structure.

Sheepshead feed on crabs, shrimp, barnacles, mussels, and other marine life.

How to Catch Sheepshead

Sheepshead are fun to catch but notoriously difficult to hook. Anglers use small, sharp hooks and pay close attention to their lines. As soon as a fish is felt, anglers must set the hook with a short but firm twitch of the rod.

Pier fishermen sometimes use specialized techniques for catching sheepshead. One technique is to use a long-handled scraper to loosen barnacles and other debris from pilings or other surfaces. When done correctly, this type of chumming can attract sheepshead and other structure loving fish.

Baits for catching sheepshead include shrimp, soft crabs, peeler crabs, fiddler crabs, and other baits. These vary with season and location. Fishermen choose live baits depending on availability and personal preference.

A small cast net, umbrella net or seine can be a great asset for anglers that prefer to catch their own shrimp, crabs or other small baits. Another possibility is a trap, which is baited and left overnight. This is a good option for fishermen that are staying near an estuary for a few days.

Best Baits For Catching Sheepshead

Blue Crabs

The Atlantic blue crab is found in inshore environments from Nova Scotia southward. These crabs make excellent bait for sheepshead. They are fished as cut bait.

Green Crab

The green crab is an introduced species that is originally from Northern Europe. Their shell size can be up to 3". Green crabs are now found from New Jersey to Nova Scotia, and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Rock Crab

The rock crab is a common species of shallow-water crab found from Labrador to South Carolina. It is usually found sheltering in nooks and crevices.

Jonah Crab

The Jonah crab is a species of crab found on the Atlantic coast of North America. It is closely related to the Dungeness crab of the Pacific Coast.

Mole Crab

Mole Crabs

Mole crabs are found along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts southward. Fishermen also gather them with special metal mesh scoops or with meshed wire nets attached to poles. They can sometimes be purchased at bait and tackle shops.

Shrimp

In southern states, fresh warmwater shrimp are popular for catching sheepshead. Shrimp are sometimes marketed by "count", with the value being the average number of shrimp specimens per pound.

Hard Clams

The hard clam or quahog is the most popular American clam. When fishing for sheepshead, anglers sometimes break clams by tapping them together and letting the juice and shell fragments fall into the water. The process creates a chum which attracts fish to the area. The clam meat can be extracted and used for bait.

Surf Clams

The Atlantic surf clam is harvested commercially off the Northeast USA coast. Surf clams range from 4 to 8 inches in length. They are cut into strips for fishing. Surf clams can be brined and frozen, making an excellent stored bait.

2016 NOAA USA Recreational Fishing Statistics (saltwater)

striped bass

According to this year's NOAA Fisheries' Fisheries of the United States report, U.S. recreational saltwater anglers caught an estimated 371.6 million fish in 2016.

The total catch includes fish kept and fish released (discarded) on the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts (including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico).

The harvest (fish kept or released dead) was estimated at 144.6 million fish weighing 181.6 million pounds.

2016 Top Saltwater Fish Species by Pounds Harvested

Striped bass: 20 million pounds - 1.6 million fish
Dolphinfish 11 million pounds - 1.2 million fish
Bluefish 10 million pounds - 4.6 million fish
Yellowfin tuna 9 million pounds - 0.3 million fish
Sharks 3 million pounds - 0.2 million fish

Saltwater anglers took approximately 63.1 million fishing trips, according to the report.

Fisheries of the United States is an annual yearbook of U.S. fisheries statistics.

For more information, visit:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/fisheries-united-states-2016-report


source: NOAA Fisheries

Most Popular Recreational Saltwater Fish Species - USA 2012

U.S. recreational anglers catch and harvest a wide range of fish species. The following list includes the twenty most popular species of saltwater fish, in terms of pounds landed.

1. Striped Bass
2. Spotted Seatrout
3. Red Drum
4. Bluefish
5. Yellowfin Tuna
6. Dolphin
7. Summer Flounder
8. Sheepshead
9. Red Snapper
10. King Mackerel
11. Scup
12. Black Drum
13. Spanish Mackerel
14. Striped Mullet
15. Black Sea Bass
16. Atlantic Croaker
17. Sand Seatrout
18. Little Tunny
19. Tautog
20. Wahoo

note: This list does not include data for Alaska and Texas because recreational weight data are not provided by those states.

source: Fisheries of the United States 2012 (NOAA Fisheries)

Delaware Online Shark Identification Guide

A new online shark identification guide is available on the Delaware DNREC website, according to the Division of Fish and Wildlife. The Delaware shark identification guide is was created to help increase awareness of sharks whose numbers are in decline.

Growing interest in shark fishing and conservation of shark species in recent years prompted the development of this easily-accessed and printable guide for use by anglers to aid in the identification of some of the most common sharks caught in the Delaware Bay and nearshore waters of the state.

The guide also includes some helpful tips on handling and releasing sharks. Shark conservation is important to maintain ecological diversity and balance in our coastal waters.

“To promote shark conservation, we ask anglers to quickly release any shark that they cannot readily identify, since many species of sharks found in Delaware waters are depleted,” said Fisheries Biologist Stewart Michels, adding that sharks are typically late to mature, and they reproduce only once every one or two years with few young produced, as compared to other fishes.

Anglers fishing offshore waters are encouraged to further become familiar with the numerous offshore shark species and federal permit requirements available from the National Marine Fisheries Service (www.nmfs.noaa.gov).

A summary of Delaware’s laws and regulations pertaining to sharks is included in the 2013 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide is available at tackle shops and license dealers statewide, or online at www.fw.delaware.gov/fisheries.

source:  DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife