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Breeding

How Big Is a Tuna Fish? Tuna Sizes by Species

Tuna are not one standard size: Atlantic skipjack are around 3 feet and 40 pounds, while NOAA reports western Atlantic bluefin up to 13 feet and 2,000 pounds.

By Animalso Team 3 min read

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There is no single tuna size. “Tuna” describes several species, from Atlantic skipjack at around 3 feet and 40 pounds to western Atlantic bluefin reported at up to 13 feet and 2,000 pounds. Those figures are species-specific upper or reference sizes, not a typical measurement for every tuna.

How big are tuna compared with each other?

NOAA Fisheries measurements show why the species name matters. Some figures describe adults or a common range, while others describe a maximum reported size. Length and weight should be compared on the same basis rather than mixing one fish’s typical length with another’s maximum weight.

Tuna species Length Weight What the figure means
Western Atlantic bluefin Up to 13 feet Up to 2,000 pounds Reported upper size; NOAA identifies it as the largest Atlantic tuna species.
Pacific bluefin Adults about 1.5 meters (4 feet 11 inches); maximum reported 3 meters (9.8 feet) Adults about 60 kilograms (130 pounds); maximum reported 450 kilograms (990 pounds) Adult size and maximum reported size are separate figures.
Atlantic bigeye About 5.5 feet Not stated in the cited NOAA profile Upper length description.
North Atlantic albacore More than 4 feet 88 pounds NOAA’s upper growth description.
Atlantic skipjack Around 3 feet Around 40 pounds Useful smaller-species comparison.
Yellowfin Common range 16–67 inches; maximum 80 inches Not stated in the cited guide Common range and maximum are different measures.

These selected examples do not represent every tuna species worldwide, and they do not establish one all-species record.

How big can a bluefin tuna get?

Western Atlantic bluefin

NOAA Fisheries’ Fascinating Atlantic Tunas Facts (November 14, 2023) gives western Atlantic bluefin an upper size of 13 feet and 2,000 pounds. That is a reported maximum-style description, so it should not be read as the normal size of an adult bluefin. NOAA also describes western Atlantic bluefin as the largest Atlantic tuna species.

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Pacific bluefin

Pacific bluefin have a distinct adult-size description. NOAA reports adults at about 1.5 meters (4 feet 11 inches) and 60 kilograms (130 pounds). The same NOAA species profile lists a maximum reported size of 3 meters (9.8 feet) and 450 kilograms (990 pounds). The adult figures and maximum figures answer different questions: one describes the size of adults, while the other records the largest reported fish.

How big are smaller tuna species?

Atlantic skipjack

Atlantic skipjack are around 3 feet long and 40 pounds, according to NOAA Fisheries. That makes them dramatically shorter and lighter than the largest bluefin examples.

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North Atlantic albacore

NOAA describes North Atlantic albacore as growing to more than 4 feet and 88 pounds. The wording indicates an upper growth description rather than a typical measurement for every albacore.

Atlantic bigeye

Atlantic bigeye tuna can reach about 5.5 feet. The cited NOAA profile supplies that length but does not provide a corresponding weight in the referenced material, so a weight should not be inferred from the length alone.

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Yellowfin

NOAA’s Guide to Tunas of the Western Atlantic Ocean lists yellowfin at a common length range of 16 to 67 inches, with a maximum of 80 inches. “Common” and “maximum” are not interchangeable: most fish in the guide’s range should not be treated as 80-inch fish.

How is a tuna’s length measured?

Fish-length numbers can differ depending on the measuring method. NOAA defines curved fork length as tracing the curve of the body from the tip of the jaw to the fork in the tail. A straight-line measurement can produce a different number, especially on a large, curved fish.

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If you measure a catch using this method, follow the body’s curve with a flexible fish measuring tape. The tape is optional; it is the measurement method, not a particular product, that matters.

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Are these biological sizes the same as legal size limits?

No. A species’ reported maximum or adult size is not a fishing regulation. Minimum sizes, bag limits, permits, areas, and measurement rules can vary by jurisdiction and can change over time. Check the current rule for the specific species, location, and permit before keeping a fish.

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What is the clearest short answer?

A tuna can be about 3 feet and 40 pounds as an Atlantic skipjack, around 4 feet and 88 pounds as a North Atlantic albacore, or far larger as a bluefin. NOAA reports western Atlantic bluefin up to 13 feet and 2,000 pounds; Pacific bluefin adults are about 4 feet 11 inches and 130 pounds, with a maximum reported 9.8 feet and 990 pounds. Always identify the species and ask whether the number is an adult, common, or maximum reported size.

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