FISH ID  >> MACKERELS AND TUNAS

Mackerels, Tunas and Tuna-Like Fishes

Little Tunny(Bonito, Little Tuna, False Albacore)

Bluish above with silver, silver below. Wavy dark bars on back above lateral line, 4-5 dark spots below pectoral fin, sometimes disappearing with age. Large, pointed first dorsal fin. Front of body scaled. 

                                                     Average 10-12 pounds

Blackfin Tuna (Blackfin, Bermuda Tuna)

Blackish blue above, grayish silver below. Long pectoral fin, finlets gray with white edges. Finlets slightly tinted with yellow in center in young. Body full scaled.

Average 10-20 pounds

Skipjack Tuna
(Bonito, Oceanic Bonito, Skipjack, Bonehead)

Bluish above, silver below. Three to five dark horizontal stripes below lateral line, none on back. Front of body scaled.

Average 10-12 pounds

Atlantic Bonito (Oceanic Bonito, Common Bonnito)

Bluish-green above, silver below. Seven or more oblique dark stripes above lateral line, body completely scaled. No dots behind pectoral fin. Commonly confused with Little Tunny. 

                                                    Average 10-12 pounds

Yellowfin Tuna
(Yellowfin, Allison Tuna)

Blackish-blue above, silver below. Long, yellow lobes on dorsal and anal fins. Finlets tinged yellow in young. Anal fins become much longer with age.

Average 30-60 pounds

Wahoo
(Robalo)

Body elongate, continuous dorsal fin, deep blue above vertical bars on silvery side, fading with death. Jaws beaklike.

Average 25-40 pounds

Spanish Mackerel
(Spanish)

Blue dorsally, dorsal fin black on gray. Sides silver accompanied by yellow blotching. Lateral line with slight downward slope behind second dorsal fin.

Average 3-5 pounds

King Mackerel (Kingfish, King)

Dark dorsally, dorsal fin bluish gray, gray white. Sides silver, gray with death. Lateral line drops sharply behind second dorsal fin. Juveniles strongly resemble Spanish Mackerel except for lateral line and dorsal fin. 

                                                    Average 25-40 pounds

Escolar
(Oilfish)

Body brown, smooth, with brownish finlets. Eye gold and large with black iris. Often marketed as oilfish.

Average 10-15 pounds

Oilfish

Body brown, rough because of spines on scales. Eyes green, fading after death, large. Poor quality flesh. Not recommended for consumption.

Average 10-15 pounds.

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