An interesting fact about red-flesh fish is that their meat was regarded as a low class food in Japan before refrigeration was invented, as it was basically impossible to conserve. The popularity of sushi, however, brought the Bluefin Tuna to a meat value pedestal, culminating in 2013 with a $1.76M purchase of a single 489lbs fish at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo.

With the surge of interest for Tuna meat and profits to be made from it came a dramatic rise in (especially commercially) harvested quantities of this fish. The Pacific Tuna population is estimated to be at 4% of what it would be without the fishing pressure, the Atlantic Tuna stocks have declined by 72-82% (from east to west in the ocean) in the last 40 years and the Southern Tuna is also on the critically endangered list as recorded by the IUCN. However, illegal fishing only seems to be additionally spurred by the scarcity of the species and, conversely, the value increase of its meat.

How big

Bluefin Tuna being among the largest bony fish in the sea, here's a breakdown of the maximum sizes: the Pacific Tuna grows up to about 10ft and 1000lbs, the Atlantic Tuna reaches a staggering 12ft and 1500lbs and the Southern Tuna is the smallest of the bunch at a maximum of around 8ft and 600lbs.

When & Where

The names of the species indicate their native fisheries fairly well, but here are some specifics on where the Bluefin Tuna can be fished for:

• The Pacific Bluefin inhabits cold waters of the north Pacific, from the east coast of Asia to Mexico and north to Southern California. They spawn consistently from April to August, earlier during this time frame in the northwest Philippine Sea (off Honshu, Okinawa and Taiwan) and later in the Sea of Japan. Some migrate to the east Pacific, and have occasionally been found in the southern hemisphere as well.
• The Atlantic Bluefin spreads throughout the Atlantic Ocean and within the Mediterranean Sea (formerly in the Black Sea as well, but they have become extinct here). They spawn during the hotter months around the Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean and in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the best migratory spots in the US is off the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
• The Southern Bluefin can be found in subtropical and temperate waters of all oceans of the southern hemisphere. They migrate seasonally between Australia and India.

How to catch

Like all Tuna, the optimal way of catching a Bluefin is by trolling natural bait like herring, mullet, mackerel, smaller Tuna, Bonito, flying fish, whiting or squid (or any other marine item on the local Bluefin menu), or artificials, which include various spoons, plugs, jigs or feathers. Flies and poppers are used with success and chumming will help bring them closer to the surface.

It goes without saying that these fish don't go down until the last breath. They are some of the toughest fighters in the world, prone to fast surface runs and aggressive deep dives. The heaviest of tackles and a sturdy fishing belt are items you need to be using if you want to stand a chance at landing a Bluefin.

Good to eat?