Tuna - Albacore

Dispatch Method:

The eating qualities of albacore can be greatly improved if they are killed immediately by iki jime before placing them in an ice slurry after bleeding. A firm knock on the head may be required to stun larger fish first before attempting iki jime.

Fish Description:

• Albacore are a medium sized tuna, dark blue/black dorsally, silver to white ventrally without stripes or spots, and with distinctive long pectoral fins that extend beyond the anal fin.
  
• This species matures at around 90-100 cm fork length (36-40 inches) long at between 5 and 7 years old. Maximum age may exceed 13 years.

Fish Distribution:

• Albacore tuna occur worldwide in tropical and temperate waters of all the oceans including the Mediterranean Sea. However, they are not commonly found at the surface between latitudes of 10°N and 10°S.
  
• Albacore prefer temperate water temperatures of 15–20°C (60-70°F) and are commonly found near temperature changes or floating objects.
  
• They sometimes form mixed schools with skipjack, yellowfin and bluefin tuna.

Fish Size Common Length:

Commonly caught between 50-100 cm (20 - 40 inches) long and 3-22 kg (6 to 45 pounds). Maximum size exceeds 1.5 meters (5 feet) and 40 kg (88 pounds).