Big Tuna

[tim abbott]

I don't know how this will turn out I was going through some old photos & found this one so I scanned (sp?) it .

It is a bluefin tuna .It was caught during the Bahamian Billfish Tournament in 2005 & weighed somewhere around 600 pounds as I recall . I guess they hang around the marlin because they eat similar food sources , any fishermen feel free to correct or amplify on that statement .http://abacoforum.com/forums/images/icons/icon12.gif

Tim Abbott

[Charlotte Couple]

Wow! That's worth a LOT of $$$ in the Japanese sushi market!

[Island Daze]

the condition of that fish it is worhtless for th Japanese market.They have to be iced immediatly and cannot lay on their side or there is bruising which devalues the fish.

[SamFamAustin]

Beautiful fish ... There is an issue with blood pooling in such large fish as the blue fin tuna (BFT), so they are sometimes put in an ice-water bath after drowning them (towed backwards). The fancy tuna boats was a raw-water refrigeration system, quite expensive. Any must be cooled to 34-38 degrees very quickly and never laid on their sides with all their weight. There are new BFT regulations in the US by the way, with Gulf of Mexico being entirely closed to BFT because they spawn there and are endangered. There's lot's a fine print about BFT from other waters and the mention of $10,000 fines if you're caught being illegal. The yellowfin tuna, however, is not endangered and you can have three per person in the US waters. -sammie

[Abacobrad]

My sushi eating buddies explained to me a few years ago about that when they were babying yellowtails and pleading to ice them down immediately. Caught them later with their fingers in the bowl and a lot less made it to the grill. Since then every fishing trip starts with a couple of bags of ice extra and hoping we have to pull it off the beer to put onto some nice fish. We've noticed a remarkable improvement in taste too- maybe its the grill meister? Nah its the fresher fish!

Brad

[SamFamAustin]

Well, I do know some folks that will cut off the tail and start eating it, soy and wasabi ready, while there's still some "moo" in the tuna. I likes 'em on Saltine crackers myself, but what can I say, I'm part hillbilly. Beats mountain oysters any day!
-sammie

[BiteThisToo]

Back in 2003, Robbie Moore on the Fa La Me boated a 1058 Bluefin Tuna off of Walkers Cay during the BBC - WOW what a fish!!!

[DaGoose]

Those are some **** big BFT!

A good trick to ensure any fish you take is in primo condition is to bleed em right away and get em sumerged in ice with some saltwater in the mix to chill it even more. It's a poor man's slush.

Just my 02.

Rick