Big Eye -or- Bluefin Tuna ?> wtf is the dif?

[Arbutis]

If someone catches multiple bluefin tuna do they then 'become' big eyes so that they can keep more than one?> Ha

Ok - someone please bust this myth for me (and maybe many others). Show me a picture of a big eye and then a picture of a bluefin. Let see what the real difference is. . .

[shrimpman steve]

One of the only ways to tell is striations on the liver.

[Arbutis]

BE or BF?

[Capt. Lou]

The pictured fish appears to be a Bluefin, they r generally somewhat longer in body!
Many believe the only true form of identity in some cases is the serrated liver, BE have this ,BF do not. Also if I recall the finlets along tail BE less ,BF more. Also th eeye itself is somewhat larger than BF, but thats not conclusive!
Im know expert Ive only caught a few of these BE ,I would say 30 0r so at the most but that powerful round body , pure silver at times ,chunky torso with longer pecs usually dead giveaway, uh almost forgot they fight like hell !
generall deeper than BF ,many battles up & down!!
We got em' to 356# SR one time .
Ive personally fought one BE looked to be close to 400# & shattered an early model experimental Graphitr BGR rod after on fish for 2.5 hrs & had him a mere twenty feet from gaff toughtest fight I ever expierenced except for 464 Sword!
Almost all taken at false dawn or just prior most all on troll as I recall & every big girl including record on on a specific lure. Goood chop in the deep was a plus,as was OC days!

[Dino]

in a photo like yours where most of the color has faded form the fish, and the photo is taken from just the right angle as to obscure the relative size of the eye on the head, the overall shape of the fish as it narrows back towards the tail, the length of the pectoral fin, and how many rays are on the dorsal fin. I agree its tough to tell. but in real life the two do not look all that much alike fresh out of the water.

[Andreas Toy]

Dead give away is the pectoral fin. If
Reaches second dorsal bigeye, if not bluefin. In
The picture cant tell beacuse the pec fin is
Not folded down.

[Basspond]

The photo posted above is a bluefin caught inshore out of Massachusetts.

For more reference...

Bigeye:



Bigeye:



Similar sized Bluefin:

[JayO]

Here's a good link for Tuna I.D. (even though it is from the left coast!)...

X2 with Capt. Fred's advice...

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mspcont1.asp

[Arbutis]

Thanks guys. That clears a lot up for me. The long pectoral fin is apparently the most telling feature. It's not like you're gonna check the striations on a fish's liver to determine if you can keep it or not. Ha!

[Foul Hook]

Originally Posted by shrimpman steve

One of the only ways to tell is striations on the liver.

I would Love to see the striations on my liver. I bet I'm a big eye