Email us

Occurs in tropical and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean from the New England states and Bermuda to Brazil and from South Africa to Biscay or Great Britain. Also in the Mediterranean.

It is a pelagic, schooling, migratory species. Large schools may consist of many thousands of individuals. It is common in inshore waters near the surface where it feeds on squid, crustaceans, fish larvae, and large numbers of smaller pelagic fishes, especially clupeoids (herring and sardine species). The deepest part of the albacore's body is near the second dorsal fin, rather than near the middle of the first dorsal fin as in other tunas, and the vent is round rather than oval or teardrop shape The fins are dark yellowish, except for the white trailing edge of the tail.

The little tunny comes in closer to shore and is less migratory than the skipjack tuna It is most easily distinguished from similar species by its markings. It has a scattering of dark spots resembling fingertips between the pectoral and ventral fins that are not present on any related Atlantic species.

The body has no scales except on the corselet and along the lateral line. Unlike its close Pacific relatives the kawakawa and black skipjack (E. lineatus) it has no teeth on the vomer. The little tunny is often confused with the Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda), the skipjack tuna (Katsowonus pelamis), and the frigate and bullet mackerels (genus Auxis).

Flocks of diving seabirds are often indicative of the passage of a school of little tunny. Because this species feeds on small pelagic fishes near the surface, any school feeding action tends to attract and excite birds looking for a meal. Fishing methods include trolling or casting from boats using small whole baits, strip baits, or small lures such as spoons, plugs, jigs, and feathers. A few little tunny may be caught from shore.