Pacific Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Also known as Bigeye, `Ahi, Mabachi
Culinary Profile
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfinand is preferred by sashimi lovers.
Firm and moist, with large flakes.
Bigeye tuna is low in saturated fat and sodium and is rich in niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, selenium, and phosphorous.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Bigeye tuna are dark metallic blue on the back and upper sides and white on the lower sides and belly. The first fin on their back is deep yellow, the second dorsal and anal fins are pale yellow, and the finlets are bright yellow with black edges. Bigeye and yellowfin tuna look fairly similar. In fact, it’s hard to distinguish the two species without experience.
Biology
Bigeye tuna grow fast and can reach about 6.5 feet in length. They live 7 to 8 years and are able to reproduce when they are 3 years old. Bigeye tuna spawn throughout the year in tropical waters and seasonally in cooler waters. They’re able to spawn almost daily, releasing millions of eggs each time. Eggs are found in the top layer of the ocean, buoyed at the surface by a single oil droplet until they hatch.
Where They Live
Range Bigeye tuna are found throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, including the waters around the U.S. Pacific Islands and off southern California. Habitat Bigeye tuna are highly migratory and travel long distances throughout the ocean. They favor water temperatures between 55° and 84° F. Juvenile and small adult bigeye tuna school at the surface, sometimes with skipjack and juvenile yellowfin tunas.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Hawaii, California, U.S. Pacific Island territories, and the high seas.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: The majority of U.S.-caught bigeye tuna comes from Hawaii, although a substantial amount is also harvested by U.S. purse seine vessels and landed in American Samoa or other countries for canning. In 2023, commercial landings of Pacific bigeye tuna totaled 14.5 million pounds and were valued at $71 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Fishermen based in Hawaii, American Samoa, and the U.S. Pacific Islands target Pacific bigeye tuna with hook-and-line, pelagic longline, or troll fishing gear U.S. commercial purse seine fishermen in the western and central Pacific also harvest bigeye tuna. The U.S.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where Pacific Bigeye Tuna ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selenium | 41.2 µg | 22 / 106 | 79% |
| Iron | 1 mg | 23 / 111 | 79% |
| Zinc | 0.56 mg | 40 / 111 | 64% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.2 µg | 76 / 106 | 28% |
| Protein | 16.04 g | 84 / 111 | 24% |
| Phosphorus | 178 mg | 90 / 111 | 19% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 55 mg | 97 / 104 | 7% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 14 mg | 98 / 104 | 6% |
Other Species in Genus Thunnus
7 close biological relatives of Pacific Bigeye Tuna profiled in this catalogue — typically sharing similar anatomy, depth range, and fishery management.
| Species | Scientific name | Protein (g/100 g) | Omega-3 DHA (mg) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Bigeye Tuna | Thunnus obesus | 16.04 | 55 | Smart Choice |
| Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna | Thunnus albacares | 24.4 | 88 | Smart Choice |
| North Atlantic Albacore Tuna | Thunnus alalunga | 16.04 | 55 | Smart Choice |
| Pacific Albacore Tuna | Thunnus alalunga | 16.04 | 55 | Smart Choice |
| Pacific Bluefin Tuna | Thunnus orientalis | 23.33 | 890 | Smart Choice |
| Pacific Yellowfin Tuna | Thunnus albacares | 24.4 | 88 | Smart Choice |
| Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna | Thunnus thynnus | 23.33 | 890 | Smart Choice |
Other Pacific Islands Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pacific Bigeye Tuna.
North Pacific Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Moist, flavorful, and slightly sweet.
Pacific Albacore Tuna
Thunnus alalunga
Mild, rich taste.
Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus orientalis
Bluefin has a distinctive flavor. With its high fat content, it is especially prized for sushi and sashimi.
Pacific Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Pacific Mahimahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahimahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away the darker portions of the meat.
Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus
Sweet with a full-bodied, meaty taste.
Pacific Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Pacific Wahoo
Acanthocybium solanderi
Lean and mild.
Pacific Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Yellowfin tuna has a mild, meaty flavor. It’s more flavorful than albacore, but leaner than bluefin.
Striped Marlin
Kajikia audax
Distinctive flavor similar to but more pronounced than swordfish. It is considered the finest eating of all marlin speci…
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Pacific Bigeye Tuna, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Pacific Bigeye Tuna live?
Live 7 to 8 years and are able to reproduce when they are 3 years.
How should Pacific Bigeye Tuna be cooked?
Pacific Bigeye Tuna has Firm and moist, with large flakes. — suited to gentle methods that preserve moisture (poaching, sous-vide, low-heat roasting) as much as high-heat techniques (grilling, searing), depending on thickness of the cut.
How much Pacific Bigeye Tuna is caught commercially?
Commercial fishery: The majority of U.S.-caught bigeye tuna comes from Hawaii, although a substantial amount is also harvested by U.S. purse seine vessels and landed in American Samoa or other countries for canning. In 2023, commercial landings of Pacific bigeye tuna totaled 14.5 million pounds and were valued at $71 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
How does Pacific Bigeye Tuna reproduce?
Bigeye tuna grow fast and can reach about 6.5 feet in length. They live 7 to 8 years and are able to reproduce when they are 3 years old. Bigeye tuna spawn throughout the year in tropical waters and seasonally in cooler waters. They’re able to spawn almost daily, releasing millions of eggs each time.
Is Pacific Bigeye Tuna a lean fish or a rich one?
At 187 kcal per 100 g raw, Pacific Bigeye Tuna counts as rich on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Pacific bigeye tuna is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of Pacific bigeye tuna: the Western and Central Pacific stock and the Eastern Pacific stock. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Western and Central Pacific stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing (2023 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The stocks are not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch bigeye tuna rarely contacts the seafloor so habitat impacts are minimal.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage this fishery on the West Coast. Managed under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species : Fishermen are required to have permits and to record catch in logbooks. Gear restrictions and operational requirements are in place to minimize bycatch.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 20 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.