Blackfin Tuna, Skipjack and Bonito

Alongside yellowfin tuna, covered on a separate page, smaller tuna are widespread around Guadeloupe, from coastal waters to the open sea.

They are an essential link in the food chain that supports larger pelagic predators.

The two main species we catch are blackfin tuna and skipjack, known locally as “thon rellé”.

Blackfin have dark backs and silver flanks with yellowish, coppery reflections. Skipjack have broad, horizontal dark stripes across their silvery sides.

There are also large concentrations of bonito, which make excellent live baits.

Tuna travel in schools of varying sizes, often revealed by seabirds feeding overhead.

It is always worth approaching these feeding schools, as larger predators may be hunting nearby.

We catch them mainly by trolling, on poppers and stickbaits, and on jigs, which they love. They are among our most frequent jigging catches around Guadeloupe and are explosive fun on light tackle.

Catches from guided trips

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