These fish are hard to tell apart on the leader. When placed side by side of a similar size you could tell them apart.
When a single fish comes to the boat what are the determining factors that will make your decision.
The only thing I'm putting any faith in is the length of the pec fin relative to the 2nd dorsal. The bluefins pec should never reach the begining of the 2nd, but the bigeye should reach and maybe extend a little past. If they are not laying on their side with pecs retracted and a view of the dorsal this is tough to get perspective on. Fin color and eye size vary I don't believe they are fool proof for ID on a single fish; side by side probably.
When you already have a bluefin on the deck, it's a little scary sticking another fish.
What are ya'll gonna look at
BW28
pec fin is normally the first thing I would look at.
With my experiences the colors of the bigeye are easily distinguishable as well... dead they look the same, but lit up in the water is a different story.
Length of 2nd dorsal can mean the difference as well as color of the anal fin. Big eye normally has a good amount of yellow in the anal fin while a bluefins usually will not.
Also, the bluefin has a notch in the caudal fin whereas the eye will not.
Body shape for me can normally give it away quick but sometimes they can be pretty tricky.
Blue fin anal fin white Bigeye has some yellow
Blue fin large notch and bump in tail. Bigeye no notch or very little in the middle of the tail.
Bluefin long and sleek. Bigeye short and stumpy like a football.
Bigeyes have lots of yellow on all the fins.
Bigeyes are almost black on the top half of the body and a Bluefin is more blueish
Bigeye looks like a Yellowfin on steroids!!
Here is a photo that Alex posted on another forum:
Seth this is a test Which one is which??
Side by side of a similar size ,no problem. The bigger fish is a bigeye. Also, the Bluefin got a red braclet.
Every fish we caught had some yellow on the anal fins.
Differentiating a dark blue from black in the water?
Body shape; same problem.
The notch in the tail is a very good one it seems. You could see that on the leader.
I wish I had a picture of my last fish; when it hit the deck I said bigeye, because of the shape and fin color,
but we caught him in 50 fathoms with a belly full of menhaden. Pec fin was a little shy of the 2nd dorsal , but never looked at the notch.
With pec fin length and tail notch that should do it. Thanks,
Seth
Bigeye vs. bluefin ID?
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