Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) is a true tuna, sitting in the bluefin group, and one of only 4 tuna species considered truly migratory — meaning it moves seasonally between defined feeding grounds and defined spawning grounds. The other three are the three bluefins.
Born in the Tropics, Raised in the South
Albacore spawn in the central and western Pacific and only reach sexual maturity at around 1 m long. The smaller albacore caught in New Zealand waters are mostly juveniles about a year old. As they grow, they gradually disperse northwards, only returning north of 30°S as adults — so there's a distinct size gradient with latitude. The further north you go, the bigger the fish.
The Fattiest Tuna on the List
Albacore have lighter flesh than the other tuna species, and proportionally less red muscle than you'd expect from a true tuna — which is probably related. They also carry the highest fat content of any tuna. The fatty belly is sold separately at a premium in Spain and Portugal, and in the United States, albacore is the one usually sold as “white meat tuna”.
Where to Find Them
Albacore generally sit in surface waters between 15.6°C and 19.4°C, though larger, deeper-swimming fish are known to range wider. They also mix freely with skipjack, yellowfin and southern bluefin, so if you're marking one of those species, don't be surprised if an albacore turns up in the same school.
Next up: yellowfin, the tropical specialist living right on the cold edge of its range in NZ waters.
← Previous: Skipjack | Series hub | Next: Yellowfin →
Words by Lonny, marine biologist.