bluefin growth rates

[RIROCKHOUND]

From what I recall, they start to reproduce at 80" (10 years old)

Most of the other tuna's (YFT, Longfin, BE) is closer to 27" (hence the 27" fork length on the size limit)

BFT is one of the few managed species we can harvest below sexual maturity

[Sea Flat]

I had no idea that only the fish that are that big reproduce, that is amazing!! No wonder it is so hard to keep the population up. Hopefully this class of fish that have been coming back to Stellwagen for the past few years will get to that magic 80" and start making babies!! Only a few more inches for some of them.

[niko]

so where are all the little ones - 10 to 40 pounds. do they stay out in the warmer waters. just wondering.

[animal]

Originally Posted by niko

so where are all the little ones - 10 to 40 pounds. do they stay out in the warmer waters. just wondering.

They show up off BI,RI,most years,and we saw some really small fish on Stellwagen two years back.

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

From what I recall, they start to reproduce at 80" (10 years old)

Most of the other tuna's (YFT, Longfin, BE) is closer to 27" (hence the 27" fork length on the size limit)

BFT is one of the few managed species we can harvest below sexual maturity

It's believed 8 years not 10 at 8 years about 72 inches

[RIROCKHOUND]

I think it is still debated Ronnie. I had read 8 years/72" and 80+ inches before...
from:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishwatch/s...uefin_tuna.htm
"Reaches reproductive maturity: Late – western Atlantic bluefin tuna first spawn at age 8 and are believed to take longer to reach maturity than bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic. Recent studies indicate most bluefin are sexually mature by about 12 years."

Other thing's I've read said as young a 5 years.