Who Let the Dog Out? Tips on targeting Dogtooth Tuna

Ocean Blue
Sep 5, 2018 · 2 min read

Dogtooth tuna (which are sometimes called white tuna or doggies) is perhaps one of the most interesting species of pelagic marine fish — if not the most. However, they neither have anything to do with dogs or tuna. Dogtooth tuna belong to the bonito family and they earned their name because their teeth resembling that of a canine.

Doggies are predatory, with fish and squid as their choice of food. They can grow as large as 248cm (more than 8 feet) and can weigh a whopping 130kg. Its scientific name is Gymnosarda unicolor.

Why Dogtooth Tuna is such a Sort After Sport fish?

We admit, it’s not really the most attractive fish in the ocean. But because of the level of difficulty to catch one, dogtooth tuna are gaining more popularity among anglers all over the world. Here are some reasons why:

You Can’t Find Them Anywhere

Unlike the other “true” tunas such as the yellowfin and Bluefin, dogtooth tuna have a large swim bladder which allows them to adapt to different habitats. They can also frequent certain high current areas, although they can be mostly found in reef edges.

But to catch a dogtooth tuna, you have to look for them in the most specific of places: along the Indian and Western Pacific Ocean, Polynesia, Vanuatu, Japan and north of Australia. But of all these locations, Vanuatu is one of the few places in the world where you can target dogtooth tuna on topwater.

Not an Easy Catch

Catching a doggie is like trying to pass College Honors Abstract Algebra — it is a struggle. And because it is difficult to land, most couldn’t resist having dogtooth on top of their fishing bucket list.

Unlike other species that are very eager to get caught, doggies have refined their bust off technique. Once they snatch your bait or lure they dive down looking for the first bommie to bust you off. Dogtooth tuna are awfully strong so be prepared to hold on tight and hope for the best.


Originally published at www.oceanbluefishing.com.

Ocean Blue

Written by

Love’s Fishing Adventure

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade