Bleeding a tuna.

Saltwater Offshore Discussion
1

Sometimes?
Always?
Never?
I’ve read differing methods, from ripping out the gills/throat to putting a cut in right behind each pec fin and putting the fish head down in a bucket of salt water/ice slurry.
Interested to hear opinions on what results in the best meat and also best for vacuum sealing and freezer storage.

2014 Key West 203DFS
1987 Landau

2

You can pop the gills, cut behind the pec fin and cut the tail. Doesn’t really make a ton of difference either way. Most important thing is that you do it immediately. You want that heart still pumping to push the blood out. After the fish is dead, it won’t clean out as much.

Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.

  • More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927

31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs

3

This dude goes all out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPIkQeLFT0c

4

That’s how you get your albacore tasty right there.

If I was catching yellowfin like that, I would be gutting and gilling them as well.

I pop under the tuna we catch under gill plate with my thumb, they bleed nicely in a slush box.

5
quote:
Originally posted by Touche

You can pop the gills, cut behind the pec fin and cut the tail. Doesn’t really make a ton of difference either way. Most important thing is that you do it immediately. You want that heart still pumping to push the blood out. After the fish is dead, it won’t clean out as much.

Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.

  • More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927

31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs

This!
The 1" stab behind each pectoral fin seems to do the trick. I have experimented with two caught at the same time and we could tell a difference.

-Albemarle 248xf “Chella”
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-Miscellaneous boats
“Everybody dances when shotgun sings” Stewart and Winfield

6

I had a tuna I didn’t bleed a few weeks ago. It didn’t taste different to me, but was a lot more messy and smelled stronger when cleaning.

7

Cut behind the pecs, cut off the tail and put in fish box with a slush mix.

8

I just cut away at the gills…buddy did it 2 weeks ago, but a little to aggressive and the heart popped out. lol

9

If the bite is slow and the tuna is more precious then yes. I bleed, gut, and ice pack it. If they are heavy they go into the box still twitching.

26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream

10

If you cut off the tail you only screwed up a good handle.