Yellowfin Tuna water temperature at Norfolk & Washington Canyons.
Typical May SST in Norfolk & Washington Canyons is 60–70°F. Yellowfin Tuna prefer 65–86°F with peak activity in 72–79°F.
Yellowfin Tuna SST threshold
Year-round overlap with Norfolk & Washington Canyons SST
Where the Norfolk & Washington Canyons typical monthly SST band overlaps with yellowfin tuna's preferred and optimal ranges, the species is in range.
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48–58°F | Outside |
| Feb | 48–56°F | Outside |
| Mar | 50–60°F | Outside |
| Apr | 54–64°F | Outside |
| Maynow | 60–70°F | Fishable |
| Jun | 68–78°F | Peak |
| Jul | 72–82°F | Peak |
| Aug | 74–84°F | Peak |
| Sep | 70–80°F | Peak |
| Oct | 64–72°F | Fishable |
| Nov | 56–64°F | Outside |
| Dec | 50–60°F | Outside |
June, July, August, September
Find a warm core eddy or canyon edge with a 2–4°F break. Troll cedar plugs, ballyhoo, and Green Machines through the warm side. Chunk butterfish at canyon edges overnight on the temperature line.
These ranges are climatological norms. Actual SST varies year over year — get an SST satellite shot the day before you run.
Live SST imagery for Norfolk & Washington Canyons.
Bield: Fish overlays current NOAA CoastWatch SST onto your chartplotter view and alerts you when Norfolk & Washington Canyons hits yellowfin tuna's optimal 72–79°F window.