What water temperature do yellowfin tuna prefer?

Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) prefer water temperatures of 65–86°F, with peak activity in the 72–79°F range. They feed actively across the preferred range and concentrate at temperature breaks where two water masses meet. Threshold values sourced from NOAA FishWatch.

What temperature is too cold for yellowfin tuna?

Yellowfin Tuna actively depart water below 60°F. Below this threshold the fish will move to deeper or warmer water within hours.

Where is yellowfin tuna found at peak?

Yellowfin Tuna reach peak SST overlap in Block Island Canyon Complex, Hudson Canyon & New York Bight Offshore, Baltimore & Wilmington Canyons, Norfolk & Washington Canyons, Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore. 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.

Sea surface temperature guide

Yellowfin Tuna sea surface temperature guide.

Thunnus albacaresTunaAgency-reported threshold data

Yellowfin tuna are a temperature break species at heart — they live just below the surface in the warm side of the break. SST imagery shows you where the break is; thermocline depth tells you whether the fish are stacked under it.

SST threshold gauge

The water temperature ranges that determine where yellowfin tuna hold and feed. Hard thresholds (dashed lines) are values outside which fish actively depart or become inactive.

Outside toleranceSuboptimalGoodPeak·Dashed line = hard threshold

Optimal range72–79°F

Preferred range65–86°F

Avoid below60°F

Avoid above—

Threshold source (Agency-reported) →

Depth profile & SST reliability

Typical depth

0–800 feet

SST as locator

Moderate — SST is a partial signal

Yellowfin frequently suspend below the thermocline in warmer surface conditions. Look at thermocline depth, not just SST. They will come up to feed on bait pushed to the surface.

Current systems & structure

Gulf StreamWarm core eddiesTemperature breaks

Yellowfin are strongly associated with warm core eddies that spin off the Gulf Stream — these eddies can hold tuna for weeks. Canyon edges and temperature breaks are the other primary structure.

Best zones for yellowfin tuna — May

Zones where typical May SST falls in yellowfin tuna's preferred range.

Zone-by-zone calendar

For each zone where yellowfin tuna are present, the chart overlays the zone's typical monthly SST range with the species' preferred and optimal ranges. Months where the bands overlap are when fish are in range.

Northeast

Georges BankProvincetown MA · Chatham MA

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

Fishable: July, August, September

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	40–46°F	Outside
Feb	40–46°F	Outside
Mar	42–48°F	Outside
Apr	44–52°F	Outside
Maynow	50–58°F	Outside
Jun	58–66°F	Outside
Jul	62–70°F	Fishable
Aug	64–72°F	Fishable
Sep	60–68°F	Fishable
Oct	54–62°F	Outside
Nov	48–56°F	Outside
Dec	42–50°F	Outside

Block Island Canyon ComplexPoint Judith RI · Montauk NY

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

July, August

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	42–48°F	Outside
Feb	42–48°F	Outside
Mar	44–50°F	Outside
Apr	46–54°F	Outside
Maynow	52–60°F	Outside
Jun	60–68°F	Fishable
Jul	65–75°F	Peak
Aug	68–78°F	Peak
Sep	64–72°F	Fishable
Oct	56–64°F	Outside
Nov	50–58°F	Outside
Dec	44–52°F	Outside

Mid-Atlantic

Hudson Canyon & New York Bight OffshoreMontauk NY · Manasquan NJ

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

July, August, September

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	44–52°F	Outside
Feb	44–50°F	Outside
Mar	44–52°F	Outside
Apr	46–56°F	Outside
Maynow	54–64°F	Outside
Jun	62–72°F	Fishable
Jul	68–78°F	Peak
Aug	70–80°F	Peak
Sep	66–74°F	Peak
Oct	58–66°F	Outside
Nov	52–60°F	Outside
Dec	46–54°F	Outside

Baltimore & Wilmington CanyonsCape May NJ · Ocean City MD

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

June, July, August, September

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	46–54°F	Outside
Feb	46–54°F	Outside
Mar	48–56°F	Outside
Apr	50–60°F	Outside
Maynow	56–66°F	Outside
Jun	64–74°F	Peak
Jul	70–80°F	Peak
Aug	72–82°F	Peak
Sep	68–76°F	Peak
Oct	60–68°F	Fishable
Nov	54–62°F	Outside
Dec	48–56°F	Outside

Norfolk & Washington CanyonsVirginia Beach VA · Wachapreague VA

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

June, July, August, September

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

Cape Hatteras & Point OffshoreWanchese NC · Hatteras NC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

May, June, September, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	58–66°F	Outside
Feb	56–64°F	Outside
Mar	58–66°F	Outside
Apr	64–72°F	Fishable
Maynow	68–76°F	Peak
Jun	74–82°F	Peak
Jul	78–84°F	Fishable
Aug	78–84°F	Fishable
Sep	76–82°F	Peak
Oct	70–78°F	Peak
Nov	64–72°F	Fishable
Dec	60–68°F	Fishable

South Atlantic

Onslow Bay & Morehead City OffshoreMorehead City NC · Beaufort NC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, June, September, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	58–66°F	Outside
Feb	56–64°F	Outside
Mar	60–68°F	Fishable
Apr	66–74°F	Peak
Maynow	70–78°F	Peak
Jun	74–82°F	Peak
Jul	78–84°F	Fishable
Aug	78–84°F	Fishable
Sep	76–82°F	Peak
Oct	70–78°F	Peak
Nov	64–72°F	Fishable
Dec	60–68°F	Fishable

Long Bay & Myrtle Beach OffshoreLittle River SC · Myrtle Beach SC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, June, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	60–68°F	Fishable
Feb	58–66°F	Outside
Mar	62–70°F	Fishable
Apr	68–76°F	Peak
Maynow	72–80°F	Peak
Jun	76–84°F	Peak
Jul	80–86°F	Fishable
Aug	80–86°F	Fishable
Sep	78–84°F	Fishable
Oct	72–80°F	Peak
Nov	66–74°F	Peak
Dec	62–70°F	Fishable

Charleston Offshore & Georgia BightCharleston SC · Hilton Head SC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	62–70°F	Fishable
Feb	60–68°F	Fishable
Mar	64–72°F	Fishable
Apr	70–76°F	Peak
Maynow	74–80°F	Peak
Jun	78–84°F	Fishable
Jul	80–86°F	Fishable
Aug	80–86°F	Fishable
Sep	78–84°F	Fishable
Oct	74–80°F	Peak
Nov	68–76°F	Peak
Dec	64–72°F	Fishable

Gulf of Mexico

Destin & Pensacola OffshoreDestin FL · Pensacola FL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	60–68°F	Fishable
Feb	60–66°F	Outside
Mar	64–72°F	Fishable
Apr	70–78°F	Peak
Maynow	74–80°F	Peak
Jun	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Fishable
Aug	82–86°F	Fishable
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	72–78°F	Peak
Nov	66–74°F	Peak
Dec	62–70°F	Fishable

Alabama & Mississippi Canyon OffshoreOrange Beach AL · Dauphin Island AL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	62–70°F	Fishable
Feb	62–68°F	Fishable
Mar	66–72°F	Fishable
Apr	72–80°F	Peak
Maynow	76–82°F	Peak
Jun	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Fishable
Aug	82–86°F	Fishable
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	74–80°F	Peak
Nov	68–76°F	Peak
Dec	64–72°F	Fishable

Louisiana Deepwater & RigsVenice LA · Grand Isle LA

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

March, April, May, October, November, December

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	64–72°F	Fishable
Feb	64–70°F	Fishable
Mar	68–74°F	Peak
Apr	72–78°F	Peak
Maynow	76–82°F	Peak
Jun	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Fishable
Aug	82–86°F	Fishable
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	76–82°F	Peak
Nov	70–78°F	Peak
Dec	66–74°F	Peak

Texas Offshore & Flower Garden BanksGalveston TX · Freeport TX

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

March, April, May, October, November, December

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	64–72°F	Fishable
Feb	64–70°F	Fishable
Mar	68–74°F	Peak
Apr	72–78°F	Peak
Maynow	76–82°F	Peak
Jun	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	80–86°F	Fishable
Aug	80–86°F	Fishable
Sep	78–84°F	Fishable
Oct	74–82°F	Peak
Nov	70–78°F	Peak
Dec	66–74°F	Peak

Conservation & regulations

NOAA / ICCAT / IATTC

Stable (Atlantic) / Overfished (Pacific stocks). Atlantic stock managed by ICCAT. HMS permit required for recreational tuna fishing in the Atlantic. Three-fish bag limit per angler typical; verify current rule.

Stock assessment source →

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.

Sources

SST threshold data is summarized from agency and research sources. Year-to-year ocean conditions vary; verify current SST imagery before each trip.

See live SST for your offshore zone.

Bield: Fish overlays NOAA CoastWatch SST imagery on your chartplotter view, highlights the temperature breaks that match yellowfin tuna thresholds, and alerts you when your home zone hits the 72–79°F window.

Download Bield: Fish

This page shows climatological SST patterns for planning purposes. Live SST data is available in the Bield: Fish app via NOAA CoastWatch. Charts on this page reflect typical year SST climatology — actual conditions vary.

All species SST guides →