bluefin growth rates

[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.