Saltwater · Summer and early autumn

Bullet Tuna

Auxis rochei

A small, very fast tuna of Mediterranean summer surface water, hunting in schools just under the surface and taken on feathers and small lures from boats, and occasionally by casting from deep headlands. Barely bigger than a mackerel, it fights like a fish twice its size. Its French name is thonine; in Spanish it is bacoreta or melva.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Bullet Tuna — Photo: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Streamlined torpedo body, dark steel-blue to blackish above and silvery white below
A corselet of larger scales behind the head, then a wide scaleless gap between the two dorsal fins
Wavy dark bars and mottling on the back behind the corselet
Belly completely plain and unmarked — no spots below the corselet
Short pectoral fins and a narrow tail peduncle with a strong keel

Habits

Travels in fast surface schools, often mixed with other small tunas and bonito
Hunts anchovies, pilchards, silversides and small squid near the surface
A warm-water summer fish, most numerous June to October
Sounds quickly when alarmed, so schools must be approached quietly
Fights far above its size on light tackle, with fast, deep runs

Distribution

Mediterranean Coast, France · France★ Primary

Mediterranean Coast, Spain · Spain★ Primary

Adriatic Coast & Po Basin, Italy · Italy★ Primary

Where to find them

Offshore surface shoals marked by birds in summer
Headland current rips in the western and central Mediterranean
Offshore banks and seamounts where baitfish gather

Where they live

Open Mediterranean surface and midwaterCurrent lines, upwellings and colour changes off headlandsShoals over deep water close to shore, banks and seamounts

How to catch them

Trolling feathers and small lures Boat

Rig: Light trolling rod with small feather lures or minnow plugs, trolled at 5-7 knots along current lines and colour changes

Bait/lure: Feather tandems, small minnow plugs or slim metal jigs

Key tip: Watch for birds and surface splashes; run the lure through the edge of the school rather than through its middle.

Casting to surface-feeding schools Boat

Rig: Medium spinning rod with small metal jigs or feather lures, cast into feeding schools and retrieved fast just under the surface

Bait/lure: Metal jigs or soft plastics of 1-2 oz

Key tip: Approach quietly upwind and pull the first fish quickly away from the school — a fish fighting at the boat scatters the shoal.

Best baits & lures

Small feather luresSilver spoons and casting jigsLive anchovies or sardines

Techniques for Bullet Tuna →

Baseline setup

Rod: Medium 7-8 ft spinning or light trolling rod
Line: 20-30 lb braid with a short fluorocarbon leader
Terminal: Feather lures, 1-2 oz metal jigs, small minnow plugs

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 14-18 in (35-45 cm), 1-3 lb (0.5-1.4 kg); large fish to about 20 in (50 cm)

On the table

Good eaten fresh — firm, dark, oily flesh; keep it well iced from the moment it is caught, and in the Mediterranean much of the catch is canned.

Similar species

Little TunnyLittle tunny is bigger and deeper-bodied, with broken dark stripes and a few dark spots between the pectoral and pelvic fins; bullet tuna is smaller and slimmer, spotless below the corselet, and has a wider gap between its dorsal fins

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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