Photo: Christoph Hübner / CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Gymnosarda unicolor
Dogtooth Tuna
Saltwater
About this species
A brutish reef tuna of tropical Indo-Pacific waters, armed with conical fanged teeth. It holds around steep drop-offs and pinnacles, crushing jigs with unstoppable first runs toward the reef. A dream fish for popping and jigging crews.
Season
123456789101112
Depth
10 – 100 m
Habitat Spots
ReefOffshore
Fishing Methods
JiggingTrollingLure
Bait & Rig
Heavy mechanical jigs, large surface poppers, or trolled live bait over reef edges.
Edibility & Taste
Edible but can carry ciguatera risk on some reefs; often released.
Similar Species
Told from true tunas by its scaleless body and large mouth full of fangs.
Record Weight
131 kg