Giant Bluefin Tuna

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” [Acts 2:41]

Giant bluefin tuna are the largest living species of tuna, with some reaching up to 10 feet in length and weighing 1,400 pounds. A bluefin’s lifespan is believed to be longer than 20 years, but only one in a million of the hatchlings survive to maturity. They are also considered by many to be among the strongest and fastest fish. Their torpedo-shaped bodies and ability to retract their pectoral fins enable them to reach up to 25 mph in short bursts. Bluefin are found in all of the world’s oceans and can migrate up to 5,000 miles of open sea in just 50 days in search of food.

Their great size and speed have also made them a popular catch for sportsmen. They have attracted the admiration of writers and scientists as well. Also called the Atlantic bluefin, it has close relatives with the Pacific bluefin, and the southern bluefin. In the UK, Australia, and New Zealand the fish was often called the “common tunny.” The largest recorded catch was off Nova Scotia when Ken Fraswer pulled in a 1,500-pound bluefin. The longest battle between this fish and man happened in 1934 when 6 men fought an 800-pound bluefin for sixty-two hours!

Bluefin tuna is popular served raw as sashimi or in sushi in Japanese restaurants, where a plate of slices can command a bill of more than $75. Just one of these animals can net from $5,000 to $30,000 at the dock. In September 2000 an enormous 444-pound bluefin tuna sold at Tokyo’s fish market for a record $173,600. This was the most expensive fish ever auctioned. That’s right; one fish sold for $391 a pound! The tuna was reduced to 2,400 servings of sushi for wealthy diners at $100 per serving. The estimated takings from this one fish were $240,000!

Jesus told the disciples that if they followed him He would teach them to fish for men. “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him” (Matthew 4:18-20). In Acts 2 we see a fulfillment of Christ’s training when 3,000 people were baptized in one day. Now that’s a priceless catch!