Yellowfin Tuna Fishing in Curacao: 73 lb & 110 lb Giant
Fishing Report • July 24 & 27, 2026 Some weeks of yellowfin tuna fishing in Curacao are simply better than others.
Within just three days, two different trips aboard Speedy produced two seriously nice yellowfin tuna — one estimated at around 33 kg (73 lb) and another at approximately 50 kg (110 lb).
Two different FADs, two very different fights, and two trophy yellowfins.
Here's how it happened.
July 24: Heading north for a 6-hour trip
For our first trip, we headed north from Caracasbaai on a 6-hour fishing charter towards one of the offshore FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices), located roughly six miles offshore.
Once we arrived in the area, there were all the signs we wanted to see.
Birds were working above the water and smaller tuna were jumping at the surface. Rather than simply staying in one spot, we followed the activity and kept working the area.
We were trolling dead bait when one of our baits, rigged behind an Islander lure and positioned well behind the boat, got eaten.
And this wasn't a small tuna.
An hour-long fight
The yellowfin stayed deep and made the guest work for it.
After roughly an hour on the fish, we eventually stepped in to help finish the fight and make sure we could secure it alongside the boat.
When it finally came aboard, we estimated the yellowfin at approximately 33 kg — or 73 lb. A proper Curaçao yellowfin.
But we weren't quite finished.
Mahi-mahi for the fish tacos
With the big yellowfin safely aboard, we spent some time around the FAD and put out some chum.
A few mahi-mahi showed up, giving us another opportunity before heading home. We managed to catch some of them as well — perfect for fresh fish tacos that evening.
That's one of the things we love about fishing in Curacao. You can head offshore targeting tuna and finish the morning with multiple species aboard.
Conditions were pretty typical for us: warm and sunny, some wind and a little chop.
We eventually started trolling our way back towards Caracasbaai. Nothing else decided to bite on the way home, but with a trophy yellowfin and mahi-mahi already secured, nobody was complaining........... three days later, we'd find an even bigger one.
July 27: A 4-hour Sandals charter
On July 27, we headed in the opposite direction.
This time we had guests from Sandals aboard Speedy for a 4-hour fishing trip, and we headed towards a FAD approximately 4 miles south of our departure point.
We were out early, but we weren't alone.
Several other boats were already fishing around the FAD. Instead of joining everyone directly around the buoy, we worked farther away from the FAD, giving ourselves more room and looking for a bigger fish moving around the area.
For nearly two hours, we trolled.
Then it happened.
An Islander lure with a rigged ballyhoo got eaten.
We were hooked up.
And very quickly, it became clear that this was a serious yellowfin.
Two and a half hours on one tuna
The guests started fighting the fish and took turns on the rod.
Everyone in the group got their chance.
And they needed it.
For around two hours, they worked the tuna, switching between each other as the fight continued. Eventually, everyone was completely exhausted.
So we took over.
It still took us another 30 minutes to work the fish up and get it close enough to the boat.
Finally, we saw it.
We got the gaff in, secured the fish and brought it aboard Speedy.
Estimated weight:
Around 50 kg — 110 lb.
Their biggest fish ever
Once that fish hit the deck, the whole boat went off.
After roughly two and a half hours of fighting, everyone had played a part in getting it to the boat — and it was the biggest fish our guests had ever caught.
There was plenty of celebration, laughter and excitement aboard Speedy.
And one of the best parts?
We were only around four miles offshore.
With the fish safely aboard, it was a relatively short ride back to Caracasbaai, giving everyone plenty of time to enjoy what had just happened.
Two trips. Two trophy yellowfins.
That's offshore fishing.
On July 24, we headed six miles north and found birds and smaller tuna around a FAD before hooking a 73 lb yellowfin.
Three days later, we headed four miles south, worked away from a busy FAD and eventually hooked into an estimated 110 lb yellowfin that took around two and a half hours to bring aboard.
Different days. Different areas. Different fights.
But two fish we'll remember.
And that's exactly why we keep heading offshore.
Want to go yellowfin tuna fishing in Curacao?
Yellowfin tuna are one of the main species we target aboard Speedy, but as these trips show, you never know exactly what will happen once you leave Caracasbaai.
Speedy offers private 4-, 6- and 8-hour fishing charters in Curacao for groups of up to six guests.
Whether you're chasing your first tuna or hoping for your biggest fish yet, we'll fish the conditions and give you the best opportunity we can.
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