SPORT FISHING TUNA FISH

Recreational fishing for sport or leisure gained popularity during the 16th and 17th centuries, and coincides with the publication of Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler, or Contemplative Man's Recreation in 1653. This book is the definitive work that champions the position of the angler who loves fishing for the sake of fishing.

Most recreational fishers use a fishing rod with a fishing line and a hook at the end of the line. The rod may be equipped with a reel so the line can be reeled in, and some form of bait or a lure attached to the hook. Fly fishing is a special form of rod fishing in which the reel is attached to the back end of the rod, and heavy line is cast with a complex, repetitive whipping motion to deliver the ultra-light artificial fly to its target.

On July 22, 2005,  Postal Administration of Ascension Island issued stamp series feature sport fishing tuna include First Day Cover. The Tuna species presented on stamps are Yellowfin Tuna, Black Tuna, Albacore Tuna and Bigeye Tuna. The Cancellation of Postmark figured a yellowfin tuna in black colored ink.

The yellowfin tuna is among the larger tuna species, reaching weights of over 180 kg, but is significantly smaller than the Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tunas, which can reach over 450 kg, and slightly smaller than the bigeye tuna and the southern bluefin tuna.Yellowfin tuna often travel in schools with similarly sized companions. They sometimes school with other tuna species and mixed schools of small yellowfin and skipjack tuna, in particular, are commonplace.

The black tuna or skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis, is a medium-sized fish in the tuna family, Scombridae.It grows up to 1 m in length. It is a cosmopolitan pelagic fish found in tropical and warm-temperate waters. It is a very important species for fisheries. It is a streamlined, fast-swimming pelagic fish, common in tropical waters throughout the world, where it inhabits surface waters in large shoals (up to 50,000 fish), feeding on fish, crustaceans, cephalopods and mollusks.

The albacore, Thunnus alalunga, is a species of tuna in the family Scombridae. It is found in the open waters of all tropical and temperate oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea. Lengths range up to 140 cm  and weights up to 60.3 kg .Albacore is a prized food, and the albacore fishery is economically significant. Methods of fishing include pole and line, long-line fishing, trolling, and some purse seining. It is also sought after by sport fishers.

The bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus, is an important food fish and prized recreational game fish. It is a true tuna of the genus Thunnus, belonging to the wider mackerel family Scombridae.Bigeye tuna are found in the open waters of all tropical and temperate oceans, but not the Mediterranean Sea. Bigeye tuna are amongst the tuna species most threatened by overfishing.