Can a Tuna Fish Kill a Human?

Tuna are one of the ocean’s apex predators, with sleek, powerful bodies built for speed anddominance. Their strength and speed make them a popular target for big game anglers looking for achallenge However, it also means that tuna can pose a serious threat to humans who find themselves inthe water with them So, can a tuna fish actually kill a human?

How Powerful are Tuna Fish?

Tuna possess incredible power and speed in the water. Species like bluefin tuna can reach sizes over1500 pounds and can accelerate to over 40 mph in a burst. Their compact torpedo-shaped bodies andlunate tails provide extreme hydrodynamic efficiency that lets them chase down prey at high speeds.

Their power manifests in the strength of their strikes and runs when hooked. “From head to toe, bluefintuna are nothing but muscle,” says Captain Joe Shute, who targets them off North Carolina. “I’ve seen abluefin kick a big guy’s ass in 15 minutes.” Their strength is such that anglers use heavy stand-up harnessesto fight them. “You have to make the fish earn every inch,” Shute says. “If you try to fight them they’ll killyou.”

Not only are tuna immensely strong, but they are armed with sharp teeth for grabbing prey. Species likeyellowfin tuna have strong conical teeth while bluefin have razor-edged teeth shaped like daggers. Theirpowerful jaws and teeth make quick work of tearing apart fish.

Accounts of Tuna Attacking Humans

While tuna are not known to intentionally hunt humans, there are rare instances of them attacking swimmersand divers. Their immense power and speed, combined with teeth evolved to puncture and shred prey,mean they can inflict severe injuries on humans in the water with them.

One infamous case occurred in 2015 when a school of frenzied bluefin tuna attacked a diver named JamieQuatro off Leeville, Louisiana. The tuna struck Quatro relentlessly, tearing chunks of flesh from his back andlegs. Bite marks covered his body as he struggled to escape. Fellow divers finally pulled him from the waterover 15 minutes later in a scene they described as being “pulled into a washing machine filled with razors.”Quatro barely survived the ordeal after losing gallons of blood.

Similar bluefin tuna attacks have been reported sporadically off North Carolina as well. Researchers havelinked these events to tuna in a feeding frenzy behavior triggered by struggling baitfish. The diving gearlikely makes humans resemble prey animals to the tuna. While rare, these instances illustrate the capacity oftuna to inflict fatal injuries on humans due to their power and weaponry.

The Threat Posed by Captured Tuna

While free swimming tuna only attack people on very rare occasions, captured tuna pose a serious threat toanglers trying to land them. Tales of tuna enacted retribution on captors are commonplace. As one bluefintuna captain relates: “They flat-out tear stuff up. I’ve seen them throw coolers, break fishbox lids, jump off thegaff, we even had one fish smack an angler in the chin and knock him over.”

Tuna can easily batter people with their tails and bodies when brought aboard, causing bruises and brokenbones. More frightening are the flesh wounds that can result when they get their teeth into human limbs. Storiesabound of tuna biting fingers down to the bone. The most vicious payback comes when tuna use theirfinal moments to make a last ditch attempt at freedom. “I’ve seen a bluefin kick a big guy’s ass in 15minutes,” says Shute.

The power of tuna is so great that it takes proper equipment and technique just to land them withoutinjury. Harnesses take the brunt of the pulls allowing anglers to slowly tire them out. Multiple heavy gaffs wasthem into submission. Only then can tuna be subdued and anglers avoid becoming another victim.

Can Tuna Actually Kill Humans?

While tuna attacks are thankfully rare, their power and teeth certainly give them the potential to inflict fatalinjuries on humans. Their ability to swiftly shred flesh down to the bone means an attack could cause a victo
to rapidly bleed out. There are likely unreported instances of tuna killing swimmers throughout history.

However, modern accounts of tuna inflicted deaths appear scarce possibly due to the rarity of suchinteractions. Regardless, tuna should always be treated with caution and respect by anglers. While actualdeaths might be uncommon, their strength and teeth pose a clear danger if proper precautions aren’t taken.As Shute aptly surmises, “If you try to fight them they’ll kill you.” Any angler who has done battle with atuna and lived to tell the tale surely knows there is truth to this statement.

Tips for Safely Angling for Tuna

• Use proper heavy tackle – tuna can quickly spool reels and destroy rods not designed for them
• Employ heavy duty harnesses to absorb the brunt of their runs
• Keep gaffs and net handles rigged and ready to restrain caught tuna
• Carefully revive tuna before release and avoid bringing them onboard boats when possible
• Never place hands near the mouth of a tuna, even if it appears dead or unconscious
• Cut the line if necessary rather than risk injury attempting to land a tuna beyond your control
• Fish with others that can assist or seek aid in landing big tuna – don’t go it alone!
• Know your limits as an angler – realize when a tuna is too much to handle safely

Tuna provide the ultimate big game thrills but require skill, equipment, and caution to land safely. Respecttheir power, fish within your limits, and use proper technique, and you can battle these ocean gladiatorswhile mitigating the danger. A tuned-in angler recognizes tuna can inflict serious bodily harm but doesn’t lethazard override the reward of going toe-to-toe with one of the strongest fish in the sea!