A Quota Management species, Yellowfin Tuna belong to the Scombridae family (mackerels, tunas). A major migratory species, they are found in the warm ocean waters north of New Zealand. They move south to East Cape in the summer. They are generally found over the outer shelf and occur above and below the thermocline.

They are caught mainly from December to March to the east of New Zealand between East Cape and North Cape. They are also found north of North Cape in September and October. Yellowfin Tuna are mainly caught by longliners but sometimes by game fishermen with trolling gear.