How Much Is A 900 Lb Tuna Worth? A Detailed Look At Tuna Prices

As an avid fisherman and tuna lover, I’ve always been fascinated by the incredible sizes tuna can reach. A 900 lb tuna is an absolute monster that would be the catch of a lifetime for any angler. But beyond just the thrill of the catch, a tuna this size also represents a small fortune. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at just how much a 900 lb tuna could be worth.

Key Factors That Determine 900 Lb Tuna Value

When we talk about tunas over 500 lbs, we’re almost exclusively referring to either Bluefin or Giant Yellowfin tuna These are the two species capable of reaching weights up to nearly 1,500 lbs There are several key factors that affect the market value of tuna in this mega-size category

• Species – Bluefin fetches higher prices than Yellowfin of equal size due to higher demand At 900 lbs, chances are the tuna is a Pacific Bluefin.

• Fresh or Frozen – Fresh, never frozen commands a premium over frozen.

• Fat Content – Higher fat content means better quality which equates to higher value

• Fishing Method – Sustainably caught fish brings higher prices.

• Grade – The highest Japanese “sashimi” grade quality yields the highest market value.

• Location Caught – Certain fisheries known for trophy fish demand a premium.

When you put all these factors together, it adds up to an extremely valuable fish!

Breaking Down The Value of a 900 Lb Tuna

To estimate the value of a 900 lb tuna, I looked at multiple sources including seafood auctions, industry data, and expert analysis. Here’s a look at the value breakdown:

• Wholesale Price – $7,000-$14,000

  At the dock, a 900 lb bluefin tuna would fetch $7-14 per pound wholesale. At the lower end, that’s $6,300 total. At the high end, it reaches $12,600.

• Auction Price – $18,000-$36,000

  Sold at renowned Japanese fish auctions, record prices for Pacific bluefin this size hit over $40/lb. That would equate to over $36k!

• Retail Sashimi Cuts – $54,000-$108,000

  At sushi restaurants, the finest otoro sashimi from a tuna this size could retail for $60-120/lb. That tallies $54k-108k for all usable cuts.

As you can see, a single 900 lb tuna can be worth anywhere from five to well over six figures!

Notable Examples of Valuable Giant Tuna

To provide some real examples, here are some notable giant Pacific bluefins that sold for eye-popping prices:

• Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo – $173,600

  This 613 lb Pacific bluefin sold for a record $283/lb in January 2019.

• Kiyomura Corp, Japan – $632,678

  They paid over $1.8 million for a 613 lb fish at the 2019 New Year’s auction.

While not 900 lbs, these fish help illustrate the incredible value of giant tunas.

Why Such High Prices for Large Tuna?

You may be wondering why giant tunas garner such exorbitant prices compared to more reasonably sized fish. Here are the main reasons driving demand:

• Scarcity – Monster tunas over 500 lbs are increasingly rare. Their dwindling numbers make them highly coveted.

• Prestige – They are a status symbol among high-end sushi establishments and discerning customers.

• Yield – A single large fish can feed hundreds of customers and produce thousands of pieces of sushi.

• Quality – The fat content, marbling and taste is unparalleled at this size range.

When you understand all these factors, the demand and prices for true monster tunas becomes clearer.

Expected Price Trends for Giant Tuna

Looking forward, the limited supply and ever-growing global appetite for Pacific bluefin shows no signs of abating. Here are potential price trends:

• Continued rise in auction prices – Record setting fish will likely still break $100,000 in the coming years.

• Increasing retail costs – With lower supply, sashimi-grade cuts could reach $150/lb or more at high-end restaurants.

• Expanding markets – New emerging markets like China will bolster demand and prices worldwide.

While unpredictable, the overall trajectory of giant tuna prices will likely keep heading upwards until supply constraints and regulations intervene.

Key Takeaways On 900 Lb Tuna Value

• Pacific Bluefin tuna of this size are capable of fetching from the tens of thousands up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

• Key value factors are species, fat content, fishing method, grade, and location caught.

• At prestigious Japanese fish auctions, 500 lb+ tunas consistently break price records.

• Their incredible scarcity and prestige among luxury customers underpins the incredibly high prices giant tunas can command.

So while catching a 900 lb tuna is reward enough in itself, the potential monetary windfall should also provide serious additional motivation for anglers chasing these aquatic beasts! As tuna populations hopefully rebuild, more monster tuna will again be there for the lucky few able to land them.