Adriatic Sea

The Mahi-mahi or dolphinfish is a less known inhabitant of the Adriatic sea, as it is usually associated with tropical places due to its diverse colors. On its body, you can find a mixture of gold, green and yellow, with some silver added on the belly.

The average lifespan of a dolphinfish is 5 years and in that time it can grow up to 1.5 meters in length and weigh more than 40kg.

Although the fish in the Adriatic sea are a bit smaller, they can still exceed the length of 1 meter and the weight of 30kg.

Their main prey is smaller fish gathered in shoals in the upper layers of water on the open sea.

The best time for catching the mahi-mahi is in the autumn months, from September to November, when they migrate closer to the shore.

This predator is a competitor of tuna, but it’s not as widely spread in the Adriatic sea, leaving more living space for its contestant.

With its muscular, aerodynamic body it can reach a speed of over 100 km/h. Its distinct colors are dark blue and silver, with a distinctive black fin on the back. It has a very special ability of being able to see very well in the dark, so its prey isn’t safe even at night.

Swordfish travel in pairs or in small groups and they hunt together, targeting smaller fish in the open water.

Most swordfish in Croatia inhabit the central Adriatic, they live in the open sea in greater depths and are not easy to catch.

Atlantic Bluefin tuna is the main species of tuna found in the Mediterranean sea, and with that, in the Adriatic. With the oldest specimens being more than 50 years old and weighing more than 300 kg, this fish is one of the greatest predators who dwell in this part of the ocean.

Their body is one of an elite killer; it’s aerodynamic, muscular, and slick, which enables the tuna to move quickly through the water while making an attack on its prey. Short retractable pectoral fins distinguish the Bluefin tuna from other tuna families. Adding to the speed is the perfect eyesight, which is thought to be the sharpest of all bony fish. One of the highest concentrations of blood hemoglobin amongst fish also helps the bluefin tuna to catch their prey, by enabling them to store more oxygen.

Food:
Smaller tuna mostly eat crustaceans, squid, and small fish, while the larger species mostly attack the shoals of fish such as mackerel and other bluefish. There are no reports of tuna ever attacking a larger species and there have been no attacks on a human.

Living territory:
Atlantic bluefin tuna inhabits the whole mediterranean sea with the exception of the Black sea, where it went extinct. The warm water pockets formed by Italy and the Balkan countries that border the Adriatic sea are a perfect spot for tuna to live and reproduce. No strong currents, mild climate, and a sea rich with fish are the reasons the population of tuna is flourishing. Their population is especially large around Croatian islands.

See the best time to catch a tuna