Purse Seining

Vessel: 150-250-foot vessels
Method: These vessels use mile-long nets to encircle tuna. These nets encircle tuna and are closed off by drawstrings similar to a drawstring purse. Tuna are rapidly cooled in refrigerated seawater or chilled brine. They are then frozen.
Fish: There is a record of the catch of skipjack and yellowfin tuna that made up the majority of the light canned tuna pack.

Longlining

Vessel: 80-200-foot vessels
Method: Bait and hook method: six-60-mile mainlines and branch lines with baited hooks catch two to three fish per 100 hooks.
Fish: Mature albacores that average 25-40 lbs.

Pole and Line

Vessel: Ships with 25 to 90 feet in length in length can accomplish this method of fishing.
Capacity: 25-100 tons of frozen tuna.
Method: 8 to 12 lines with baited hooks . The lines are pulled by hand or by hydraulic haulers. The fish are quickly unhooked when landed and are stored in blast or spraybine freezer .
Fish: Albacores that are generally 10-20 lbs have higher fat content.