Trapping TUNA

Finally figured out the pics. They will be smaller next time.

AGULHAS, The 6' leader is only used when you are targeting larger tuna or when the tuna are not line shy. Generally, when the tuna are not hitting because they can see your leader. You would rig the tuna trap directly to your main line from the reel. Wether it's 30, 40, or 50 pound test on your reel. If all goes as planed the tuna will have swallowed the tuna trap along with the chunk. The cable is kept to 18-20" so that as you take up slack and set the hook you are only moving the rod a small distance before it tightens up. Sharp hooks and the vinil tube will help keep some slack out of the rig as it uncoils and the hooks finds it's mark. Genreally, as the fish takes your bait, you would lower your rod tip as much as possible tighten the drag (engage the spool on star drags). The line will come tight as the fish swims away then give it a good hook set. With the circle hooks just push the lever up and let the fish run, the hook should find it's mark in the corner of it's mouth. That is why it's important that your swivel is at the same end as the eye of the hook. Rig one up and set the trap. Pull it and you will see that it has pressure on it at all times as it uncoils. You will also see that you won't have much hook setting to do, especially when a tuna has felt the point of the hook. good luck!

I'm with Snagged on the subject of tuna traps. When I first started tuna fishing, I bought several. I think it is Tournament Cable or one of the companies that sells them. I still have them somewhere.

I've never used them for the reasons that Snagged listed.

They are bulky - you have to use too large of a chunk in order to hide them.

All the added hardware and increased size of the chunk means that the chunk drifts at a different rate/depth then your smaller chunks that are thrown out - unless you are only throwing huge chunks...if you are using a chum churner, forget it as its dropped out of your slick. Personally, I like small chunks and have done best on small chunks and small hooks - no bigger than 7/0 usually fishing 5/0 and 6/0. And all circles.

The hooks used are generally not circles (those pictured here are not) so the momentary lapse of pressure while the leader deploys could give the fish enough time to get off (my opinion) if the hook is not properly set.

If you use non offset circle hooks, a tuna chewing through the line or leader be it flourocarbon or mono is a non issue as you will have a corner mout hooked fish 100% of the time. Now if you use circle hooks with a big offset such as Owner or Hayabusa, then yes you can risk having a fish hooked in the soft palate and either pull or the fish chew the line, same if using J hooks.

For leader/line shy fish the best alternative is simply to drop down in line class. I personally don't use floro but some people like it and swear by it. I've had no trouble getting bit without it. I just straight tie to mono and go down in line class as needed. If I can get bit on 80lb mono - fine. If not, I go to 50lb. If that fails I go to 40lb. I have personally not run into a situation where I had to use either floro or drop down to less than 40lb.

My best line class/tuna fish are:

40lb - 75lb yft
50lb - 90lb yft
70lb - 100lb yft
80lb - 170lb yft

All were straight tied.

I think the tuna traps will work - feeding tuna when in a frenzy will bit ANYTHING. But I think its a solution to a non-existent problem. Just my opinion.

Earl

No problem. Its what we are here for.

The greatest thing you need for 100+lb yft is luck. Most trips in which you run into yft here they usually top out in the 60-70lb range. Occassionally you'll catch a trip where they'll get up to 80. In my experience, only seldom will you be in the right place at the right time where there are 100+lb yft actively feeding. I've gone on 15-20 or more trips to the spar rigs in the last few years out of Freeport and Port A and have only twice caught or seen yellowfin in the 100+lb range.

I'm not saying they aren't here - just that they aren't here all the time and it isn't easy to come by them. I think most would agree with me on that point.

You can increase your odds of catching them when they are where you are by having any number of means avaialble to you:

1) High quality no to little offset circle hooks - best ones I've used are Mustad 39950BL black demon or Eagle Claw 2004/2005. I seldom miss a tuna with these hooks - I and others have had problems with the fancy Owner and Hayabusa big offsets hooking in the soft palate instead of the corner of the mouth and subsequently pulling - also causing the fish to bleed (not good if doing C&R).

2) Actively chumming - use chum chunks the same size you are fishing with. Also a chum churner is highly recommended (but not essential - I've caught plenty of fish not using one, but still throw a few chunks out every few minutes along with your chunk bait).

3) If the tuna are crashing you may throw either surface "iron" such as a Tady 45 light jig, or even better a surface popper. Examples would be a big Yozuri Bull GT or large size Yozuri Surface Cruiser. These fish won't generally be your bigger fish but I have caught one that went 100lbs or very near it on a popper.

4) Have plenty of jigs such as Bead Diamond 8oz jigs. These work for first bringing the blackfin tuna to the boat when you first begin fishing, then use the blackfin for chunks. The yellowfin will also bite the jigs. Other good jigs would be a Tady 45 heavy jig. Different people have different favorite colors but the favorite of many is blue/white with a flourescent back. Usually with a large single siwash hook.

5) For a 100+lb tuna you are going to want a good harness/plate to aid in the fight, reduce stress on the fish, get it in quicker (better for the meat, less exposure to sharks), and not put as much a pain on you. There are a variety of good plates/belts out there. Some like the Braid Stealth system. Some Black Magic. I like the Smitty Spyder harness and Special Plate. There are others. None are real cheap but all are a good investment. It can literally be the difference between a 5 hour fight and a stringy, icky tasting lactic acid effected fish or one caught in 30 minutes and sashimi grade when it hits the deck. On the Lump trip I was on last year 3 of us individually landed 3 big tuna, my 170 (165lb at the dock), a 156lb, and a 143lb in no more than 30 minutes for each fish. A sister sized 165lb yft caught that same day by another boat took 5-1/2 hours to land, 4 anglers, and a harpoon dart. It's worth noting that we had the 2 biggest in the boat before most other boats had even anchored on the lump. If we had spent several hours fighting one fish - the other 2 would never have been hooked.

6) If during the daytime, slow trolling live bait such as hardtails around fish attracting devices such as a spar rig can be very effective.

As I mentioned previously, sure there are 100+lb tuna in our section of the Gulf. There isn't but a few pounds seperating the Louisianna state record from the Texas one. However, if I were specifically wanting to target a yellowfin in the 100+lb range - I can reccommend a time and place. Set aside a 2-3 day period during late January or February and book a Lump trip with a reputable guide out of either Venice or Grand Isle, LA. The Lump is situated only 25 miles off the mouth of the Mississppi - approximately a 50 mile trip from either location. Easily a day run. If you book 2 to 3 days you have some leeway incase one or more days is not doable due to weather. The Lump is a shallow "hump" where cold, the nutrient rich waters of the Mississppi meet the much warmer warm Carribean waters - and during January thru March it is a big yellowfin paradise. There, at this time of the year - in my opinion, an angler has their best opportunity at a 100+lb fish, indeed up to 200lb and more. There is the added benefit of kingfish, bottomfish, wahoo, mako's, etc.

Earl

gonzofish said:

Thak's for your input earl, I will allways look for that edge that might get me those 100+ Tuna. Just thought this would be another rig to help accomplish that. I am glad there are so many experienced fishermen on this board. It's discussions like this that help all of us improve our fishing/catching

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Great tips guy's. After reading this I feel like I am ready with my gear. I myself use an Avet EX4/0 wide on a Calstar 665XH that I wraped myself. I's loaded with 3/4 of 100/20 spectra and top shoted with 60 or 80 lb test as needed. I do have the braid belt and harness for the pourpuse you mentioned above. A shorter fight makes a better TUNA. My casting outfit is a Accurate 665HXM boss magnum reel on a calstar GFGR 700 H loaded with spectra and 40-50 pound test as needed. I also have the shimano TLD -30 and 20 two speeds on matching rods. That is just the tip of the iceberg, I have a lot more gear thatn a person should, maybee not.... I have been to Venice 4 times now. Two of them we actually got out and fished. On one trip we blanked on tuna but I did catch my biggest AJ to date, An 80 pounder. The other 2 were weather related. As you said it's good to set 2-3 days asside to avoid getting blanked because of weather. Thanks again for the tips. If you guys ever need and extra person i sure would like to learn some more, firsthand. Thanks again for the tips, I'm sure everyone benefited from this post.