If you eat tuna, then chances are you’ve already sampled this delicious variety of the popular fish. While blue fin tuna are also popular, yellow fin tuna are by far the most commonly caught variety and the one that is commonly used in commercial foods. While you may not have the same equipment as a commercial fisherman, that doesn’t mean that you can’t go out and catch your own Yellow Fin tuna. With the right gear and the right techniques, you can sample a fresh caught tuna and see just how delicious this fish can be.
To get started, you’re going to need to make sure that you have the proper equipment. This is a very large fish with a lot of fight and your standard rod and reel will not cut it. You’re going to need to need at least a 50 pound class trolling reel at your disposal, and a line that can stand up to this fish. Most weigh north of fifty pounds, with fully mature fish getting close to 150 pounds, so keep this in mind when you are shopping for your gear.
The right kind of line is also vital for catching a yellow fin tuna. They can be pretty fierce, and they are usually found only in very deep water. We recommend using a 50 pound test line, especially for deep water fishing. It is not uncommon to have to go to a depth of 600 feet to catch a Yellow Fin tuna, so you’ll want to make sure that your line can stand up to this kind of struggle and depth.
The hook is also key to successfully landing a Yellow Fin tuna. This fish has a very large mouth and they are very adept at slipping hooks. Go for the biggest hooks you can find, usually in the range of a Number 10. It should be at least three inches long, and preferably, a little bit longer than that.
For bait, your options are pretty open here. A Yellow Fin tuna will bite on dead or live bait, but we have found that live bait works pretty well. Go for larger chunks of bait to ensure that they will catch the hook. Otherwise, they can bleed you dry pretty quickly. This is a smart fish, so you’ll need to be pretty wily in your own right to get one.
Squid works very well for catching Yellow Fin tuna, and is pretty easy to find. If all else fails, you can use smaller fish as bait, such as mackerels. You may need to check for any restrictions on using this type of live bait before you get started. Some areas will not allow live baiting, while others do not care.
To find your Yellow Fin tuna, look for large disturbances in the water. They like to travel in big groups and it is not uncommon for them to make quite a bit of noise, which attracts sea birds and other creatures. Spotting them is not terribly difficult but these tips will make catching one a lot less difficult.
Originally posted 2008-08-18 05:00:02. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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Enjoy.
Originally posted 2008-02-09 07:19:07. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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Trolling is a great way to catch fish, in lakes, rivers or even out on the ocean. If you have never tried this type of fishing before, it’s actually quite enjoyable and chances are, you’ll be able to catch quite a few fish. There are a lot of different trolling methods that have been used throughout the centuries, but there are a few techniques that everyone can use to improve their trolling. Here are some great tips to get you started.
First off, let’s talk about bait. That is an essential part of successful trolling. After all, if the fish just aren’t interested in your bait, you can troll all day and never catch a thing. We have found that live bait works best, but there are those that swear by dead bait. However, the key can be found in the size of the bait that you are using, as well as the type.
Mackarel works best and is just about the right size. For ocean trolling, we definitely recommend squid, especially during the summer months. You can play around with different types of bait until you find the one that works best with your own methods. The larger sizes will probably work best, depending on the type of hook that you are using.
Speaking of hooks, this is also an important part of trolling successfully. Since the bait is moving ahead of the fish, this allows the fish to strike at it, and if you don’t have the right hook, it can simply strip the bait and head for the hills. To prevent this, we recommend using a little bit larger hook, and you may want to thread the line through your bait to increase your chances of a successful catch.
Now, let’s take a look at your speed. While you will be moving, it is essential to check your speed to make sure that you are not going too fast. It is much easier to troll when you are going about 3 knots. Any slower and you’ve defeated the purpose, and any faster, you’ll be outrunning many of the fish you’re trying to catch.
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