First Tuna fishing
 

So Saturday is the big day we got a couple of new setups and gear and heading off of Chatham in search for Charlie at **** ledge it is our first time for tuna so any advice fore the area and tactics would great. We are planning on trolling bars and daisy chains. I also here that big slugos or Ronz work well but not sure on the color or size

Will hopefully have photos to post later

Thanks

2 black bars set way back and find your boat's trolling speed and your good to go.
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thanks raider

be diligent about checking your bars. a stinger full of weeds doesn't catch much. watch what the fleet is doing - if everyone is trolling n/s don't go e/w or just leave the fleet to do it. have a plan for when you hook up, it will fall to #^&#^&#^&#^& but have one anyway. get the belt set up for the angler before the bite. keep the boat neat. a bunch of bars and lanyards laying around is not good when you hook up. good luck, these fish look big and mean this year

4.5 knots. Wish someone had told me that when I started.

We spent years doing 5-6 knots. Didn't catch #^&#^&#^&#^&.

Every bite I get now is 4.5 knots.

Get the HMS pelagic permit!

Don't think there is a speed that works for every boat.
Lots of older guys will tell you some boats (motors) produce more than others because of sound.
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Thank Guys all helpful advice will let you know how it goes

If you have capable spinning gear, bring that too. Nothing better than casting to breaking tuna or jigging up one of those beasts!!

bring a few horse or select ballyhoo and always keep at least one in your spread. These will troll with your bars without any problem. You can rig them with a hood, an islander, alien or just troll them naked. If you troll them naked and fast you might need a heavier chin weight. The hood is the simple and fast and allows for faster troll. They are easy to rig and pretty cheap to buy them rigged and many times they out-fish bars. I mix it up move it around in the spread until you find the sweet spot.

First time out: keep it simple!
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Check!

We are bringing a baitrunner 6500 not sure if it will hold up but hopfully we get the chance to find out

I see a replacement baitrunner in your future

Yes thats the plan have a feeling it will more of a recon trip than a cathing trip but who know maybe we will get lucky

Leave the 6500 home!
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niko - what do you use

Agree, you need something much stronger with the size fish. Shimano Saragosa 18k, Spheros 18k, Stella 18/20k, Fin Nor 7500/8500. All spooled with 80lb min and 100+ leaders

the Fin Nor is only 170$ for the 8500 and the 9500 is 180$ will this reel hold up long term seems too good to be true

No they won't !
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6500? That will get you about 3 minutes of fun and a smoked reel.

you need 30# of sustained drag for a long time and at high speeds and 400+ yards of 80# line. stella 20K on a terez is the way to go. those lower cost alternatives might hold up for a fish or two but that is about it. Think about how you will land the fish before you leave the dock.


Also...be watchful of others. The run and gunners are upsetting many of the offshore regulars. They go offshore to get away from you guys. DON'T run wide open into a school of breaking fish, work the outside slowly and be mindful of what other people are doing. You have Lot's of guys in big boats trolling, you have stick boats with spotter planes, Green stickers with a giant bird 1500' behind them, you even have guys who are even electrocuting these fish (really!) . Add this to the huge number of whales and you have all the ingredients of a master cluster F. It's a big ocean, spread out and find your own pod.

Given the fish that are around, it'll last, all of about 20 seconds.

...and if you see a Parker handing out cupcakes drop anchor and say hello....

I just wanted to report back on our day. We had a 35 mile run from Falmouth so we didn’t get to the ledge until 7 missing day break which I am guessing is your best shot at catching Charlie (plan is to leave earlier next time). We found the fleet no problem about 25 boats the birds and whales were everywhere the water temp was reading 54 and the sounder was picking up a ton of bait. We fished for about 4-5 hours without a strike not even a blue or striper nor did we see anyone hook up. ( I have herd picking up stripers is common there is this true?). In listening to the radio traffic sounded like at least 5 fish were taken in the 60-74 range. All in all a great time the weather was perfect 2-3 foot seas at most.

Thanks again for all the advice and will check back in after our next trip

That's tuna fishing!

Thanks will be sure to bring a few for our next trip the LBS sells them rigged.