fighting tuna
 

I am a noob to fishig for tuna. Really, I have no skills. Booking my
first bluefin trip this year. I have only caught 10 tuna in my life
during one trip and they were all 30# class albacore that I caught
on a 1.5 day boat I took off San diego. That size was just the right
size for an introduction, but I am quickly moving on to the potential
of some bigger models.

There are things I am trying to understand about them, and
approaches to fighting them. The below are a couple of videos that
seem like unusually short fights, both seemed horsed. Does it
come down to imposing a lot of force up front and turning their
heads early in the fight? I have heard that fighting a 100# bluefin
on light tackle can take anywhere from a half hour to an hour on
average. The first vid is just baffling even though its not in the
category of light tackle. I would imaging a green tuna
of that size would capsize such a small boat....they get it done in 30
seconds. In the second vid...the guy gets it done under six
minutes....obviously super skilled...but I do not have the eye to
understand why his technique worked. Does the high vantage point help?

Sorry if these are stupid questions....just trying to learn.

275 lbs ...they hook up at 2:06....its in the boat in 30 seconds.
Big Yellowfin Tuna on bamboo - Ascension Island 2010 on Vimeo

130 lbs....."light tackle" under 6 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVx3gNSSGEI

if that fish is 275 pounds, i'll quit fishing.

editing! Do you think they really show the entire fight?

there are a couple of ways to go at it. tons of drag, put the heat on him and get it to the boat as quick as possible, if you pull the hook so be it. shorter but intense fight. option 2 - moderate drag. it will be a longer fight and the longer it is the more chance you have of something going wrong

If you stop a tuna, you stop it breathing. That's why most of the old timers used 400 lb handlines. They do their first run, then had the screws put to them. Takes very large fish out of the fight.

Like Niko said, the longer the fight, the more chance of something (hook wearing a bigger hole, knot failing, etc etc) going wrong. Best to put the heat on ASAP and keep it there. Better for the fish, too, if you're going C&R at all.

Just to be clear, there are two videos.. the first one is a link to a
yellowfin taken via bamboo. The author stated the size. Its seemed
like a reasonable estimate, but I do not have the eye to dispute.
either way....I have always been confused with this video. Like, I
just don't understand how they disable such a big fish so fast.

Not sure. I have watched it a couple of times. I do not see an edit. I
am really impress on how quickly he gets over that fish. Like he is
up and down on it in under 60 seconds.

I have watched some of the other videos in that collection. It seems
to be somewhat commercial as they appear to be advertising rods.
Its totally possible that I am being tricked by some fancy editing.

When you say tons of drag, I am curious about how much drag
pressure.

Thanks for the info. Most of my experience has been with short
fighting fish. The only exceptions have been with some bigger
critters from the kayak....but even those were done in under 15
minutes. I am trying to get a full picture of what I am in for.

Can you recommend any resources or articles on light tackle
bluefin fishing?

I did a search on the www , but couldn't find anything but
charter ads.

Thanks!

thanks.

What are the pitfalls of the heavy pressure strategy for someone new to targeting them? Should it only be attempted with those who have experience?

Downfall is you break him off. If you loose it, then you'll know right away that you pushed hard.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

If you're fishing from a yak, once you get over 20 pounds or so of drag any further increase becomes academic, the fish will just pull the boat around.

Understood.

Sorry for the confusion, I will be targeting bluefin from a boat. I
was only using my kayak experience to set up the scope of my past
fish fighting duration and pressure. I can't even imagine targeting
bluefin from a kayak. I bet the first run would be interesting.

there was a guy who did it off the cape not too long ago, he was recently featured in OTW, crazy stuff for sure and a ton of prep involved, including registering the kayak...

Ya, and the jackass got stuck too far out off shore more than a few times and needed someone with a boat to get him back in. :smash:
One of the guys on this board got him back in one time.

as far as drag on a spinner, i,ve got mine set at 27 pounds. any more than that and i'm gumby armed the next day. if i need more than 27-30 i would rather be in a harness. for fight time most fish should come to the boat in 15-20 minutes but every once in a while you get a mean one or a big one :)

Niko,

That is an unbelievable amount of drag. Granted on a good spinning set up it is easier to put allot of drag on the rod. Most of the time with the conventional standup rods 50# class I think I am fishing about 13-15 pounds.

I am starting to build a new boomer jr acid wrapped thou which should be sweet.

With multiple stran twisted wire leaders and cast iron sash weights for sinkers.
Sometimes stay anchored if we could gain line on m,,,
A whopping $2 - $3.00 / lb.

O to be young again, Gup:)

my 50's are set to 25#, and build me a jigging rod for the new accurate

How do you plan to fish for them, with a light spinning reel ? Let us know your budget, we can recommend some appropriate gear. I set my drag to 25 lbs on conventional 50 lb gear and 20 on spinning to start, then crank it up more after the long 1st run. Biggest thing I've found with light tackle is using a rod with enough backbone. You are correct you want to turn his head and keep pressure on it with small gains once in the circle.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Thanks for all the responses. I really appreciate it.


I am taking a charter this year, and it seems that they have high
end stuff, so I think I am good on gear. My query was more about
what I should expect and strategies. I am really ignorant on the
topic, and I have been trying to find resources that may help in my
academic understanding of what I am getting myself into.

Its a lot of money to spend, so I am just trying to get a head start
on my learning curve. If I hook one. I want to land it, and really
want to avoid rookie errors, if I can. I also want to make sure I can
finish the job, I don't want to hand the rod off.

There's no shame in handing the rod off. everyone would rather the fish on deck whatever it takes and Sometimes it takes a fresh angler. Plus your buddy can feel the pull for a little while too.
Although my good friend did this and is now and forever refered to as "Charlie HandOff:hee:
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Looks like Doms boat. Best in the business ! Black Rose can get it done too. Good luck !
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

hahaha....right on.

It is not a matter of shame or embarrassment. More about I would
like to have my first to be a clean land, or have the sense of
accomplishment of landing one myself, as its not something I can
afford to do every day. After its off the checklist.....sure, line up
the brigade to help.

A few years ago, I spoke with a charter captain that I hired to fish
for striped bass. I knew he also targeted Bluefin, so I asked him
how often he had to finish for his client...his answer...."too often".

I don't want to go into this to be "that guy". If I am going to do it,
I want to do the whole thing. If I wanted someone to catch a fish
for me, I would go to the fish market.

Believe me....I hope that I do not eat my words. I am no Atlas, and
if I run into a beast its always possible that I might tap out. I was
joking to a friend about it....That instead of passing the rod, I will
probably pass out from exhaustion and the fish will pull me
overboard.

The youtube video posted is with Dom.

Didn't know that....Even better. Thats who I am chartering with.

Its like I am a kid waiting for Christmas to come.

Dom is awesome, you'll have an absolute blast.

For run and gun Dom is the best in the business. Hands down. He will travel to the ends of the earth to put you on fish. Have fun.

Sounds like you are booking with one of the good guides. That said, be aware you need to have a couple stars align to have the results you see on the video. Like weather, sea conditions, and fish being cooperative on top. So be ready to adapt to conditions that day.

Totally understood. Even with prime conditions, I know that we
could get blanked, or the fish might not want to cooperate.

I surfcast mostly. There have been plenty of planned trips that have
put me on post storm muddy waters. Luckily, I am stubborn enough
to make the best of it...and still find a few fish.

I have a feeling the day we go....they will be jumping into the boat.