Tuna Advice--Please!

[buckman]

We fight the fish from the port corner. Once the fish is below we put the boat in a slow lazy left turn.That seems to keep the fish away fro the boat a bit and seems to have worked consistantly last year. We dropped only three fish last year and not a one at the boat. We keep the fish in the water and remove the hook before reviving it for a healthy release.

[taJon]

Originally Posted by buckman

We fight the fish from the port corner. Once the fish is below we put the boat in a slow lazy left turn.That seems to keep the fish away fro the boat a bit and seems to have worked consistantly last year. We dropped only three fish last year and not a one at the boat. We keep the fish in the water and remove the hook before reviving it for a healthy release.

did you get any yet this year? I'm hoping for tomorrow. If no then this weekend for me.

[keeperreaper]

First off congratulations on doing the hardest part of tuna fishing hooking up. Whatever you are doing is working and keep that up. Nice work there. As for losing the fish boat side lets see if we can help you here. Keep the boat in gear, dont stop it because by keeping the boat moving it keeps pressure on the fish and is cheap insurance that the angler doesnt let the line go slack. Pick a corner of the boat and fight the fish there or if you are hooked up in the bow at the end game walk down the side. Keep the fishto the exterior of the boat. Keep the angle of the boat at 30 degrees to the fish. This gives you the best advantage in either circling ,chasing, or running down the fish. All tuna will death spiral at end game. It is real easy to lose fish here but also real easy to land them.

Keep the boat in gear moving forward, have the angler a few feet forward of the corner. That way he can move forward or back if need be to protect the line from chafing and also places the leaderman and gaffman in the optimium position. You want the angler forward towards the bow, the leaderman right behind him and the gaffman right behind him towards the stern take 2 or three wraps and guide lift the fish into position. Finally have the gaffman rake the gaff hook down and back towards the boat into the head or back of the tuna. Following this setup will eliminate the gaff crossing the line and either tripping the hook or damaging /cutting the line. If he misses the fish have the leader man step back or lift the leader up higher. Following this setup will land fish in your cooler.

If you have a harpoon follow the same setup and throw the harpoon as if you were trying to throw through the tuna. Also the fish is deeper than it looks in the weater due to refraction. You can use the angle of the line at a guide for center mass. Aim a few incehes lower and you should be spot on. Harpoons are great if you want to keep the fish. If you are going to release the fish dont use the dart.

Remember you want to use the boat to close the gap and pressure the fish to have anaerobic breakdown ie tire him out. Dont run the boat 180 degrees away from him. It does nothing for you in the fight except tire out the angler.

As for leader 80 lb should be fine for this application.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

[niko]

good stuff. where is the optimal harpoon shot?

[Sweetwater]

Keepreaper. Your explanation is very clear and also makes a lot of sense. I'll definitely give this a shot. I'm hoping the hooking luck doesn't change but the landing luck does!

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by niko

good stuff. where is the optimal harpoon shot?

Just behind the gill plate.

I was hoping to get out this weekend but it looks like the T-storms will keep me at the dock.

[buckman]

Originally Posted by taJon

did you get any yet this year? I'm hoping for tomorrow. If no then this weekend for me.

First trip of 09 on Saturday. I can not wait to join the fun.