Light-tackle Bluefin discussion

[Hooper]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

OK.
I have some points to open discussion on, some issues I have w/ the light tackle BFT fishery. It isn't an attack at anyone, as what most people are doing is legal. Just some questions I have. Personally, I wouldnt chase these 50-60" bluefin with anything lighter than 50lb gear, with stout stand-up rods. I know spinning reels and heavy spin rods rods have plenty of backbone, but it just isn't the same, IMHO.

1. What do people think the survivability of 100+lb bluefin on spin gear? Has anyone seen numbers? Just curious. Something I've never seen.
Having caught my share, I know they pull almost to death.

2. Whats the hook-up bust off ratio of your average angler?

3. How many people are fishing trebles on the plugs. See #2, a fish busted off with a mouth full of trebles has a much lower survivability than one w/ single hooks (I feel the same w/ Bass FWIW)

4. How do people feel about this fishery?
It is bringing a lot of people in small boats to tuna fishing, which is cool, but bluefin are not doing well as a whole, so any added pressure probably isn't good, right?

Again, this isn't an attack, just trying to open some discussion on a fish other than bass!

In full disclosure, I have no problem with tuna fishing (and try and get out for yellowfin and albacore at the edge as often as I can), but it is pretty rare that we catch a legal limit and start releasing fish. We fish 50's spooled with 80lb braid and mono topshots, and troll gear with single hooks, which I think does less damage if you break off fish. I'm not some card carrying peta guy, as you know, but I am not a big fan of light tackle for most any fish. I believe in 'appropriate tackle'. Just some thoughts I have when I see the pictures of the bluefin being caught....

Brian, I troll fish exclusively, on 50W's. One idea is with trolled baits, whether it's squid rigs, cedar plugs, whatever, reduce the size of the hooks on the hook baits. Large hooks will exit through the fish's eye and will most certainly cause him some trouble as tuna really rely on their vision to feed.

Good discussion.

I hope that unlike bass, we are not keeping every fish that we are legally allowed to keep. These fish are babies and beyond one or two a year for the grill, we have kicked back our fish. It seems that our fisheries managers have their collective heads up their behinds, so it seems that we as sportsman need to do the right thing and let our conscience guide us.

But, there are a lot of people in the game now, so I believe we as a group are killing way more BFT now than in the past, but that's only my opinion, not fact.

Light tackle might be more fun, but in the interest of releasing a healthy fish, 50 weight tackle seems smarter.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Hooper

Light tackle might be more fun, but in the interest of releasing a healthy fish, 50 weight tackle seems smarter.

Exactly!

[nightfighter]

Trolling gear is 114H and a 50, 80# braid with topshot, always siwash on stinger, never used a treble.
But very interested in casting to them, and interested in what size spin reel you need to put the boot to the fish... Also interested in what spin rods will do the job. It's one thing to be undergunned on a striper, but a whole 'nother thing to get your ass kicked by a tuna on a 30 second run that leaves you with a smoked reel, spooled, or both. It is an exciting, albeit expensive 30 seconds, or less. And then there is the issue of the health of the fish after that.....

[Pete_G]

I'd say spinning gear IS appropriate, assuming it actually is. It CAN be light tackle, sure, but if you watch someone who'd good at fighting tuna on spin and is properly equipped, you'll see a 100# tuna boatside in short order.

But, fish fighting skills are lacking, ability to rig lines to put the maximum pull on the fish is lacking, ability to deal with a fish boatside is lacking, LOTS of things are lacking and I think a lot of it really it comes down to education and experience. These issues aren't exclusive to those using spin, either. I see plenty of vicious gaff and release tactics using conventional gear as well as excessively long battles.

As mentioned there's a lot of people out there that are new to the game because of the press it has received lately and that's where I think some of the issues lie. I think many spin guys wouldn't get locked in the battles they sometimes do if they knew what they were throwing at. They just haven't seen enough to gauge just what they're casting at. Unless you don't know what you're looking at you don't throw at 200 pound fish. Not only that but they just don't know what they're getting into. What felt like a heavy spin outfit just doesn't once they hook up to an actual 100# fish. People look at me like I have 3 heads sometimes when I recommend an appropriate spin outfit for this year's very common 100# bluefin. "REally?!! That big a spinning reel?$^!"

So that's my take on it. Gear up and turn that drag up. Get a hefty Calstar, St. Croix, whatever, something that means business. 20 to 40 pound rated minimum. Don't cast at giants. Use singles if you're planning to release. A gaff shot to the cheek or anywhere really isn't the best for a healthy release. Basic stuff and seemingly common sense maybe, but only if you've been doing it for a while.

This year especially a lot of guys are having a reality check, and if the fish are bigger next year this won't even be a discussion as they will have moved out of the realm of spin gear.

[kenyee]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

People look at me like I have 3 heads sometimes when I recommend an appropriate spin outfit for this year's very common 100# bluefin.

Out of curiosity, but how much drag, line, and line capacity do you think is appropriate at a minimum? Minimal spin/conventional reels that aren't the heavy duty TLD, etc. conventional trolling reels w/ 600yd/30# capacity?

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by kenyee

Out of curiosity, but how much drag, line, and line capacity do you think is appropriate at a minimum? Minimal spin/conventional reels that aren't the heavy duty TLD, etc. conventional trolling reels w/ 600yd/30# capacity?

For spin gear 13 to 17#'s of drag for 50# braid. Much more and you'll bust 50# braid way too often. Much less and you'll be there for an hour unless you palm the spool (which I'm a big proponent of during the vertical fight). You can start carefully playing around 20#'s or so with 65# line.

Be aware that 20#'s of spin reel drag can take out a fish quickly but it also takes out a lot of anglers too (assuming it's a 100 pound tuna). It's SERIOUS drag pressure. Don't laugh at it until you try it. Come to the SWE parking lot and I'll hook you up to Phat Matt and let him run, you'll see.

For line, 400+ yards but you'll never want to see that much and usually won't. I chase long before that if I even remotely think there will be an issue, I hate long fights. I fished with 200 yards of braid last year just to see (the fish were smaller, 60 to 70 pounds mostly) if I'd ever have an issue and never saw backing.

Biggest reason not to let fights drag on is most of people tire a bit fairly quickly, proper fish fighting goes out the window, and it goes downhill for everyone from there. The fish, the fighter, and everyone else in the boat who wants to go catch one. Minutes tick by and before long you're the spin guy RIRockhound's talking about.

[kenyee]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

For spin gear 13 to 17#'s of drag for 50# braid. Much more and you'll bust 50# braid way too often.

Doesn't sound like 50# braid works that well for this year's bigger tuna if this is any indication:
http://www.stripersonline.com/surfta...d.php?t=605838

ken

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Hooper

Light tackle might be more fun.

For tuna in the 100# range? I don't think so. After about 20 minutes it's miserable.

I think initially there's some "romance" (for lack of a better way to put it) in the concept of that hour long battle for some guys, but after a few rounds of that most snap out of it.

[Tattoo]

[QUOTE=Pete_G;613079]For tuna in the 100# range? I don't think so. After about 20 minutes it's miserable.

Sign me up for the misery please and alot of it!

All in all it's pretty simple. Do your homework, and don't do things half a$$. If your goal is a 100+ lb on spinning gear, then be prepared. Don't plan on going out there with a Penn Slammer 560, 20lb braid, and a 7 foot light action rod. All your doing is wasting time and money, and resources ( fish ). Get the right tool for the job.

You wouldn't build a house with a toy hammer would you?