Light-tackle Bluefin discussion

[kenyee]

thanks Pete and likwid...I have no clue how inches translates to weight :-)
Sounds like 68" = 200lbs and 58" = 100lbs?

[likwid]

Originally Posted by kenyee

thanks Pete and likwid...I have no clue how inches translates to weight :-)
Sounds like 68" = 200lbs and 58" = 100lbs?

Ruge & Terry's fish ran 155 dressed.

There's a formula to guestimate weight out there somewhere for tuna.

[SeaWolf]

fwiw, on the west coast they have been using spinning rods for tuna for a long time. i know they catch fish over 200 lbs. on custom spinning rods. whether the rod is built as a jigger or spinning has little to do w/ how the rod will land a fish. it's more about the power of the rods being built on and more importantly, the drag power and capacity of the reels being used. they use shimano stellas from 14000 to 20000, penn 9500's, accurate, diawa's, etc., on the west coast. some of the new daiwa's have drags that are pushing 65lbs of pressure! that's pretty insane. i think van staal 250s-300s are being used around here as that is what more people have available for a reel w/ some capacity and that can handle the strain of a long run that these bft's give. price out one of those high end spinning reels and you're pushing close to or over a grand. most people are not going put out that kind of money for a reel and then have a rod built too. and, you'd be surprised how much pressure you can put on some of the custom rods the swe guys have now for this application.

additionally, the subject of tuna breakoffs and harming the fish, sure, it happens and i'm sure the outcome is not good for the fish. i'm willing to bet though that the people targeting this fishery may be a little better equipped on average than some of the people that show up and striped bass fish. i can probably estimate that on some of the more popular spots fished in south county/ri that many are undergunned to handle a 20# bass, nevermind one larger. how many of those fish get away? how about the anglers fishing rigs in the gulf and losing fish that go into the gear? it sucks, but i think there are many fisheries where this same argument could be brought up.

i feel the fishery will be on the esa in the not to distant future. corruption is deep in this industry for tuna. there is a lot of money at stake, so i'd be surprised if there was ever a moratorium on the fishery.

[Mr. Sandman]

As mentioned, today's spinning reels can apply the same pressure as what your 50W's are set for now.

Frankly IMO tuna have a much bigger problem then the release mortality from spinning gear...overfishing overseas. This needs to be fixed before releasing a few fish with trebles on spinning rods is going to have any significant effect on the biomass of the species.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

As mentioned, today's spinning reels can apply the same pressure as what your 50W's are set for now.

50vsw's put down 30lbs max strike drag and the moon is limit for max drag.

Avet T-Rex 50's will go up to 50ish lbs strike and over 100 max.

I don't think even the Accurate twin spin can come up to those numbers at max... But I could be wrong.

[Mr. Sandman]

I think the big stella and saltiga can put a max of 65# of drag, which is a lot for a stand up. But as I casually said..." apply the same pressure as what your 50W's are set for now" Most reels are not anywhere near set to apply the max. Bottom line, a friend took a 220# Bigeye on one in less than an hour and a half. Its do-able for anything short of a real big giant.
IMO, the problem is you need to use braid to get the capacity. Fishing big fish with braid and high drags...you tend to loose more fish. You really can't put enough top shot of mono on a spinner so you really are in a pickle about putting alot of drag on. (This is just from my experience) So most guys I know put plenty of drag (but not maxed out)and end up chasing the fish down.

(I want to catch a nice wahoo on one...have you ever seen those things swim? JeeezzzUS! talk about a burst of speed!)

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by likwid

Ruge & Terry's fish ran 155 dressed.

There's a formula to guestimate weight out there somewhere for tuna.

Lenght x width x girth divide by 800

[doc]

got my first tuna today...~120lbs...all i can say is i am glad i had the proper gear..(my surf gear would have exploded) ...even with that it almost took me 2 hrs to bring in...foul hooked no less in the dorsal fin!

[Pete_G]

http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/20...-on-the-brink/

Interesting hour of radio.

[animal]

I actually caught the end of that on the radio.Thanks for the link Pete.

[J-golden]

spinning gear works if you have the right set-up. put a 56" fish in the boat in 25 - 30 min saturday on a 65 Fin Nor with 50 pp 80 fluro, NWC