Once again fishing in the Galapagos Islands has surprised me just as I knew it would. Paul, Alan, and Daniel decided to skip marlin fishing and we visited a spot where two days earlier we slayed the yellowfin tuna on poppers. There were still a few yellowfin around, but the spot was loaded with bigeye jacks (bigeye trevally). They could not resist our Guides Choice M-80 Poppers. The strikes were incredible.
Bigeye Trevally – Alan Lapes
We even hooked a huge pargo (a type of grouper) that was well over 100lbs that broke off when a knot (that I had tied) pulled. However, when we returned to the area three hours later we found the plug floating on the surface and got it back. The amazing thing was that the tide certainly moved that plug a mile in one direction and then back again to almost the same spot.Whenever we drifted into the deeper water (200+ feet) we drew strikes from yellowfin tuna and Paul Stevens brought one to the boat that was around 30lbs using a Guides Choice No.2 Popper.
We lost a much larger yellowfin tuna when Daniel threw a popper that was hit so hard that it snapped an 80lb fluorocarbon leader right in the middle. The fish hit the popper only 20ft from the boat.
We continued our field test for the Penn TRQS7 and the new Penn Carnage rods. We loaded everything with 80lb Spiderwire Ultracast and are using 80lb Berkley Big Game Fluorocarbon leaders. After countless big yellowfin tuna we have had only one broken leader (which could not have been avoided) and have yet to see the Spiderwire fail. The Carnage rod we are testing is actually rated for 80-200lbs braid. It is only 6ft and is really designed for jigging. However, it is excellent for throwing big plugs to tuna and getting them to the boat quickly. The largest tuna was have taken so far was around 100lbs. We really want to see if we can hook one over 200lbs on this trip to see how the gear performs. Click here for our recommended tuna tackle for tuna plugging.
Learn more about travel and fishing in the Galapagos at Sportfish Galapagos
Frequently Asked Questions
The article highlights catching bigeye jacks (bigeye trevally), yellowfin tuna, and a large pargo (a type of grouper) in the Galapagos Islands. These species offer exciting fishing opportunities, especially when using topwater poppers and appropriate tackle.
The article recommends using the Penn TRQS7 and Penn Carnage rods paired with 80lb Spiderwire Ultracast braided line and 80lb Berkley Big Game Fluorocarbon leaders. This setup has proven effective for handling large yellowfin tuna, some weighing around 100lbs, with minimal line breakage.
Guides Choice M-80 poppers have been highly effective, drawing incredible strikes from bigeye jacks and yellowfin tuna. Their use has resulted in multiple hooked fish, demonstrating their value as a topwater lure for this region.
Anglers encountered challenges such as losing a huge pargo due to a knot pulling apart and snapping an 80lb fluorocarbon leader when a large yellowfin tuna struck aggressively. These incidents highlight the importance of strong knots and reliable leader materials.
The article describes how the tide moved a floating plug about a mile away and back near the original spot within three hours. This tidal movement can influence lure drifting patterns, affecting how anglers retrieve and position lures for optimal strikes.
The Penn Carnage rod is a 6-foot rod designed primarily for jigging and rated for 80-200lb braided line. Despite its primary design, it excels at casting large plugs for tuna and helps bring fish to the boat quickly, making it versatile for big game fishing.
Readers interested in additional travel and fishing details for the Galapagos Islands are directed to Sportfish Galapagos, which likely offers more resources and guidance for anglers planning trips to the area.
