Tarin Keith with a big yellowfin tuna caught on a popper
When you are in area where the tuna just aren’t staying on top for long, the captain may elect to troll. Unfortunately this is NOT the most effective method to take big yellowfin tuna. The biggest fish stay tight to the bait balls and are reluctant to leave them for a trolled offering. Really big yellowfin simply do not hit the trolling lures as often as the smaller ones do. However, there is still a very good chance that you will get to cast to breaking fish.
Forget About Run and Gun
Once the lures are out, it is hard to simply pick up the spread and race over to a pile of boiling fish. By the time the lures are out of the water and the boat is on the way, the fish are probably down. The captain will certainly run the boat towards the spot where the fish just were (or hopefully in the direction where they seemed to be going). If the fish are really coming up very often and close by, you shouldn’t be trolling! While trolling, It is not unusual to have the fish suddenly pop up within casting distance of the boat. When the fish pop up, here are a few simple tips that will get you hooked up:
- Choose your target carefully and be patient! Most anglers fail to connect because they simply don’t visualize their cast and pick a productive target. Take your time, and wait for the moment when you are sure you can cast into the fish.
- Casting from the bow – If the boat has a safe and relatively stable area in the bow, this is the best place to cast from. Even if the captain completely comes of the throttle, the boat will continue to slide forward. For this reason it is critical that you cast at a 45 degree angler or more so that you have a chance to retrieve the lure before the boat runs it over.
- Casting from the stern – It is critical that you cast at a 45 degree angle FORWARD of the boat. This will give you the longest time in the hit zone. However, you can cast at a 90 degree angle if you have a clear target. If you cast any further back you will soon be dragging the lure behind the boat and the chance\s of getting a strike are minimal.
- Keep one outrigger up – Have the captain only use an outrigger on one side of the boat. Keep the outrigger up on the side you are most comfortable casting on. It is nearly impossible to make an effective cast with both outriggers in use.
- Retrieve slack link quickly – Because the boat is moving, you will have a lot of slack line when your lure hits the water. Reel as fast as possible and get the line tight before popping. You are only going to have a handful of pops in the hit zone before the lure is behind the boat. You need to make them count.
- Troll down wind or cross wind if possible – If there is a choice, be sure to troll down wind or cross wind if possible. A head wind will dramatically cut casting distances. If you have one outrigger up, be sure that it is the outrigger on the downwind side.
- Be prepared to walk to the stern – If you hook up from the bow, be prepared to walk to the stern where the crew can help gaff and land your fish. If you do not have a way to easily get back, you cannot fish from the bow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trolling is less effective for catching big yellowfin tuna because the largest fish tend to stay close to bait balls and are reluctant to leave them for trolled lures. Smaller yellowfin are more likely to strike trolling lures, but big yellowfin rarely hit them.
When yellowfin tuna pop up close by, anglers should choose their target carefully and be patient. They must visualize their cast and wait for the perfect moment to cast effectively to the fish, ensuring a better chance to hook up.
Casting from the bow should be done at a 45-degree angle or more to allow retrieval of the lure before the boat runs it over. The bow keeps sliding forward even if the throttle is cut, so angling your cast properly maximizes your time in the hit zone.
From the stern, cast at a 45-degree angle forward to maximize time in the strike zone. Casting at 90 degrees is possible if you have a clear target, but casting behind the boat reduces strike chances because the lure falls outside the hit zone.
Keeping one outrigger up on the side you are most comfortable casting from prevents line interference and enables more effective casting. Using both outriggers hinders casting ability and makes it difficult to present the lure properly to the fish.
Because the boat is moving, slack line forms when your lure hits the water. You should reel in quickly to remove slack and tighten the line before popping the lure, as you only have a few pops before the lure moves out of the hit zone.
Trolling downwind or crosswind is ideal because it allows longer casting distances. Headwinds should be avoided as they significantly reduce casting distance. The outrigger should be raised on the downwind side to facilitate casting.
After hooking a fish from the bow, you should be ready to move to the stern where the crew can assist in gaffing and landing the tuna. Without an easy way to move back, fishing from the bow can become problematic during the fight and landing process.
