When Capt Andy fished with captain Troy Bruce and mate Ryan Young of Bruce Brothers Charters out of Prince Edward Island, Canada they suggested there was no need to wait until September to visit them. This is simply the best giant bluefin tuna fishery in the world and a “bucket list” trip for any serious angler. He took their advice and this past weekend Capt Andy and Steve Palmo released three giants of 700, 900, and 950lbs (112″) all on stand-up gear.
Toughest Fish in the World
900lb+ Giant Bluefin Tuna caught and released by Capt Andy
Capt Andy says “In my opinion, these are simply the toughest fighting fish in the world! I have wrestled with big marlin and there is no comparison to the sheer strength and stamina of a giant bluefin tuna. I admit that nothing matches the excitement of a wildly jumping marlin (tuna simply don’t jump) and big marlin are certainly dangerous at boat-side because of their explosiveness. But pound for pound there is no tougher fish in the sea.”
Stand-Up Tackle for Giants?!
Steve Palmo applying 50lbs+ of drag pressure to a 950lb giant bluefin tuna
There are three ways to fight these fish. You can fight them from a traditional fighting chair, in the rod holder (Wicked Tuna style), or using stand-up gear. The fighting chair is what most anglers are comfortable with and is a great fishing experience. Using the gunnel rod holder is certainly the easiest way and still requires some serious strength and good technique.
If you dare to use stand-up gear (our choice), you need to click here!
Ridiculous Drag Pressure
Capt Andy fighting a 900lb+ giant
The strike setting on these reels is typically around 50lbs (full drag at 65lbs). If you do not have a lot of big game fishing experience, this may not seem like significant. However, this is nearly the limit for most anglers on stand-up gear unless they weigh over 250lbs. Capt Andy says “I am over 6ft tall, but I only weigh 175 lbs. I always need to lean way back and I struggle to handle drag pressures much over 45lbs. I compensate by using my hands to add pressure at key moments and work my legs to drive the rod upward while leaning backwards. I get better and more confident with each fish. Steve is shorter and heavier and he can handle another 5lbs or so of drag.”
Bruce Brother Charters
Captains Troy and Jamie Bruce are incredibly talented and we suspect they catch and release more giants in a single season than the entire Northeast US fleet. Visit the Bruce Brothers Charters website to learn more and book a trip (tell ’em we sent you!). They are 100% committed to protected the fishery and playing by the rules (one and only one release per half-day trip). The other captains in the fleet all share the same commitment and together they have made this the finest giant bluefin recreational fishery in the world. We have only fished with one mate so far and he is one of the toughest wire-men in the business. We will be sharing a video showing just how tough he is. His talents extend well beyond his wire work and he and Troy are a very good team.
Giant Bluefin Videos
Watch on YouTube or share this link: http://youtu.be/HUtM-iV9vNU
Watch on YouTube or share this link: http://youtu.be/1xk30sxYr9M
Frequently Asked Questions
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to wait until September to fish giant bluefin tuna with Bruce Brothers Charters. They offer an excellent giant bluefin tuna fishery season that can be enjoyed earlier, making it accessible for serious anglers without the traditional wait.
Giant bluefin tuna are known for their extraordinary strength and stamina, making them the toughest fighting fish in the world. Although marlin jump wildly and are explosive near boats, pound for pound, giant bluefin tuna exhibit unmatched power and endurance during the fight.
Anglers can fight giant bluefin tuna using three main methods: from a traditional fighting chair, using the rod holder (such as the Wicked Tuna style), or with stand-up tackle. While the fighting chair is common and comfortable and the rod holder method is easier, using stand-up gear is the most challenging and rewarding approach favored by some expert anglers.
Using stand-up gear to catch giant bluefin tuna is extremely demanding due to the heavy drag pressures involved, typically around 50 lbs and up to 65 lbs on strikes. Anglers need considerable strength and technique, especially if weighing under 250 lbs, as managing such drag requires significant physical endurance and skill.
Drag pressure, often set around 50 lbs on reels when fighting giant bluefin tuna, demands exceptional strength and technique from anglers. Handling this drag can be taxing, especially for lighter anglers, who must apply body mechanics such as leaning back and using their hands and legs to maintain control and pressure on the fish.
Bruce Brothers Charters are committed to protecting the giant bluefin tuna fishery by strictly adhering to rules that limit catch, including allowing only one release per half-day trip. This preservation ethic helps maintain one of the finest recreational giant bluefin fisheries in the world.
You can watch videos of giant bluefin tuna fishing featuring Bruce Brothers Charters on YouTube via the provided links. These videos showcase the impressive size and strength of the tuna and the skill of the crew during catch-and-release fishing.
