Fishing for yellowfin tuna in the Galapagos can be very difficult. The fish can be as large as 150lbs and can easily fall prey to sharks and sea lions. Male sea lions can be as large as 8ft long and over 600lbs.
They are very intelligent, powerful swimmers, have teeth like wolves (they are known as “lobos” by the locals), and are always looking for an easy meal. Even the smaller ones can’t resist a hooked tuna. Once they decide to target the tuna, the angler is in big trouble!
We almost exclusively target these big yellowfin tuna with big poppers on spinning rods. This means that we are limited on how much pressure we can put on these fish.
For more information on fishing in the Galapagos visit Sportfish Galapagos. Check out the Yellowfin Tuna Plugging Guide for instruction (includes video) and the Tuna Plugging tackle recommendations.
This 100lb+ tuna just barely made it to the boat after being attacked by a 400lb+ sea lion!
Frequently Asked Questions
Fishing for yellowfin tuna in the Galapagos is challenging due to the size of the fish, which can reach up to 150 lbs, and the presence of predators like sharks and sea lions that often target hooked tuna. Male sea lions, known as 'lobos', are large and powerful predators that complicate fishing efforts as they try to steal the catch.
Male sea lions in the Galapagos can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh over 600 lbs. Their intelligence and powerful swimming ability allow them to efficiently target hooked yellowfin tuna, often stealing fish from anglers and making the fishing experience more difficult and competitive.
Anglers commonly use big poppers on spinning rods to target large yellowfin tuna in the Galapagos. This method focuses on surface lures that attract aggressive strikes, but limits the amount of pressure that can be applied on these large fish, requiring skill and patience to successfully land them.
Sea lions are called 'lobos' (which means wolves) by locals because of their sharp teeth and predatory nature. They are intelligent, strong swimmers capable of attacking hooked tuna, making them formidable opponents that anglers must contend with during fishing.
Anglers can learn more about yellowfin tuna fishing by visiting Sportfish Galapagos and consulting resources like the Yellowfin Tuna Plugging Guide available on NeAngling. The guide provides detailed instructions, videos, and tackle recommendations to help improve fishing success.
Recommended tackles for tuna plugging in the Galapagos typically include big poppers paired with spinning rods capable of handling large, powerful fish. Detailed tackle suggestions and setups can be found in the Yellowfin Tuna Plugging Guide, ensuring anglers use gear suited for the size and strength of yellowfin tuna.
