A
Amberjack
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I know this is late in the season, but here are some tips for catching tuna on light tackle. This is geared for a charter boat and will work on a sport boat.
Most charters will have spinning reels set up with swim baits for casting for tuna. If you decide to bring your own that is fine. Either a good baitcaster (Avet, Penn, or Shimano) will work, or a good spinning reel. Set the reel up with 30lb test (I prefer Izorline). Do not bring braid on a charter boat for tuna, you will not be able to fish it. A good 7' rod for casting that is rated 20-40lb. Do not bring a butter knife to a shootout IE a trout or bass setup. This past year I did catch several on a bass rod, it is work but can be done. The drawback is that you will still be fighting the fish while the rest of the passengers are starting to get irritated while you take 45 minutes to land the fish.
I bring at least two to three setups for light tackle. Two are set up with iron jigs, and one is a bait setup.
P-Line jigs in white or blue/chrome have worked the best for me. I usually change out the hooks for Gamakstu or Owner. (It amazes me that a treble hook will get caught on all kinds of crap, yet a tuna will come unbuttoned from one)
For the bait setup I use a 1/0 Owner circle hook with a splitshot or rubber core sinker, 1/4 oz works fine.
For Iron:
When a troll jig strike occurs "Hook-Up" is yelled and the boat slows, I grab my rod and move to the starboard side and start casting to the front of the boat at the "1 o clock" position
as the boat is still moving, leaving the rod in freespool. Sometimes the jig will get hit on the "fall", be ready. When my line is at the 4-5 o clock position I put the rod in gear and start working the jig back. Using long pulls and reeling the slack I will get hit and the fight is on. Remember on a charter no overhand casts and only from the side or bow. The same will work with swimbaits. Also if the Captain announces "jumpers" be prepared to throw into the boils.
For Bait:
If the crew brings onboard a box of dead anchovies, the bait rod will come into play. After a troll strike a crew member should throw out a handful of chovies. The boat will come to a stop. Pin a chovie through the lower lip and through the nose. Drop your line overboard leaving it in freespool. Remember to have the wind in your face. Sometimes you can acutally see the tuna hit your bait. If the spool starts singing (Spinning rapidly) count to 3 and slam her into gear. Hold on as the tuna will run, let it. Make sure your drag is set tight but not too tight to bust it off. You may have to move around the boat, going over or under other anglers, keep your line in front of you.
Do not horse the fish in as you are fishing only 30lb test. Remember to pull up and wind down, do not high stick it or you will bust the rod. About eye level works good, short pumps work well.
After catching several on the light tackle, you might just want to take yourself out of the troll rotation.
. I am sure I have left out a few things.
Most charters will have spinning reels set up with swim baits for casting for tuna. If you decide to bring your own that is fine. Either a good baitcaster (Avet, Penn, or Shimano) will work, or a good spinning reel. Set the reel up with 30lb test (I prefer Izorline). Do not bring braid on a charter boat for tuna, you will not be able to fish it. A good 7' rod for casting that is rated 20-40lb. Do not bring a butter knife to a shootout IE a trout or bass setup. This past year I did catch several on a bass rod, it is work but can be done. The drawback is that you will still be fighting the fish while the rest of the passengers are starting to get irritated while you take 45 minutes to land the fish.
I bring at least two to three setups for light tackle. Two are set up with iron jigs, and one is a bait setup.
P-Line jigs in white or blue/chrome have worked the best for me. I usually change out the hooks for Gamakstu or Owner. (It amazes me that a treble hook will get caught on all kinds of crap, yet a tuna will come unbuttoned from one)
For the bait setup I use a 1/0 Owner circle hook with a splitshot or rubber core sinker, 1/4 oz works fine.
For Iron:
When a troll jig strike occurs "Hook-Up" is yelled and the boat slows, I grab my rod and move to the starboard side and start casting to the front of the boat at the "1 o clock" position
as the boat is still moving, leaving the rod in freespool. Sometimes the jig will get hit on the "fall", be ready. When my line is at the 4-5 o clock position I put the rod in gear and start working the jig back. Using long pulls and reeling the slack I will get hit and the fight is on. Remember on a charter no overhand casts and only from the side or bow. The same will work with swimbaits. Also if the Captain announces "jumpers" be prepared to throw into the boils.
For Bait:
If the crew brings onboard a box of dead anchovies, the bait rod will come into play. After a troll strike a crew member should throw out a handful of chovies. The boat will come to a stop. Pin a chovie through the lower lip and through the nose. Drop your line overboard leaving it in freespool. Remember to have the wind in your face. Sometimes you can acutally see the tuna hit your bait. If the spool starts singing (Spinning rapidly) count to 3 and slam her into gear. Hold on as the tuna will run, let it. Make sure your drag is set tight but not too tight to bust it off. You may have to move around the boat, going over or under other anglers, keep your line in front of you.
Do not horse the fish in as you are fishing only 30lb test. Remember to pull up and wind down, do not high stick it or you will bust the rod. About eye level works good, short pumps work well.
After catching several on the light tackle, you might just want to take yourself out of the troll rotation.
. I am sure I have left out a few things.
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] who is retiring to Oregon come April. Albacore is by far my favorite species to catch and eat as well although I am looking forward to learning some Oregon style fishing for trout, steelhead and salmon. I'm no hot stick or expert, but I have caught a fair amount of long fins and amberjack is giving good advice. Naturally, there is a slight difference between SOCal and Oregon methodology - same fish but different conditions. I generally take along a quiver of various sticks, all with Penn or Shimano bait casting reels. The big one I use for trolling only and the rest range from a 15 lb test rig up to 40 [which is seldom used for albacore]. The work horse is a Shimano star drag reel on a 6' Shimano rod rigged with 20 lb test. If the fish run a bit larger, I will use a 25lb or 30lb rig. If they seem to be finicky, I will drop down to a 15. His advice on the bait fishing is spot on.
