Blue Fin Tuna

Right Angle · 07-04-2006, 07:25 AM

I was talking to someone at a fishing supply store and they told me that blue fin tuna reside in about 70 degree water. Is this true. Is it possible to catch Blue Fin tuna off of the Oregon Coast if the water temp is 67 degrees? Or maybe slightly even less? Has anyone caught any yellow fin tuna off of the Oregon Coast? What is their favorable water temp? 67 degrees or higher?

Tower Todd · 07-04-2006, 08:36 AM

BFT will be in cooler water than YFT. I know BFT travel into Oregon but never heard of YFT (too cold as they are more in tropical waters).
Tower Todd

corrirod · 07-04-2006, 09:07 AM

Bluefin yes. Yellow"fin" no. Yellow"tail" yes.

The Bad Fish · 07-04-2006, 09:23 AM

crabbait caught one 2 years ago out of depoe in the middle of july. Im sure he will post a picture of it as soon as he reads this.

Mr. Fisherman · 07-04-2006, 09:33 AM

That was a small Bluefin.
No reports of a Yellowfin Tuna caught, at least not in Central Oregon or North.
Southern Oregon gets a few exotics from time to time but not on a regular basis.
Bluefin have been caught in colder water than Albicore. Mid to upper 50 degree water si not uncommon back East. We have yet to figure out the secrets to our larget BFT.
Uglygreen caught the largest that I am aware of. I think it went just over 100# but we never saw a pic. He is a man of his word though and I believe him.
Many of us have seen the large BFT off our coast. I for one have lost far too much sleep over them.

skein · 07-04-2006, 09:34 AM

Bad Fish! Where ya been?

Good to see ya postin' again.

Mr F, I remember seeing a pic of UG's bluefin. I think he said it was 105#. Kinda like those trashcans you saw playing in your bow wake outta Dopey.

Skein

Mr. Fisherman · 07-04-2006, 09:39 AM

No, the trash can fish was way way over that Jim. Ask anyone who was on the boat that day... I don't know how I am going to get one of those into the boat but it IS going to happen.

skein · 07-04-2006, 09:47 AM

Ray, when you finally get one of those on, get on the radio and we'll drop everything and come a-runnin'. Besides, we'll have plenty of time to get there while you're pinned to the rail.

You get one, we'll figure it out!

Skein

ron m · 07-04-2006, 09:49 AM

The stories of garbage can size tuna have cost me sleep, time, and lots of money. and that's just from the "dog"gone stories, I've yet to see one myself, but I believe the big tuna do come off our coast and that my brothers have seen them!! Many of us dream of catching one, but first we gotta hook it!!---yeah, and then we gotta get it in the boat! This summer we will do it!!
ron m

DB_Cooper · 07-04-2006, 11:48 AM

Just returned from a trip to Japan and the Philippines. The Tsujiki fish market is a must see...

bajadan2000 · 07-04-2006, 12:09 PM

[quote I don't know how I am going to get one of those into the boat but it IS going to happen.

[/quote]

Ray,

Pack a come-a-long in your boat. If that is not enough to winch the big BFT into the boat, then go to plan B: tow the fish back.

Dan

Paddler · 07-04-2006, 12:14 PM

Two guys ought to be able to get even a good sized tuna aboard. I'll worry about getting one over the gunnel when the time comes. Kinda like worrying about how you're going to get an elk out after you get one down.

tailchaser · 07-04-2006, 01:00 PM

A few years ago when we had the extreme warm water temps, there were a few YFT being caught by the commercial fleet about 70 miles out of Coos Bay. I talked with one commy and he had landed 5 that year. That was also the year we had a marlin sighting at 20 miles. Very rare, but that year the water was 67-69 degrees at 16 miles from the jetties.

tc

Salty Walty · 07-04-2006, 05:10 PM

The drive by from the BFT that Billfisher and I had was about 2 years ago, middle of July. They were 13-14 miles out of Depoe in 57deg water. Look very closely if you see what looks like jumping porpoises. They might be tuna with heads the size of a 5gal bucket.

jigmaster · 07-04-2006, 06:33 PM

Be Prepared Grasshopper :grin:.....GEAR UP

Onokai · 07-04-2006, 08:20 PM

There have been many post on the trolling tecnechics on these fish. 2 small bluefins were caught last Friday north Of Fort Bragg. Troll way back and present lures where fish come onto them . Diving hard body Lures such as Marauders or mega bait sea boz. Use heavy 150# flouracarbon leader and a heavy rod and reel. Have a setup ready on every trip. When you see a volkswagon in the water you will need this gear. Also a back door on the boat helps. hey I have one on my boat-its in this photo-
These fish are what dreams are made for. Heres a small 30# bluefin

This is a big boy with my friend Duncan siting on it . He fished these for 10 seasons out of Cape Cod for giant Bluefins-He has harpooned them as well as hook and line-This is from his younger days he was a serious young man by the look on his face.
Warning this fish WILL make for BIG DREAMS

Mark

Salty Walty · 07-04-2006, 09:58 PM

I would have a bigger smile on my face if I caught a Tuna big enough to sit on or arm/fin wrestle!

Mikeymoto · 07-04-2006, 10:34 PM

Quote:

These fish are what dreams are made for. Heres a small 30# bluefin

Is that ADS pipe behind the reel for bleeding the fish?
MM

Onokai · 07-06-2006, 08:48 AM

MM-Thats my bleeder system with drain. The drain was re done with 1 1/2 pipe since this shot.The pipe is 12 inch accross. bottom is plastic held on by wield and 5200 cualk

Mark

Right Angle · 07-06-2006, 04:02 PM

Thanks for the pics and the info. I went out with Hillbilly, my brother, on July 5. We went out 71 miles off of Depoe Bay and landed some nice albacore. We caught 7 in about 4 hours of fishing. Still early in the year though.