Question for the Tuna experts

corrirod · 07-31-2002, 10:22 PM

I just want to make sure I'm doing this whole tuna fishing thing right.

I've been running 3 poles and 2 handlines out of my 20ft. boat. That seems to be about all I can keep straight but what I'm wondering is how far back to run the lines? I've made the handlines approx. 100 ft. minus some knots and snubber line. I run 1 handline from each cleat on both sides of the boat. I then have rod holders which I've run 2 poles out both sides and 1 pole turned so the lure is right down the middle.

Is this how I should be running them and if so how far out should each pole be? Are we going for a V pattern, U pattern, W pattern?

On the 2 trips I've made we've been outfished 2 to 3 to our 1 and I just want to make sure it's my Bad Luck that's holding me back and not my technique! [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Thanks for the help.

Pilar · 08-01-2002, 02:37 AM

Corrirod, thanks for the timely question.

Run a Vee or W pattern. This is tradition mainly but the patterns work for preventing tangles when you turn and for making your pack of fleeing tuna feathers look more like a school of prey squid or fish.

I use the 100' handlines. One on each corner and a standup rod in the middle 200' out. Then run a standup rod on each outside at about 150'. So a W.

This time I am running 3 or 5 handlines in a Vee. One at 60' right in the propwash and the (2) 100 footers on each corner and then (2) 150' on rod/outriggers. 'Puffin' has an idea about using a long rod for a type of spreader or out rigger. The rod is the bungee cord and there is a belay tied to the boat to prevent excess bending of the rod. It might work!

Many things can affect your success.

1) Speed .... 7 to 10 mph by GPS. The readout is called SOG, speed on ground. Fast is good most of the time. Change the speed if fish are getting caught but not on your boat.

2) Wake ... Throw the biggest wake you can make, trim your bow up. When not on the surface feeding, these fish cruise down deep. When your boat wake goes overhead it looks like a school of bait and they come up to check it out.

3) Trolling pattern. Use a V or W as discussed above.

4) Method and fish spotting. Find active, surfaced fish and spook them off by driving right through it. Wrong! Veer off to one side or other of the spot. Never crash right through. These fish will chase a boat and pursue at 40mph. They will come to the noise and splash behind your boat. Avoid the active feeders by a hundred yards or more.

5) Drag a dead one. If you get multiples always try to leave a small fish on a handline as long as you can. It will attract the school and more strikes.

6) Don't stop the boat. If you get hammered you can slow to no less than 5 mph but keep moving in a circle. The ideal is to get hit and try to keep on at 7 mph. Circle towards the bent Po and keep the other ones in the game.

7) Change colors. Black and Purple on the cloudy days and yellow/green or red/white the rest of the time. Also run a mix of types and colors. Try to notice which jig is getting hit first. When we get 4 or 5 on I notice that a certain color is the first hit every time. The rest go down within a few seconds as his mates come in for a free lunch. It's always that jig first.

Hmmmmmmmmm.....

Maybe I should use more of the killer color. The color last time was the pink and green Broomtail.

8) Mark the spots where you hook up. At 7 to 10 mph you will cover the water quickly and can lose the school as fast as you found them. A waypoint can get you somewhat close. Closer if you know the bearing and speed of the drift and have a starting waypoint.

Anyway there's a few pointers. Anyone have any more?

Threemuch · 08-01-2002, 06:23 AM

I usually run my lines closer than what Pilar is saying. My boat lines are 40' each. That's between the 1 and 2 wakes. Then I run two inside rods between 2 and 3 wakes. Two more between 3 and 4. If I get nothing, I start lengthening the spread.

I agree about V or W to keep lines straight while turning. Trolling speeds can be as slow as 4 if you are sure there are fish around. Faster helps you cover more ground.

If you are having trouble keeping lines straight in wind, put a downrigger release on the base of your inside rods Run the line through the release from the rod, to keep it low. I do this even without wind, because it keeps my short gear in the water. You don't want your jigs jumping. They can surface and smoke, that's good, but if they leave the water frequently, that's bad.

KB

corrirod · 08-01-2002, 06:35 AM

Wow, thanks for the info Pilar. I can see several things I was doing wrong.

Based on the right way to do it (your way), I was fishing in Braille! [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

I've heard several people talk about using a diver on their handline, where in the setup do you run these or does it matter?

Thanks again.

Marty · 08-01-2002, 06:58 AM

Corrirod

The handline divers that I use is called a K-90 made by Yozuri and can be purchased at Englund Marine. It can be extremely deadly as it works the water area at the bottom of our prop turbulence. I troll mine in the corner (my only hand line), but a perfect spot would be right down the middle in tight. Pilar made another great suggestion about water turbulence, as commercial trollers sometimes even drag old tires or something that will increase their wake turbulence. Outriggers can sometimes be also very effective. The Irish out of Newport trolls two sturgeon rods off both stern corners vs hassling with true outiggers. These are 15 rods extended out, so that increases your total trolling pattern by almost 30 feet. The only problem is pulling in a 25 lb. tuna on a 15 foot rod. Customers do that once, but usually never twice.

Another key is working with other boaters. If there are 5 Ifishers a quarter to a half mile apart that is a huge swath of coverage. Keep in radio contact and if one hits it big then all dive in for the kill. Don't be afraid to call in your numbers to others (even commercials) as this does little to put down a bite. This will encourage others to do the same and everyone wins. I did this last week and made a good friend who is a commercial tuna troller and he now gives me info on where they are. I'm thinking of going next Monday or Tuesday.

Marty

Threemuch · 08-01-2002, 07:11 AM

I usually run my handlines with a 4 or 6 pound torpedo downrigger weight in line to get some depth to them, as opposed to a diver or Z wing.