Geez, Blue Water, asking those questions here is like asking "how do you catch a steelhead" on the other boards. There's an encyclopedia of answers for that one!
Try putting the word "tuna" into the search function here, to see previous threads on this topic. Also search by the (author) name Pilar to find his posts on making handlines.
Also, there's a helpful essay at
web page
click on "tuna guide" on left side.
Keta showed what a standard feather & plug look like. That feather is a "Zuker" style with no weight. The "tuna clone" made by Sevenstrand has a weighted head. Most experienced tuna fishers use a monofilament leader, around 5 - 6 feet long, 50 to 150 lb test, when using a rod. With handlines, a longer, 100 - 200 lb leader. Some folks like to tie the jig directly to their 50 - 60 lb mono on the reel. Some folks also use fluorocarbon leader material, especially when the fish seem line-shy. But you can't go wrong by using a reel like a Penn 113H, or similar size & quality, loaded FULL with 50 lb mono (at least 300 yds, unless you have spectra backing with a mono topshot); then 80 - 100 lb mono leader, and the standard Zuker or Sevenstrand feathers. Patterns of "Mexican Flag", "Zuchinni" (these red/yellow/green are the "light" category), and then purple & black for the "dark" category. Yea there are hundreds of other patterns, but start with these; you can't go wrong. If you can troll 4 rods, then get 4 of each of the 3 jig patterns above. IMO, it's better to have uniformity and keep all the jigs the same pattern. You're more likely to get multiple hookups this way. That being said, I'll still run one oddball, like a plug, way way back in the middle, especially if it's slow.
About your Tuffline, I wouldn't be so concerned about spooking fish (assuming there is a mono leader on it). However, I don't like running spectra in the water (vs as backing) because it doesn't strecth; I like the shock-absorbing property of mono. Not to mention the weird stuff Spectra does when it gets involved in a tangle with another line with a fish on it. But it's just personal preference.
This last year the tuna were being caught by commercial boats 60 - 70 miles out in June; and sport boats were getting them the first week of July (starting with Pilar). Each of the last several years, we have caught them 22 - 24 miles out. Not big numbers this close, but big fish. Yes an El Nino might bring them in as close as 10 - 15 miles, but El Nino can actually be BAD for albacore fishing in terms of concentrations of fish. It puts down the upwelling & the sharp temperature edges, so the fish tend to be spread out over a wide area. Also, an El Nino is really bad for salmon (and the whole ocean food chain, from plankton to birds). So I really hope that we don't have a strong El Nino. The only thing it really benefits are those who are obsessing about hooking a billfish (you know who you are!); more bills & other southern exotics come farther north during an El Nino.
There are lots of people on this board who would be glad to get with you in person and just SHOW you what all this gear looks like, and describe in more detail how they run their gear & do all the other things. Look for a "tunaholics anonymous" meeting. I would be glad to chat in person if you're ever in Corvallis.
You'll hear about many sources for buying gear too. If you get to Astoria or Newport, you can see a lot of the jigs we're talking about at Englunds, and the store folks can help you a bit (but remember, they are primarily a commercial store, so don't count on a sport expert being there). One last suggestion is to check out Charkbait.com tackle store at
web page
This is a great place for sportfishers. If you call them on Saturday after 9 am, you can talk to the owner Mark. He is a first class guy, he can talk to you about what you need and then sell it for a very fair price. Not that I'm trying to steer business away from Oregon, but there is not a store in our state that focuses SOLELY on the tuna sportfisher the way Charkbait & other California shops do. HHmmm...retirement plan??
Anyhow welcome aboard, good luck, and keep that credit card handy. Best Regards....Mark
Tuna Questions
Mark Mc
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