Tuna Gear

[Goodidea]

OK Mel got my attention with his Jul 1 start date.

I am new to the sport (one time with borrowed gear). I am about to gear up and am thinking I will run three hand lines (& two rods) for starters.

The borrowed gear I used had a number of sets with different lengths.

With three lines in mind what is the optimum length of the lines?

Also can anyone recommend a source of good reading on setting up for tuna?

I don't know about July first, Mel, but I will see you out there.

Lastly, Mercinary, have fun in Mexico.

Tom

[corrirod]

First, Welcome aboard GoodIdea!

Second, do a search on Tuna Gear on this board. Just click on the "Search" button above, type "tuna gear", or "tuna techniques", or something of that nature and you'll have more info than you could read by July 1st!!!

Popeye posted a great link from "Ghetto Booty" about how to rig your boat. Here's the link:

Click Here

Keep those questions coming! Tuna season is just around the corner!

[cdj356]

TOM thanks I will have a good time.

[Albacore Tuna Captain]

This is very good info. I started fishing similiar to this three years ago and doubled my catch comparable to other charters using only hand lines. In fact, I completely did away with my hand lines because I found using lighter line (80#) got me more hookups. And DO NOT MIX your types of lures. All lures need to be the same to simulate a school of bait. The odd sister will hook up more often because it looks different but you get few multiple hookups. Here's how I do it.

All lures are run about 60' to 70' back. I don't use any specific pattern, just ensure that all lures are staggered about 3' fore and aft. And I can run up to 18 rods this way with no problem. When I get a hookup, I continue the troll at the same speed but make a quick turn of about 15 degrees and then straighten up. This puts the hooked fish to the inside of my turn and away from the other rods. I do this each time I get a hook up and continue from the first to the last at least 20 seconds. This also causes me to circle the fish. After I have as many on as I think are going to hit, or after all rods are bent, then I slow to 1.5 knots and we reel em in. There is no need to stop and the rods that have not hooked up just stay in the water because we get more fish even at slow speeds.

[ 02-13-2004, 08:47 AM: Message edited by: Albacore Tuna Captain ]

[kenai]

OK, That's gonna cut down on my excuses now that I've got the secret technique. Mike, do you still use the 6' heavy leader on your 80# mainline?

[CATCH AND EAT]

Interesting that you don't actually stop and that you make a slight turn. That's good suff ATC. Tom and Mel, you check this out?

[kamloops]

Bernie,

One of the reasons I usually stop is I don't have a good way to slow down.I am trolling gear challenged.
At dead idle I'm about 5.5mph, that's a little tough on the fishermans.
You know me, I would rather have fish on the handlines and not slow down at all.
I am going to make an effort to run more poles this year if the fish are simular in scope to last summer (large fish). I am also going to use F/C top shots and try and get away with smaller diameter leaders. And I like to get in the blood and line mess with the rest of the crew, i.e.(not on the wheel watch)... I also try watching my Outrigger lines from crossing and getting in the wheels. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]


Heck, I'm willing to give it a go if the crew does not mutiny. It's a long swim back to shore. [img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

[WP]

You can catch more tuna this way, and I would go to this method if that were a problem. For me, I enjoy the fight and chaos of each tuna. Doubles are nice but stopping for each fish (after a brief soaking to hold any in the vicinity) is my preference. I also scratch along with many different rigs. It all depends on your focus. ATC catches way more albacore than I do. His passengers have a ball. I do too and I haven't had any complaints either (yet). It is about the fun, the comraderie, and the adventure. Getting tuna in a can is cheaper than catching them so I try to keep that in perspective. I will always call in the charters and the sports when I find fish, even knowing they are going to catch more than me...so what? No one is having more fun!
Dave

[Reel Creel]

ATC,

Im going to have a hard time sleeping tonight after reading that.

[No Cents]

Hey there Tom,

Glad to see another "B" docker from Hammond here, Get a chance look at the sites listed below and stop by and see Denny and I or Dean we might be able to throw you a few "GOODIDEAS".

Troy