Albies in the Dark?

Hillbilly · 07-23-2005, 06:17 PM

Do tuna hit standard equipment in the dark? A couple weeks ago I went out and had the right water temps but couldn't get a hook-up til after the sun was out. I was just using the standard Clones.

KeyWest · 07-23-2005, 09:37 PM

Had baits in the water today at 5A - nothing until the sun came up. Perhaps glow skirts?

Popeye · 07-23-2005, 09:39 PM

Never had one hit at night....Dunno

Fishmstr · 07-24-2005, 06:16 AM

I don't think they hit at night. fished Diego last year with a buddy who captains a boat down there. He's caught yellowfin at night, but never albacore. The greylight bite is the best of the day and that is why all those boats are out there at first light.
best fishes,
steve

Cloud-Nine · 07-24-2005, 06:25 AM

Down south we used to get to the fishing grounds at 0-dark thirty then wait for the first hint of grey light. They called this the grey bite. I dont't know if the fishing would have been good before, but it was usually very good just as it started to get light.
As usual I don't really know, but just had to make a post.
Dick

Jakiedog · 07-24-2005, 09:39 AM

I went out of Westport WA two years ago on the Hula Girl. The captain was great as we were catching Albies well into the evening on trolled clones. At the "last stop" we continued to catch Albies on live bait, and the bite continued for over an hour - well into complete darkness.
We ended up with 135 fish between nine men on that trip. I'm a firm believer in using live bait after you've found the school on the troll. It's the most fun to catch these guys flylining, anyways.

Bobber Down · 07-24-2005, 11:49 AM

Yes, you can catch tuna at night. But maybe the 5000 watts of sodium lights that surounded the boat helped. I have never myself fished all thru the night (need sleep sometime). I have however fished until aprox. 1 am. though.

On the commercial boat a normal day of fishing was from 0500-1100, so fishing at night wasn't something that we did to often. We would however keep fishing until they quit biting. Most of the time when 1100 came around we didn't want to fish anymore, as it was time to hit the hay. When your out there for a month straight you look foward to a good night's sleep...............Bobber Down

Hillbilly · 07-24-2005, 01:16 PM

I try and maximize each trip. I don't get out enough as it is. If I can get out a couple extra hours earlier and catch tuna in the dark I would do it. It sounds like it wouldn't really be worth my time trying in the dark. I guess that is good as I can sleep in a little.