swinging for the fences report

[Caveman Sportfishing]

Last season in early August boats at my marina were trolling up a bunch of those small barely legal Yellowfin and mixed right in with them were 125 lb plus bluefin all along the 30 fathom line. Saw it with my own eyes many times so I find it hard to believe that it matters. All you have to do is change the size of your trolling baits (Ballyhoo) and fish the lines for BFT deeper or wwwwb as the smaller Yellowfins eat the traditional size smaller baits and spreader bars and the 100 plus lb BFT only go after for the most part the deeper or wwwwback baits. This how the guys up here did it last summer but we slow troll all the time and I am not sure a lot of guys want to do this when yellowfin fishing. Interesting how in different locations things play out in various ways. Back in the day we used to always catch those 30-70 lb Yellowfin mixed right in with the BFT that often got up over 150 lbs right out there by the Hot Dog but that was a few years ago. Have not seen the two tuna species mixed together except last season but the many of the Yellowfins were not even legal size but the slob BFt were there right with them. Sure hope the days of quality Yellowfin fishing is not a thing of the past but mother nature will determine what is in store for all of us this summer. When we had the nice size BFT and bigger Yellowfins mixed together back 10 years ago we never even bothered going beyond 30 fathoms until well into Sept for the night chunk bite and wonder if we will ever see those days again. I can say that the two species do mix at least up our way on occasion.

[Van Wildonher]

Personally I believe mankind also has a lot to do with fish patterns and characteristics. Years ago there were those big Yellowfin here also, but in 15 years I've never seen ONE Yellowfin tuna except for in pictures.