outsmarting Big Eye Tuna

[Carson Mac]

Last year we finally got the first big eye tunas on the C-Note. I was on the helm for one and on the rod for another.(I was also on the helm for the big one we lost). My question, since ya'll have been giving up the secrets, is how do properly captain the boat when a BE is hooked. All winter I have been thinking about the one that got away. The BE we have hooked have always swam right at the boat then went deep. I spun the boat around the fish in tight circles trying to get an angle to plane him up. Should I have constantly pulled away from the fish when he swam under us or was the circling the right move? Or am I off all together? Let me know. I want a 150+ this year. Thanks,

Carson

[Kodi's_Options]

My opinion and we've picked a couple of the beasts up in the North East Canyons over the years, is just make sure the angler keeps the rod tight the entire fight. You can help him do this with the boat, but its 80% on the angler. When the fish hits we usually don't know if its a bluefin or big yellowfin anyway. So our technique doesn't change. We run the boat for another 20 or 30 seconds hoping to hook up more fish. Then if its a single just keep the boat steady so that the angler can fight the fish with no slack. A big fish we might back down on slowly, but that's where angler and captain have to be on the same page. Any slack and the fish could throw the hook. When I'm captaining the boat I key on the rod bend and where the angler's position is, if he's fighting a big fish off the port side of the boat and we are going to gaff on that side, keep the boat in position for him. Forward slowly, turn slowly, back down if necessary slowly. When you get leader or swivel, keep the boat in gear at about 2 knots, one guy leader him up, another on the gaff. Again in my opinion this is where the Captain is most important. Keeping the fish from going under the boat, around the boat, hitting the props or the trip tabs or getting slack in the line during the leader process. If you keep the boat moving forward slow, keeping the angler in position with good tension on the line, with solid gear it will be tough for the fish to turn its shoulders and make a deep dive. If he does just keep fighting and keep your angler in position by moving the boat according to what the fish does and always watch his rod and the line. Hope this helps.

[Surfperch1]

C-Note,

These are heathy hearty fish and some get away! It is just a fact. That is why it is a big success when you get one on the deck. Just take your time with the fish and try and stay on top of it. If it starts to run let it, unless she goes to spool you. When she stops go after her (Be calm about it) and keep her tight. You all have the ability with a center console to move the angler around to optimize the boats position. Put the Angler on the bow, move to the back or from the side which ever works best for you as the captian.

Old Saying, "Speed Kills" Same with fishing consitant steedy pressure with slow managed boat tactics will get you better hook-up to catch ratio.

[Sea Draggin]

When big Bluefins get straight up and down on me, I have done this a few times.

Back off on the drag, drive out from over top of them, then lock it back down. A lot of the times they will pop right to the surface. Then you just back over to them and stick them.

One day I went from being pinned to the side of the boat, to killing the fish in about 3 minutes, doing this.

[WhiteMarlin]

I think the better question is why did the fish get off? Pulled hook? Than think about using a bigger hook or a different shape ie a 7692 rather than a straight J....this may help get the hook in the corner of the mouth as opposed to soft flesh down in the throat.. If you broke him off think about your crimping technique or your knots....also your leader size and make...remember a harder leader like flouro will chafe less ....momoi makes a good extra hard too....

So what happened?

Jon

[Carson Mac]

I have not a ton of bigeye expereince so maybe the fish that day acted different then normal. But we when we slowed the boat and started to fight the fish, it ran straight under the boat. I thought my fish was gone. Is this normal? Do big bluefins do the same thing? I like the idea of backing down the drag and letting them pop back up. We made the mistake of tightening down the drag on the one we lost. The leader popped shortly after. It was defitenly a big fish though and we were anxiousto get back in the bite. Adrenaline mistake. I have caught bluefin to 150# and they never ran straight at the boat. It just seems to me like BE run straight at you and make it an up and down slug fest. Does that make sense? Any thoughts?

[shoefish]

One technique that we started to use three years ago is one that I will share, and though it doesn't seem to make sense at first, mull it over a little bit in your head and let me know what you think.

First of all (and it is related, trust me), how would you describe what a mackerel does when you catch it and throw in on the deck? It kicks like hell nonstop until it uses all of its energy up, right? Well tuna are loosly related, and so you should use that against them....

What do I mean by that? When you get in a stalemate, you're straight up and down, and it's gain an inch, lose an inch, try this next time. Keeping pressure on the fish and making sure not to slack it up, back the drag down until the fish gets its head back. It will start to run. Let it. As it starts to gain speed, slowly bring the drag up until you can hear the individual tail beats as the drag goes out, and leave it there. You will hear the tailbeat get weaker and weaker until finally it stops. Now is the time to bring the drag up 3/4 of the way to full, back down on the fish, and gain the line back. When you get to a stalemate again, do the same thing.

You'll find that each time it will run less until it pops up on the surface exhausted... just like the mackerel on the deck.

Lots of people will tell you that it's a stupid idea, and that you should just button the drag down and force the fish up. I'll ask those people- when a fish is straight down and on its side resting, who's getting tired? It's not the fish, it may be the angler, but more importantly what's getting tired is the tackle. And that's usually when something gives.

I'd like to hear what other people have to think about this.

Shoe

[fishskipper]

The best thing I can tell you is to take your time. These fish can wear you out. When you got one close to the boat, thats the critical time. Watch the line if the fish is deep and going under your boat pull forward. When its in the death circle be real careful once it gets close until its to the surface. Once you get the fish on top try not to give him his head, but if its to much to hold let em go and fight him back to the boat.... With wind ons its a little easier. If your not using wind ons, its on up to the man on the leader to tell you when you need to pull ahead. When ever I see the fish not on the surface, I try to keep him from going under the boat! Sometime it takes 2 or 3 times before you can stick one... Being in to much of a hurry will usually loose the fish... I once had seven on at one time and got five of them... My biggest eyeball was 264.

Backing off the drag is a good Idea... I also try to do that... But you have to be careful that you don't back off to much.

[Capt. Brian Daley]

The best thing I can tell you is to take your time. These fish can wear you out. When you got one close to the boat, thats the critical time. Watch the line if the fish is deep and going under your boat pull forward. When its in the death circle be real careful once it gets close until its to the surface. Once you get the fish on top try not to give him his head, but if its to much to hold let em go and fight him back to the boat.... With wind ons its a little easier. If your not using wind ons, its on up to the man on the leader to tell you when you need to pull ahead. When ever I see the fish not on the surface, I try to keep him from going under the boat! Sometime it takes 2 or 3 times before you can stick one... Being in to much of a hurry will usually loose the fish... I once had seven on at one time and got five of them... My biggest eyeball was 264.

Backing off the drag is a good Idea... I also try to do that... But you have to be careful that you don't back off to much.

Just take your time and dont play with the leader big mistake and dont back down on a bigeye have had to many 5 & 7 on at a time to remember to sucome them better when you know there big fish 290-350 make your own
tuna bombs out of garden hose five inches long slice it the long way so it can
wrap around the line then duct tape two 12 - 16 oz weights on eather side,
on top of the hose make a small hole so that 3 lb test line can be added to
the top eye on the rod when the fish hits and is on just pull on the garden hose and snap the 3lb test line so that the hose slides does the line and into
the tuna mouth and keeps his mouth open in which will slow him down in half the time and keep the meat from over heating and cant restore his energy for
further battle and will cut down on line cut offs I have landed over 215 bigeyes my personal best 335

[WAHOONBOX]

THREADS LIKE THIS IS WHY SFC ROCKS!


I AM GOING TO WATCH THIS ONE AND LEARN! 5 STAR

GREAT DESCRIPTION YOU MADE KODI ....ALONG WITH OTHERS!!!!