Tuna Spread

[djwhitman]

Hey guys. I'm lookin' for some advice. We fish a 27' Center Console out of Morehead City, NC. I'm the mate and make all our rigs. We've had lots of luck with kings and mahi, and some with wahoo tuna very little with YF tuna. I was wondering if i could get some advice on a good 'typical' spread. We pull tld 25's and 6/0'w with 30-50lb test. We use mostly 80lb flouro w/ 15'-20' wind on leaders(150lb spro wind-on swivels). We have one spreader bar and have some 6" squid on order to make another. I have also made 7 jumpin daisy chains with bullyhoo, squid, cedar plugs and islanders(sailures?). I also have several birds with a couple green machines. We can pull 8 lures plus a couple teasers off the riggers and the spreader bar off a cleat( or 2 spreader bars). What would you guys suggest and how would you suggest we set the spread. We just can't get hooked up with tuna and don't know why that is. ANY HELP is greatly appreciated!!!!!
Oh, i had surger,, so if anyone nearby wants some jumpin daisy chains or some rigs made up let me know, i can get the lures and rigging stuff at wholesale plus 10% and have plenty of time to make up whatever you'd like.
THanks guys!!
DJ Whitman

[jgray]

Not sure how long you've been fishing out of morehead but this time of year when it's as hot as it is the tuna tend to be north although the OI boats will pull some great days on and off even when it's very hot. Over the last few days they've had god catches of Big Eye's which seem to be caught around the full moon periods more prevalently. Anyway I would be you will do fine on the Tuna when the fall fun starts and the water temps in your area start to drop again. Also you are prime time for the giant bluefin run this winter. You should catch up with the Wahooinbox off the board as he is a first class mate and fishes out of Morehead City on The RunOff; he can tell you much more than a rookie like myself but right now is not really tuna season where you are (anyone correct me if I'm incorrect).

[djwhitman]

yeah,, we've fished out of there for years,, but offshore for the last 5 years. We've landed 6 BFT in the last 2yrs fishing with a friend(commercial) with most being 400lb or better. The tuna normally run down here sept.-dec. i think, but knowing when to go still hasn't helped lol. Just can't manage more than 1 or 2 a day, if that. I will try to chat w/ wahooinabox and see what he says, thanks for the response.
DJ Whitman

[ancient mariner]

Half the battle you have already won. NOW put your rigs where it counts...POSITION...POSITION...POSITION.
I'd put a 6 inch fethare jig (clipped down low) inside,off the corners in the 2nd wake wave.
I'd put a 3 T'ZER setup wiht a hated "GM" type on the outside off the corners.
I'd put a Bar behind that setup in the next wake wave(8 squid bar)MAKING SURE that the chase hook squid IS IN THE MIDDLE of the next wake wave.
I'd put out a string of T'Zers(3) with a JET on the short rigger. Put it back
so it gulps air with the T'ZERS smoking.
I'd run a heavy feather lure( 8+ ounces) with a Plastic tail back in the NEXT wake wave, RIGHT where the propwash turns to fine white water.
Down the middle, I'd run a 7 inch bird with a "GM" type lure on a 11 foot leader. Put it back about 100 yards. OUCH, I hate that. Too many boat cutoffs there,BUT?
On the other side, I'd run the same thing in the same postions.
varying the lures colors, types all come into play now.
WARNING...WARNING...WARNING... RUN LURES that PERFORM at the SAME SPEED!!!!!!
WARNING...WARNING...WARNING... Make sure all the lures are working PROPERLY. ONE BAD LURE WILL KILL A LURE SPREAD.
WARNING...WARNING...WARNING... Birds are a great TUNA lure when combined with a chase lure. I run all my chase lures on leaders that range from 8 feet up to 11 feet.
HINT...HINT...HINT... Make up a bunch of leaders of varying lengths. keep them on board BUT have the LOOP CONNECTION NOT MADE. When the seas pick up and the wind blows like stink, YOU CAN CHANGE LEAER LENGTHS to put your lures IN the CORRECT POSITION.....RIHGT IN TH MIDDLE OF EACH WAKE WAVE.
POSITION...POSITION...POSITION...
Yeah, yeah, yeah, "Even a blind squirel catches....." Why be like that blind squirel when you can WACKM N STACKM . DO it right or don't do it all.
POSITION..POSITION.POSITION.
WACKM N STACKM
Joseph B...aka...Ancient Mariner

[AhiSlayer]

Aloha!
I have a twin outboard and fish my lures back a bit further than what A.M. said. My tuna spread starts at some peoples shot gun. I first found the sweet spot for tuna then packed as many simple to use fool proof rigs as I could effectivly use, in that sweet spot. For me that number could go as high as 6 lines on a slow day. But once I start hooking up I very quickly go down to two lines or if they 100 plus fish moving fast 1 line.

I fish different than most people. That don't mean I'm wrong, lucky or good. just different. When I find a school of big ahi I allready know why they are there and where they gonna go. So i catch one and haul ass to the front of the school and catch another one. For me in the Marshall islands it is a high speed game.

For your location I think the most popular bait for all species is a blue/white witch- medium in allmost every slot. dig a hole over a bait school untill they ready fo eat. as it gets hotter in the year switch from the warm side to the cool side - early and late. dropping 6 or 8 diamond jigs on a deep school never hurt.

Pulling fufu can get pretty complicated. I would want to learn the easiest method first then branch out from there. Don't take this the wrong way,,,I know yer a good fisherman. it is easier to learn 1 piece of fufu at a time than 10 pieces running in perfect harmony.

I would start out with a basic bally spread and introduce fufu to the shot gun. Once that's running good and catching switch yer long riggers. by adding one piece at a time you will shorten the drought and be able to tell instantly what works and what doesn't. Basic trouble shooting 101

Yer tuna pattern should be very simple not complex
AhiSlayer

[Sea Draggin]

yeah,, we've fished out of there for years,, but offshore for the last 5 years. We've landed 6 BFT in the last 2yrs fishing with a friend(commercial) with most being 400lb or better.
DJ Whitman

How did you catch those BFT's?

You found me again, guess there no place left to hide. Ann and I are going shrimping this weekend. OK so its not a shrimp, but its all that was there. See ya at da beach.

f/v Sea Draggin

[djwhitman]

Hey Jim,, is there a board that you DON'T read? lol, Anyway,, for you guys who don't know Jim(Sea Draggin),, he's had a ton of sucess w/ the BFT in the last couple years not counting mahi kings YFT. He's helped us a lot over the years but i'm tryin to find a way to out fish him come tuna season . Plus it's always good to get new info and ideas.
Catch'm up Jim,, thanks a ton for the help over this year. You're a true friend and a great fisherman.
DJ Whitman