"Holy Tuna Tips" by Al Goldberg

The tuna have finally returned after two solid weeks of rough seas, cold and dirty water. Dave just returned from a canyon trip on the Brooklyn V where they had a strong bite on 50 LB yellowfins. Now that the water has cleared up and there are calmer sea conditions, the tuna were a little line shy. The sharpies who knew how to tempt them to bite scored well, while others came up empty.

Now is the time to get out there if you want to score with the tuna. Here are a few tips to help you connect:

1. Bring a minimum of two outfits. One should be a 6 foot stand up tuna rod rated from 20-50 LB and a lever drag reel spooled with 300 yards of 50 LB Spiderwire with 200 yards of 30 LB Ande or Big Game as a Top Shot. The second outfit should be a 6 foot stand up rod rated from 40-100 LB with a lever drag reel spooled with 400 yards of 80 LB Spiderwire and 200 yards of 100 LB Ande or Big Game as a Top Shot. For the lighter outfit you can use an International 30 W or equivalent from Shimano or Daiwa. For the heavier, an International 50 W or equivalent. Make sure the line is spooled tightly on the reel. You don't want the line to bury itself on a fish, since it will mean an instant break off.

2. Make sure that your drags are working perfectly. Set the strike drag at approximately 25% of the lines breaking strength. For 50 LB, set the strike drag for 15 LB. For 100 LB set the strike drag at 25 LB. It is very important for you to remember to not increase the drag when the fish is making it's initial run. Keep the rod pointed at the fish, keeping it at 45 degrees. Relax, and let the fish run.

3. Terminal rigging should consist of a 150 LB black ball bearing barrel swivel. Your main line should be attached to the swivel with an improved clinch or Trilene knot. Remember to moisten the knot with a little saliva and draw it up tight very slowly. Take about five feet of 60 LB fluorocarbon leader material and snell on an 8/0 Gamakatsu 4X strong Octopus Circle hook or an Owner 10/0 Super Mutu hook. Then attach the leader to the ball bearing barrel swivel with an improved clinch or Trilene knot.

4. Make sure when baiting up with a whole butterfish, that the entire hook is concealed in the bait. To do this, insert the point of the hook into the mouth of the butterfish and out through the gills. Drawn the entire hook through the gills. Then, reinsert the hook point back through the gills pointed down toward the body and bend the butterfish around the bend of the hook. Then gently pierce the point of the hook through the body of the butterfish so that only the hook point is exposed. Slowly pull on the leader to draw up any slack in the leader. The hook should be totally concealed in the butterfish.

5. Bring along various sizes of rubber cored sinkers. You will need them to bring down the bait to the depth the tuna are feeding at.

6 . Bring along some 4-6 ounce diamond jigs, but replace the hook by using a heavy duty split ring and a Gamakatsu 8/0 live bait hook. The diamond jig can be very effective when the tuna are feeding near the surface in a feeding frenzy.

Click Here for Dave's "Unholy Tuna Tips"...the ones the tuna DON'T want you to know!