Are you due for an adventure at sea? Well, look no further than a fishing trip for yellowfin tuna.
Delicious to eat and fun to fight, yellowfins offer enjoyment and reward to those who are willing to put in the time and effort to net them.
Yellowfin tuna fishing can be tricky, though, if you don’t know what you’re doing, so it’s important to do your homework first. Here are some essential tips you should know before going.
1. Book a Charter
Your greatest chance at success will come from booking a charter, especially if you’re new to yellowfin fishing. The Gulf of Mexico is a popular location.
Charter guides will know exactly where to go. Otherwise, you may find yourself wandering around in a whole lot of water with no idea if you’re close to your prey or not.
2. Know Your Bait
In order to catch yellowfins, you’ve got to know what they like to eat. Luckily, they’ll go for several types of baitfish. Sardines, mackerel, and squid are all in that group. Small pelagic crabs are on the menu, too.
Chummingis a great option for bringing in yellowfins. Their large schools will be attracted to the chum, greatly enhancing your chances of a catch.
3. Be Prepared to Fight
Fishing for tuna is no walk in the park. If you want to catch one of those guys, you’ve got to be prepared, and that means being ready to fight.
These fish often weigh in at over 400 pounds. Imagine that on the end of your line! Not only that, they’ll put up a fight, circling near the boat, which leads to a long process to get them in.
If you want to go fishing for the big boys, you’ve got to be in it for the long haul. If you aren’t willing to stick it out, you might as well fish for something else.
4. Bring on the Boat Snacks
Yellowfin tuna is a popular fish of choice in sushi restaurants and is enjoyable to eat fresh. If you’re a fresh-fish eater, come prepared for a tasty snack on the ocean.
Some soy sauce probably wouldn’t go amiss.
If fresh fish isn’t your thing, cook up your tuna after returning to land. Either way, you’ll experience a delicious dish.
5. Have Proper Tackle
If you want to be successful, you’ve got to have the right tackle. And that’s not just yellowfin tuna lures.
Light tackle will work for tuna around 10-15 pounds, but you’ll need heavier gear, such as 100-pound braided line, for larger fish. You’ll also need to make sure you have a rod that can withstand the weight and fighting power of the size of fish you’re after.
Yellowfin tuna like to hang out in deep water. They’re more likely to bite at depth, so be prepared to fish deep sea. Enough line and a way to measure depth will be important.
6. Take Weather Into Consideration
Yellowfish tuna are found in areas of warm weather. Becuase of this, you’ll need to come prepared to withstand the heat.
Think ahead and come in proper clothing that will provide protection from the elements but also keep you cool.
Sun protection, such as sunscreen, a hat or visor, and sunglasses will help keep the sun off. And don’t forget to bring plenty of drinking water, especially if you’ll be out all day.
7. Befriend Shrimp Trawlers
Since yellowfins love chum, they tend to love shrimp trawlers. You’ll love them too if you can get them to work to your advantage.
Get to know the boats’ fishermen and offer to trade with them to create rapport. Once you’ve got yourself into their good graces, ask them if you can work together.
The yellowfins will be attracted to the chum around the shrimp boats, and you’ll be in the perfect area to make a great catch.
8. Look for Clean Water
The color of the water you’re fishing in is important. Dirty water coming from the Mississippi River can cause issues when you’re looking for tuna, so look for clean water.
It’s possible to find fish in areas where the water is dirty on top but clean underneath. To assess if this might be the case where you’re sitting, look at the prop wash from crew boats. If clean water is coming up, you might be able to find fish there.
If the water is dirty, steer clear. You’re better off looking elsewhere.
9. Use the Right Hook Size
When using live bait you want to be as convincing as possible, and using the right hook size is important for this.
If you’ve got the wrong size of hook, your bait won’t look natural. Hooks that are too big or too heavy won’t allow your bait to swim properly. If your bait looks unnatural, you won’t get as many bites.
To make your bait look even more convincing, allow your line to hang out a good distance from the back of your boat.
Successful Yellowfin Tuna Fishing
Yellowfin tuna fishing doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it should be the time of your life!
If you’re looking for a great fishing adventure, a yellowfin tuna charter should be on your list. Doing just a bit of research and keeping these tips in mind will get you started on what is likely to be a successful and unforgettable trip.
Great tasting and great fun to fight, yellowfin tuna are an angler’s dream. Visit our website to book your charter today!