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The
Yellowfin, by far, is the most colorful of all t e tuna.
They can be found in the tropical and subtropical waters
around the globe. The pelagic Yellowfin are found in the
depths of the blue water and are found in the Gulf Stream
year round.
These
fish are eating machines. They can put on weight like no
other fish. An 8 pound
Yellowfin, 1 ½
years old,
can weigh 140 pounds at the age of 4. That's about 37 pounds
a year! Yellowfin live
and eat with a lot of fiends. The younger tuna feed near the
surface, while the larger and older fish feed in the
depths.
What
ever bait is in the area is food. Squid, anchovies, sardines
herring, mackerel, scad, and Bonito are thoroughly consumed.
Yellowfin feed though out the water column, but are usually
caught on the surface.
Using live bait, you need to
use what is abundant and fish the entire water column.
Tuna lures should remain
underwater 75% of the time, surfacing only to create a
bubble trail. The lure head is usually based on the
Kona style: clear head cast around eyes and reflective
material. Troll lures
that work well together at a speed of 6 to 8 knots and try
to keep them on the backside on the boats wake. Use
as many rods as your boat will allow to give the bait a
school effect. Trolling spreads should include both natural
and artificial lures.
When a
school of tuna is spotted, troll on the leading edge of the
school to generate as many strikes as possible. 50# to 80#
tackle is standard. The first 15ft is to be double line with
a Bimini twist and the leader should be 100# to 200#
monofilament. |
