Catching a yellowfin tuna is definitely no easy task, but it’s certainly worth the effort! knowing how to identify these fish and use the right bait and tackle can make all the difference. In this blog post, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about targeting these powerful predators. So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced fisherman, be sure to read on for some helpful tips.
Where To Find Them
Yellowfin tuna is one of the most sought-after game fish off the coast of Florida. Their wide range, speed and strength, plus their tasty meat make them a favorite for people not only fishing in Florida but also sports fishermen across the country.
Yellowfin Tuna is abundant in the tropics and subtropics, tuna is a favorite among saltwater anglers. Whether you’re trolling for them with lures or free-lining baits behind a deep-diving planer board, there is no feeling like having 20+ pounds of fleshy power pulling drag. Perhaps the most famous of all tuna is the tasty yellowfin, which is found in any number of well-known tropical locales.
You don’t even have to leave the shore to catch yellowfin tuna!
Many charter boats are more than willing to help you get on the fish. You can head out into open water, trolling ballyhoo or casting plugs for these torpedo-shaped fish that can grow upwards of 200 pounds. But it’s also possible to catch yellowfin tuna right from the beach, pier, jetties and even sandbars along the Intracoastal waterway.
You can also try trolling with lures along the edges of underwater mountain ranges and around any shallow banks. In these areas, it is also possible to get a shot at the occasional mahi-mahi or wahoo–two saltwater species that share many of the same waters as yellowfin tuna.
If you prefer live baits, then it’s best to look for yellowfin in deeper water where they will be more likely to feed on the surface. Sometimes, you can spot them jumping clear of the water with their massive bodies and white underbellies.
When Is The Best Time To Catch Yellowfin Tuna?
The best season for the yellowfin tuna starts from November to April. In summer, they head out to deeper waters and you will not be able to find them easily then since the water temperature drops from 20C to 14C.
A lot of Yellowfin Tuna are caught during the summer months, but if you really want to catch the big ones, then you have to know where, when and how they bite.
During the early spring months, yellowfin tuna enter bays along the U.S coast line in search of baitfish. Even though yellowfin are fished during the summer months, most of them are just under legal size, so if you want to catch the big ones do it during the springtime.
How To Catch Yellowfin Tuna
Rod
A suitable rod is quite important and the strength and size should be chosen depending on the target fish. The rod must support your fishing line to make it easier for you to do things like setting up and winding, as well as bringing in the tuna easily.
The reason why you need a rod that is strong enough to lift big yellowfin tuna into your boat is that it can weigh up to 150 pounds (70kg) or more, depending on the size of the tuna. A fishing rod suitable for yellowfin tuna should have plenty of backbone, so it’s perfect if you choose a rod that has 20-30lbs of strength. The size should be 215cm or more, and it’s best if you can find one that is 235-250cm long. This will really help you bring in big fish like yellowfin tuna easily because the longer your rod is, the more leverage you get.
You should also pick a rod that has a lot of backbone as this will help you reel up big fish like yellowfin tuna. Previously, rods for saltwater fishing were made from solid fiberglass which was not very flexible and bent easily. These days, better quality graphite materials are used to make rods that can help reduce weight and also strengthen them because the fibers are so tightly packed together.
You should always ensure your rod is not too long because if you find yourself with a huge yellowfin tuna on the line, it will be really hard to bring it in and this can result in serious problems like breaking your fishing pole or losing the fish altogether. This happens quite frequently actually. So when you’re looking to buy a fishing rod, remember to keep it short.
Reel
For avid fishermen who want to catch yellowfin tuna, it will be a good idea if you choose the right fishing reel that is able to handle these fish. The following equipment’s and gears should be considered when catching this fish:
Rod & Reel Set Up
When choosing your set-ups, it is important that you consider the kind of fishing that you are doing. For example, in offshore or open water fishing in which the yellowfin tuna tend to swim at greater depths where line tension plays a crucial role when fighting these fish. Having high-capacity reels with an extra-durable drag system will be necessary for this type of fishing.
Fishing at the surface will require a different fishing setup. If you are using Tuna can also be caught by anglers surfing fishing but they tend to be low in shallow waters. This type of fishing requires more advanced gear since these fish are very powerful and it will be difficult for you to bring them up from the low depths. The perfect set-up for this type of fishing should be medium to high capacity reels with closed-face that provides good line pick up and smooth drag system.
As far as choosing the right tuna fishing reel, you need to consider its line capacity. This is the amount of line in yards or meters that your fishing reel can manage. The line capacity that you will need for tuna fishes will depend on your fishing setup and the weight of the rod you are using.
Line
Often times anglers will opt for a braided fishing line for yellowfin tuna, and while it does have the advantage of being stronger and thinner than monofilament it doesn’t hold up very well in water temperatures of under 60 degrees F. For this reason, braided line is more commonly used when trolling or live to bait for warm water species. Monofilament is more commonly used when fishing offshore or deep water for colder water predatory species like Mahi, tuna, or wahoo.
Bait
Choosing the right fishing bait for yellowfin tuna is no easy task. Why? Well because there are tons of different kinds of fish out in the wild that they like to eat.
These big fish can grow up to one hundred pounds or more. So, they like to snack on the big stuff. Some of those things include squid, eels, mackerel, and flying fish.
What is the best fishing bait for yellowfin tuna? Well, that depends on whether or not you want to use live or dead bait. Yellowfin tuna are more likely to eat live than they are dead so don’t waste your time trying to catch them with dead baits.
Fishing with live bait is much more exciting though. You can cast your line out and hope for the best, but at least you have a fighting chance. On the other hand, fishing with dead bait can be done if that’s what you are into or if you have no other choice. If you are fishing with live bait, the best thing to use is probably a squid. Of course, it needs to be alive and kicking when you put it on your hook, or else it won’t work at all.
Conclusion
Fishing for yellowfin tuna is a great way to spend your summer. Whether you are looking for an adrenaline rush or some fresh seafood, catching these fish can be very rewarding. You will need patience and strong arms if you want to catch one of these powerful creatures. This article has provided several tips on how to best go about this task in order to get the most out of the fishing season. Good luck!