Choosing the right fishing bait for Yellowfin Tuna is not an easy task. There are so many different baits out there, that it can be confusing to decide what you need to catch this game fish. This article will give you some tips on choosing the best tackle for this fish, and some examples of baits that are proven to work.
How To Choose Fishing Bait For Yellowfin Tuna
When you are fishing for Yellowfin Tuna, the most important thing is to have a decent spread of lures on your boat. The more choices you have available, the better chance there is at catching this fish. There are so many different types of Tuna out there, the most widely known being the Yellowfin Tuna.
These lures can be of different colors, shapes, are made of different materials. It all depends on how deep you are fishing, what kind of conditions you have out there, time of year or day and weather conditions. You may use a Silver Spoon for the calmer conditions and a Big Eye lure for choppier water. Some anglers use a metal jig and others will stick with plastic.
The main thing about choosing your tackle is to have different types of lures on hand so you can match the conditions at hand and to get out there and experiment with which ones work the best for you.
There are many bait varieties available on the market today for this game fish including, parachutes, metal jigs and plastic lures. The best advice is to choose the one that you are familiar with, but also to experiment with other ones.
What color bait do yellowfin tuna like?
Experimenting with tackle choices will only help you become a better angler when it comes to Yellowfin Tuna fishing. The more time you spend practicing, the better you will become. The most successful way of choosing your tackle is to use different color combinations on the lures that attract these game fish.
For example, if you are fishing in cloudy conditions, choose a lure with bright colors on them. If you want to use live bait for this game fish, it is best to go with dark-colored plastics. You need to remember these things when you are choosing your tackle, it will only help you become a better angler when out at sea for this game fish.
Live bait or artificial lures?
The next thing about choosing your tackle is to decide whether or not you want to use live bait or artificial lures. This is called bait vs lure fishing and there are professionals on both sides of the argument. Some will say that live bait is more effective and others will argue that artificial lures can make an angler very successful in catching this game fish.
The truth is however, that it depends on the type of Yellowfin Tuna you are after. There are times when you need to be closer to the reefs where live bait can be used. If you are looking to catch deeper water Yellowfin Tuna, it is best to stick with artificial lure fishing tackle.
Some anglers think that they can use their regular fishing lures but it will make the difference between catching fish and losing them. This is especially true when you are fishing in deep water where there is no chance of using live bait on your tackle.
It all depends on the Yellowfin Tuna fishing conditions that you are facing at hand. If you choose live bait, make sure to use chumming techniques before throwing out your lines.
Best Live Baits for Yellowfin Tuna
Carnivorous by nature, Yellowfin Tuna easily adapt to a variety of live baits ranging from prey fishes such as mackerels and squids to crustaceans like crabs and shrimps. In times when they are not hunting schools of small pelagic fishes or chasing sardines, they will readily accept any live bait that can swim in the sea.
1) Mackerels
Called “ikan bilis” by the locals, these small herring fishes are easily caught throughout the year. They are schooling fish and can be found around shallow reefs or around rocky outcrops, particularly the ones along coasts facing the prevailing sea currents (e.g. Batangas). To catch mackerels, cast your baits to these areas using light spinning gear like Tenryu’s FC-761UL at 2 – 5 oz. If you can’t find mackerels, sardines and barracudas will do as well. Some anglers also use “banana prawns” for this fish, but I never tried that myself.
2) Threadfins
These slender fishes are schooling in nature. They are commonly found at depths of 10 to 20 meters along rocky coasts, coral reefs or artificial structures like bridges and piers. To catch threadfins, cast your baits into these areas using light spinning gear like Tenryu’s FC-761UL at 2 – 5 oz. They can also be caught during night with a bit of patience and the right technique: blind cast your baits into these areas, suspending them vertically in the water by means of a slip sinker. Leave enough line so that your rig will not touch the bottom. The fishes will come and inspect your bait, but most likely they will swim away without getting hooked. But if done correctly, you can catch threadfins as soon as your bait touches the bottom.
3) Squid
There are several species of squids that can be caught in the Philippines. Just like the mackerels, they are schooling fishes and can be found around shallow reefs or at shallow depths near the coasts. A new hook may be required as squid is quite tough on hooks. Be sure to tie your knots properly so it will not come off when the fish bites.
4) Shrimps
These crustaceans are found throughout the year and can be caught by trawling or cast net. They are good to use as live bait but they do not last long (30 – 60 minutes).
5) Crabs
These decapod crustaceans can be caught throughout the year right under your nose in the sheltered areas of resorts, small coves and bays. They are very good bait but the only setback is that it can’t be kept alive for a long time, thus you have to constantly change them throughout your fishing session.
6) Anchovies
These fishes are schooling in nature. They can be found near shallow reefs or at the surface near the coasts. They are not really good bait but they will do when nothing else works.
Conclusion
Choosing the right bait is very important when it comes to playing big game fish like Yellowfin Tuna. You need to have a variety of lures in your tackle box so you can choose the one that is most effective at catching them based on conditions. The best advice you can get is to check with your local Yellowfin Tuna fishing regulations before heading out on your next trip. You also need to remember that some anglers will use live bait while others prefer artificial lures for yellowfin tuna. If all else fails, experiment with different colors and types of lures until you find one that works.