Bluefin tuna can weigh from 130 to over 350 kg, and catching it involves a lot of physical effort and a massive dose of adrenaline. With the right permits, a suitable boat and equipment, and a good amount of physical strength, you too can catch bluefin tuna.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare the Bait and Wait for the Prey
Step 1. Triggers live bait, such as whiting or herring, through the nose tip
Set the lure at different heights to create an attractive ensemble, placing the shorter hooklinks first and the longer, deeper ones last so they don't get tangled.
Step 2. Cut the whiting or herring into 3-4 pieces to create a trail of groundbait
- Throw the pieces from the stern until you have a visible trail of groundbait. Throw in new pieces approximately every minute to keep the trail of groundbait continuous.
- Make sure that the baits with the hooks are inside the groundbait trail.
Step 3. Hook the balloon and let the bait drift off the boat
Step 4. Check the echo sounder
If the fish are at different depths than your bait is, it is advisable to change the depth of the bait. A bluefin tuna will typically be 6-9 m on the depth sounder and will have a characteristic inverted "V" shaped hump.
Method 2 of 3: Hook the Red Tuna
Step 1. Listen for the popping of the balloon
If you hear a snap, your rod is bent, and the line unwinds from the spool at full speed, you've probably caught a bluefin tuna.
Step 2. Drop onto the line and reel and use a gloved hand to make sure the line stays taut
Keep the tip of the rod pointed towards the fish.
Step 3. Have fishing companions' lines rewound and put away the fishing rods
The rods can be stored in the cabin or in the ladder holder opposite to that of the line with the fish.
Step 4. Release the anchor buoy and start the engines
Eliminate deck clutter as needed.
Step 5. Move the barrel to the combat swivel mount
Step 6. Determine the direction of the bluefin tuna
Orient the boat so that the line is 45 degrees aft and off the hook.
Step 7. Keep the line taut during the initial stages
If the bluefin tuna changes direction and swims towards you, the line can go banished and fool you into believing that the prey has escaped. Wind up the reel as quickly as possible to keep up with the fish and to re-tension the line.
Step 8. Wait for the circle of death
After a few runs, the tuna will start swimming in circles under your boat. Apply constant pressure to tire the fish by forcing it to move slowly and shifting to a lower gear on the reel to drag it towards the boat. Make sure you keep the fish away from the engine, so that the line does not get caught in the propellers.
Step 9. Get ready for another run when the fish comes to the surface
When the bluefin tuna sees your boat, it can give another yank to get away.
Step 10. Harpoons the fish when it is exhausted and close to the boat
Aim to hit him on the back.
Step 11. Pull the fish to one side to give it a good shot with the harpoon
Harpoon the fish in the head and pull it against the boat to attach it to a rope.
Step 12. Lift the fish onto the boat and make it bleed while it is still alive
When the fish is over the side of the boat, put the free reel on the reel and keep your finger on the reel to prevent the rod from going under tension when the fish falls on the deck.
Step 13. Remove the hook
If the fish has swallowed the hook, cut the line to free it from the fish.
Method 3 of 3: Other Recommendations
Step 1. Head to the Atlantic and adjacent seas to find the bluefin tuna
Bluefin tuna live in the Atlantic Ocean and lay their eggs in the Gulf of Mexico or the Mediterranean Sea. Every spring, they migrate to the places where they were born.
- When traveling back and forth to spawning grounds, they can be caught off the North American coast, especially in the North Carolina / Virginia area and off the coast of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and southern Maine.
- They also congregate in the eastern Atlantic. Bluefin tuna is also present in the Black Sea, although its population has decreased significantly here.
Step 2. Take a few trips on fishing charters to catch bluefin tuna before doing it on your own
You will learn about the procedure and equipment you will need, and you will understand if it is the sport that is right for you. Look online to find charter cruises in your area; you can also find them particularly around Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras.
- Ask the captain if you can keep your catch (or if there is a weight limit), or if the catch is catch and release.
- The catch, if you can keep it, may not be something you can legally sell. Make a plan for what you're going to do with all this fish - sushi, or something else?
Step 3. Learn about the regulations
Fishing regulations can be very complicated. Call the relevant authorities in your country (1-888-USA-TUNA if you are fishing in the United States) for permits and to ask questions about what you need to know. Also, inquire about the amount you can catch. Check with the competent authorities (NFMS in the United States) for daily catch limits in the year.
Step 4. Try kite fishing
Fishing with a kite allows a fisherman to keep a live bait on the surface. Physically the kite lifts the lure preventing it from swimming downward. The result is a live bait, basically half out of the water, that swims and squirms frantically on the surface and rings the dinner bell for any tuna nearby.
Step 5. Obtain the appropriate permits from the authorities in your country (NMFS in the United States) before starting fishing
Advice
- For winter fishing, check the weather conditions to see if you need to follow the 2 engine rule. This means that you will need to bring an extra motor on your boat or fish with a partner.
- Bluefin tuna fishing is not a sport for those with financial problems. You must be willing to spend a lot of money on both the boat and the equipment once you decide to equip your boat. Most fishermen use boats from 9 to 14m long.
- Be courteous to other boats. Be sure to safely tow into the fishing area and anchor at a reasonable distance from other boats, particularly if they have already prepared groundbait trails. Listen to the VHF for complaints about your boat, and be respectful.
Warnings
- Giant bluefin tuna have killed many fishermen by dragging them overboard. Use great caution or hire a guide before attempting to catch any of these fish.
- Avoid fish oil or pulverized groundbait. You would only attract sharks.
