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Big Tuna Bill's Tips and Techniques
We'll Add More Here Over Time. Email
Big tuna to Request Particular Tips To be Added to the Site (bigtunabill@rodandreelradio.com).
Last Revision: 1-9-06.
Knots
and When to Use Them
Giant Yellowfin:
Fly-line:
Iron:
Kite:
In general:
Coming soon...
Rig #1:
A kite with a squid. 6463XXXXH
Seeker Black Steel rod, Int'l V70 reel, Maxima 180 top shot,
Gamakatsu 12/0 HD bait hooks on 300 pound leader.
Helium Balloon:
In general:
strip off about 10 ft of line and attach a helium balloon directly
to the line. The balloon keeps your bait on the surface and away
from the boat. It is deadly. You can fish heavy line (130 to
200) and the sardine doesn't have to swim the line out from the
boat. Done right, the balloon keeps the bait splashing on the
surface which makes the tuna crazy. It is a spectacular sight
when a 200 lb plus tuna comes out of the water and hits the bait,
then it's wind, wind, wind until you're tight to the fish.
Rig #1:
A single sardine on the helium balloon. Graphite USA Beast mega
heavy, Avet SDS open top 50, Maxima 130 top shot tied straight
to ringed hooks.com Eagle claw 8/0 circle hook. The hook might
bend, but it will usually hold.
Rig #2:
A helium balloon and a single sardine. Avet TRX 50 Narrow on
a GUSA Dragon mega heavy, Maxima 130 top shot tied straight to
a Ringed Hooks.com 9/0 Eagle claw circle hook. The hook might
bend, but it will usually hold.
Heavy Connections:
You will encounter some equipment failures
due to using waxed floss and glue that will not penetrate through
to the mono. This is corrected by gluing before serving, end
of problems. Personally, I used the Swifty crimp connection kit
with swifty glue. Swifty glue is much more flexible and so it
will flex rather than break. I also change top shots every night.
It was quick and easy with the Swifty kit.
Rod & Reel Technique:
My favorite method: under the armpit. Coming
soon...
Listen to Bill Discuss
the Craft of Heavy Rig "Connections"
and Fishing With "Helium Balloons."
Giant Bluefin:
In general:
Once in the fishing grounds (sometimes only 10 or so miles offshore)
we troll horse ballyhoos rigged with a hood and a skirt (blue
works well). Our trolling pattern included two rods on outriggers,
two on down riggers, and the two middle rods on the surface.
Understanding the typical ocean terrain back east, especially
in North Carolina, can really give you an idea of what to be
prepared for. The water is very shallow and the fish have no
where to go but out. This means a lot of line and a lot of winding.
But the boat can help quite a bit. They will back down on the
fish rather swiftly which makes it quite a bit easier on the
fish under 600# but it also helps the boat release the fish safely
sinceit is brought to the boat very quickly. In North Carolina
there is a slot limit of 47" to 72" so most fish over
200# must be released. It is also a winter catch so you have
to be prepared for cold weather and also for the possibility
that your trip could be delayed or even cancelled due to storms.
Therefore, it's a good idea to book several days of fishing and
even better if you can spread those days out over a few days
so maximize your chances.
Rig #1:
Avet 50 Open Top "San Diego Special" with150# Spectra
and 100# Maxima attached to a Seeker 6463 XXXH. This is a little
light for Giant Bluefin but it we've brought 450# bluefin to
the boat using it without a fighting chair. Recommend the larger
rigs for 500# class tuna.
Rig #2:
Avet T-Rex Quad spooled with 250# Spectra and 200# Izorline on
a Seeker 6463 XXXXH.
Rig #3:
Most of the boats will be set up with Penn International 130s
on big Penn Tuna Sticks with the fighting chair bent butts. I
prefer the lighter rigs for the stand-up style I use to fight
these fish. The chair's always there just in case! If the big
Penns get bit it's a little too easy unless the fish is in that
spectacular 600# plus class.
Smaller Yellowfin & Bluefin Tuna:
Fly-Line:
Iron:
Trolling:
Albacore:
Dorado:
Paddies and Floating Structure:
Trolling:
Wahoo:
Trolling:
Fly-line:
Striped Marlin and Sail Fish:
Fly-line (Horse Mackerel):
Trolling:
Yellowtail:
Surface:
Deep:
Cabrilla:
Pargo:
Sand Bass:
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