Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Catching Giant Bluefin Tuna from a Small Boat

By Captain Ryan Collins


One of sportfishing's most desired thrills is to battle with a giant bluefin tuna. For many people, the drive to catch a huge tuna borders on obsession. The tuna's beauty, the opportunity for big bucks, as well as the fish's sheer size have pushed many anglers to spend thousands of dollars, and devote years of their lives to the quest for world's most respected fish.

Atlantic tuna can grow to a length of nearly ten feet, and weigh over 1,000 pounds. These huge tunas are equipped for reaching speeds of over 40 mph. The bluefin's incredible strength and unmatched level of endurance, make giant bluefins the world's most difficult fish to tame-even aided by the heaviest of tackle.

For the weekend warrior, catching a large bluefin tuna might appear a lot more like a pipedream than reality. A small boat, restricted budget and limited amount of time on the water do certainly affect one's odds of catching a giant. However with the correct gear and plan, catching a huge tuna from a small boat is achievable.



The Gear

Targeting giant bluefin tuna from a small boat means it's about time to set aside the spinning rods and conventional stand-up gear. Implementing swivel rod holders along with 80 or 130 class conventional reels makes wrangling giants much easier.

Swivel rod holders, unlike typical rod holders found on most modest boats, allow a rod and reel setup to rotate 360 degrees. This means there is no need to ever lift the rod and reel setup from the swivel rod holder. The angler fights the bluefin by using the boat, instead of his or her body.

In a perfect world the swivel rod holder would be installed on the bow of the boat. Regrettably, installing the swivel rod holder on the bow is not sensible for many smaller boats. The second best position would be at the corner of the stern.

Excellent communication between the angler and the skipper is essential when fighting a giant tuna from a swivel rod holder. It is often necessary to operate the boat in accordance with the giant's death circles. A highly skilled captain should be able to foresee boat maneuvers based on the angle of the rod and line.

Nonetheless having the angler and helmsman on the same page is absolutely essential to catching a giant bluefin tuna.

An 800 pound tuna exerts amazing strain on the swivel rod holder, especially when the bluefin is straight up and down beneath the vessel. Having a brute of a giant beneath the hull is the greatest test for the rod holder. A bad job installing the swivel rod holder will result in devestating equipment malfunction. Backing plates are critical and if you are unsure as to what you are doing, it is best to ask a proficient veteran before ever dropping a bait in the water.

We regularly employ Penn International 80 or 130 setups when targeting behemoth tunas. Many anglers also choose similar setups from companies such as Shimano or Okuma.

Bent butt rods are an absolute must have for fighting giants from a swivel rod holder. The bent butt positions the rod nicely at around a 45 degree angle from the boat.






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