How to Catch Tuna

Tuna are large and tasty saltwater game fish. There are several species of tuna including the albacore, black fin, skipjack and the potentially gigantic blue fin. You can catch skipjack tuna in coastal waters, but most anglers pursue tuna offshore by chumming or trolling. When chumming you fish with bait and place additional bait in the water to attract fish. Trolling is done by pulling lures behind a slow-moving boat. Read on to learn how to catch tuna.

Trolling

1. Pick a lure. Most tuna lures have a Kona head, but they come in many shapes, sizes and colors and under many names. The Kona head creates an ideal bubble trail and surface action for attracting tuna.
2. Set the outriggers. With outriggers, or arms that stretch from the side of the boat, you can troll additional lines without getting tangled. Tuna anglers usually troll with four lines, although with the right equipment it is possible to set more.
3. Troll until a fish strikes. If it is set correctly, the outrigger will release the line when a fish hits.
4. Land the tuna. Take pictures and measurements. If you are keeping the fish, put it on ice right away.

Chumming

1. Prepare chum. Cut up bait, keeping all the blood and entrails.
2. Start pouring chum overboard in regular intervals once you have reached a potential fishing area.
3. Cast your baited line into the trail of chum behind the boat. Once tuna begin to feed on the chum, it is easy to catch them if they think your bait is just another piece of chum.
4. Set the hook when a fish strikes. Land it and treat the fish appropriately depending on whether you will release it or eat it.

Tuna Fishing Chum Recipe Supplies & Ingredients:

• 1 box of heavy duty zip lock plastic freezer bags
• 1 five gallon bucket
• a garden hand rake or stirring implement
• Garden Hose
• 1 gallon pure pogy (menhaden) oil
• 1 – 3 pound can whole kernel corn
• Rice, oats, macaroni (optional)
• 12 cans Kozy Kitty cat food (sold at most stores 3/$1)
• 6 loaves of wheat or stone ground bread. Some bakery outlet stores sell old bread for 10 cents per loaf, you must ask for “critter food”.
• Food processor (Warning: You may burn it up and don’t even think about telling the wife what you need it for)
• Electric can opener

• Chop bread in processor
• Dump 12 cans of cat food into bucket, mixing in bread with small amounts of water. Consistency desired like thick soup
• Stir in 2 cups of Pogy oil, evenly distributed
• Go catch tuna!

1. Learn to fly fish from the experts before attempting to catch tuna. You can take a fishing course or work with another angler who is familiar with the techniques of fly fishing. You will need to learn how to use a fly fishing rod, which requires a very specific motion when casting.
2. Gather the right equipment for fly fishing tuna. This includes the proper saltwater rig, reel and tackle. When purchasing gear for fly fishing, be sure that the gear is saltwater protected and high performance. High performance means the fishing rod will take more weight and pulling from the fish, which you need to catch tuna.
3. Consider a tuna fishing charter to help you locate a school of tuna to fish. An educational charter is also an ideal way to learn how to catch tuna with hands on demonstrations, the most important part of learning how to fly fish. To catch tuna on your own, invest in a GPS sonar to help you locate a school of fish.
4. Use the right fly fishing lures to catch tuna. Some types of effective tuna lures include feathers, hoochies, big eye, the canyon rig. To choose lures for tuna fishing, choose heavy weighted lures since tuna is found in deeper water than other fish.
5. Lure the tuna in with your fly fishing skills, and be prepared for a battle. Expert anglers suggest not fighting or pulling too hard on the tuna, but to allow the line to do its job and bring the tuna on board.