Ten must haves for tuna anglers that run the gamut from landing gear to attitude adjustments.
It would be really easy to write an article about the Top 100 Necessities when it comes to finding, presenting to, hooking, battling, landing and harvesting the baddest pelagic species that swims in Northeast waters: the bluefin tuna. The excitement surrounding this species has been building over the last decade and has exploded in the last three to four years. With advances in tackle technology and in the equipment that make it possible for those running smaller boats to get in on the bite, there are more anglers looking to get into this sport every year and it’s been awesome to see.
In the interest of keeping this article within the word count I’ve been allotted, I’m going to assume that you already have your HMS permit, the license you need to legally target and harvest pelagic species. I’m also going to assume that you have a boat that’s capable of making the run safely and that you are keeping that vessel and its engines in fighting shape, breaking down 20 miles offshore is more than just a little different than 30 minutes from the ramp. I’m also going to assume that you know that you’ll need enough fuel to get there, enough fuel to get back, enough to find the fish and still get back to the dock with a third of a tank or so. This will allow for mistakes or changes in plans, while still getting you back home with gas in the tank.
I’m also going to assume that your boat is adequately outfitted with the gear you’ll need to adapt to the bite with setups for trolling, chunking, casting and jigging. And that you have all the terminal tackle, the right jigs, plugs, baits and hooks and that you’re up to the task of battling these powerful fish, regardless of their size class.
All of these previous things are well-covered in various articles and videos in this magazine and across the internet, but what about all the other ‘stuff’ the pros rely on to consistently put these fish on the deck? That’s the stuff we’re going to talk about here, the top 10 items that don’t get the press they deserve on the tuna grounds.
A Fighting Chance
Regardless of the quality of gear, fighting tuna can be one of the most physically demanding tasks and angler can take on. These fish will take you to the mat, with blistering runs that will leave you wondering how your drag washers haven’t been set ablaze. And for those who don’t get the chance to do it all the time, I promise you, you will be sore and you will be winded. To aid this process I suggest investing in the following items
- A gimbal protector: this can be a hard rubberized bulb like those made by Play Action and Scotty or a softer, cushion-like devise like a Cush It. These are great for casting and jigging battles where the angler needs to be more dynamic with the rod movements. This means much less abdominal and inner thigh bruising and result in fewer awkward conversations when the wife asks, “what exactly do you guys do out there all day!?”
- A belt and plate combination: fighting belts with attached plates allow you to secure the gimbal of the rod with an anchor point and focus energy downward and across the upper legs stabilizing the rod during the fight as fatigue and distributing the load more evenly than that of a gimbal protector.
- Fighting Harness: For the largest of fish, or for reeling in multiple fish throughout the day when trolling for example, the use of harnesses can allow the angler to use his or her legs and essentially “sit against the weight of the fish,” reducing the need to pull back on the rod with the arms or struggle to stabilize the gear, instead the arms can now be used solely to gain line and maintain tension. This is by far the best option available for fighting large gamefish ‘stand up’ like tuna.
Landing Your Catch
If you didn’t lose your tuna early in the fight, you’re generally ‘good to go’ until you arrive at the far more nerve racking endgame. That big, glowing ball of meat is doing tight donuts 15 feet deep and seems like it’s wedged up against an invisible barrier. Having the right tools to aid in securing this fish and getting it to and eventually inside the boat will help mitigate a very long and solemn ride home.
- Multiple Gaffs: Every boat should have at least two gaffs, but ideally three. Trust me, lots of bad things can happen at gaff time, more so with a green fish. Having an extra gaff in someone’s hand when possible, can totally save the day. It’s also not impossible for a 100-pound fish to rip a gaff right out of you hand once you’ve secured it. So, extras are key.
- Harpoon with extra shafts and darts: This is another item that I like to have a minimum of two of on the boat when targeting big game, but at the very least having one on board gives a well-practiced or just a very confident crew member the ability to help “persuade” a big fish to come upwards beyond that invisible glass ceiling at 15 feet.
- Ropes & rigging: Heavy duty dock lines make for great tail rope to cleat fish off to the side of the boat. I highly suggest securing at least two of these before unhooking the fish. It’s best to let a fish hang a while boatside and to bleed them to allow them to expire without destroying themselves on the deck by boating them too early. It’s also a lot safer. Also, on the topic of rope, consider investing in a block and tackle and or pulley system to help boat fish more safely and efficiently than just trying the old “HEAVE HO” in between wave sets.
The Process of Processing
Once you have finally landed a tuna and have it onboard, there are a few key ‘fish care’ items that are must haves for preserving the best quality of meat and ensuring an ethical harvest.
- Ike Jime Tools: These tools consist of a spike and a long wire designed to instantly terminate the life and nervous system of the fish. They work remarkably well and will greatly contribute to the overall quality of the meat. I use the Aftco Ike Jime Spike and Circuit Breaker Wires on my boat.
- Straight knives for processing: Basically, you need the marine equivalent of a set of butcher knives for these fish, if you think you’re going to stick that 9-inch fluke knife into the hide and tissue of a tuna you’re going to come back with a handle and have a blade broken off inside the fish. You might be able to use the handle as a line puller on the upside. I also highly recommend that you carry a few additional heavy-duty and/or serrated knives. For my money, I suggest the Aftco Böker 4116 stainless for a straight blade and a Dexter Russel Sani-Safe 9-inch Scalloped Utility slicer for the serrated option. These knives are used to saw through the heavy gill rakers and thick bones. Never leave the “Jim Dugan” at home – IYKYK – Google it.
- Storage/Ice: If you don’t have proper storage for these remarkable fish, it’s best to hold off pursuing them. While not all vessels, especially center consoles, have the luxury of large below-deck storage, you can still invest in large high quality coolers or the highly effective roll-up style tuna bags. These fish are warm blooded by comparison and come out of the water literally hot to the touch. You have to cool them down gradually at first by hanging them, then submerge them in ice or an icy brine once brought on board. A rule of thumb, when you believe you have enough ice, double it. And when that one crew member jokes about how unlucky packing ice is, slap their breakfast banana out of their hand and into the water!
Head Game
- The Three D’s: The final “must have” for targeting tuna is a mindset or a concept that will guide you through your quest. This simple set of guidelines will begin as things your strive to remember that will soon become instincts in your pursuit of the mighty bluefin… and they can be summed up as the Three D’s; Drive, Discipline and Details.
Drive: Tuna can test your fortitude and patience. You can go several trips without seeing a single fish, or you might see them popping up sporadically all over and never seem to get close enough for a shot, or worse still, can cast right into a raging school, and not get a single sniff. Having the drive to keep pushing, keep anticipating the feed and keep casting or baiting as necessary to get the bite without quitting is what separates the best of the rest.
Discipline: Going whenever you can go regardless of the “reports,” having rigid standards and confidence in the quality and care of your equipment and rigging, staying patient both In terms of setting up for the bite and when fighting and landing the fish are must-have traits and practices for a successful and consistent fisherman, regardless of species, but especially with big, offshore species like bluefin.
Details: Great tuna fishermen are often great whitetail hunters, too. Because throughout their pursuits, including their failures and successes alike, they become obsessed with the details. To put it in perspective, you might start the day with a 50% chance of landing a fish because you have the right gear, and info. But noticing whatever pattern the bait or whales or other life are on and immersing yourself into that pattern will feed enrich your instincts, rather than blindly charging into an established feed. Or noticing little details like the fact that you get bit on the troll when you have the sun to your back instead of in your face because the fish can see and target the spread better without the sun in their eyes…these are those little details obsessed anglers root out. I can go on and on, but the point is, attention to detail is probably the single greatest “thing” to bring with you when heading offshore.
Maybe this wasn’t the ‘typical’ tuna article, but I didn’t want to give you typical. From where we sit, here in the month of March, we have time to get better prepared. We have time to research and obtain those little extras that will make finding, landing and harvesting a fish, easier or more likely. But most of all, as that first trip of 2025 approaches, we have time to think things through and to get into that hunter’s mindset where your discipline and attention can take the lead. If you can push yourself to that point, you’ll be way ahead of 95% of the rest of the fleet.
