The tuna will be here before you know it; are you ready to roll?
Of all the species of fish that I target as a charter captain the Atlantic bluefin tuna is without a doubt the most prized catch for my clients and myself. It is a magnificent creature in both size and appearance and will push your endorphin levels to overload when hooked.
Each new season bluefin tuna from footballs to giants will migrate from the wintering grounds off the Carolinas up to the Cape. By Memorial Day a good population will have already arrived.
With the season upon us, it’s time to finish all your prep work to be ready to go when intel says they’ve arrived. Here are some of the things on my checklist that I make sure are prepped and ready to go.
Boat. It goes without saying that your boat and engines should be ready to go and your spring mechanical service all done and completed. More than likely you have already begun running for other nearshore species, so check that you are not approaching your 100-hour service; don’t want that buzzer going on the bluefin grounds!
Topshot. Replace all your mono top shot that is on your conventional trolling reels. This shouldn’t be too pricy, as mono on average is 10 to 15 cents/yard at your local tackle shop. That times 150 to 200 yards is approximately $20 to $25 a reel. Your braid 20 to 24 cents/yard or hollow core which is expensive, about 30 to 40 cents/yard plus $15 per splice can add up fast. Braid and hollow core can remain if it is only a few years old but if you fish a lot it is better to make the investment and replace it.
Rigging. Check all your mono rigging on your spreader bars, side trackers or wide trackers, and single ballyhoo rigs. Check for any abrasion, nicks and that your crimps are good. Have these professionally re-rigged if you are not comfortable doing it yourself. Check all your shell squids to make sure none are torn or ripped. If so replace them.
Hooks. Replace any rusted hooks on your plugs, jigs, bars, or ballyhoo rigs. Those you don’t need to replace should be sharpened. Also check any other terminal tackle such as split rings, solid rings, and swivels.
Baits. Check your ballyhoo baits that are in your freezer from last season. Do not use them if they look like they have freezer burn, are bloody, or if the eyes are not clear and sharp. Best bet is to buy new baits; most tackle shops will take delivery in April with recently netted baits.
Safety. Make sure you have all your Coast Guard approved safety equipment onboard and that it is in good shape. Expiration dates on flares should not have been exceeded. PFDs should be Type 1 with a signaling device such as a whistle attached to life jackets. Run a test on your Epirb in test mode to make sure it is functioning properly as you as supposed to do this once a year.
Intel. When everything above is done and checked and I am ready to go, one of the last but most important things I need is intel. I don’t like to take my clients on a hunt hoping to find tuna, but prefer waiting for for intel of sightings or catches before giving it a go. Having intel is advantageous as it can put you on fish on your very first trip and save you a lot in fuel costs. My first intel comes from our local draggers out there every day; having a relationship with them as a friend helps greatly, so build those relationships if you can. Second, build relationships with other tuna anglers at your dock; sharing information and perhaps even numbers, as it can benefit you greatly.
Once I have my information I will then look at my saved waypoints on my chart and see if this year’s show of tuna is repeating what happened previously with the migration. I save many of my waypoints by date with a specific symbol for tuna so it makes for an easy comparison. I then will look at my satellite shot to see if there are any temperature or turbidity breaks in the area. If there are then when I go I will concentrate my trolling around these areas first.
Of course, don’t forget you need a Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit for your boat in order to target bluefin tuna (hmspermits.noaa.gov). And remember to report your catches!
