Tuna Fishing Techniques - Tuna Fishing Explained

If you have ever caught a tuna before you already know the answer to this question. Catching a tuna is such an adrenaline rush. These fish are legendary for their fighting ability. You can never tell whether they will choose to dive deep and fast (up to 60 mph) or spiral down in consistent circular patterns.

In order to be successful, you must exhibit a tremendous amount of patience and determination. Tuna will continue to fight and the only time you are sure you will keep it is when you have landed it in the boat (not simply hooked it).

It always amazes me that some people continue to fish for tuna. As we all know, this sport is not a cheap one. It costs a ton of money just to put the boat in the water. Tack on the expensive fishing rods, lures, and GPS systems and we are talking about a small fortune. And this is before considering how much time it takes. Before you spend another dime, or waste more of your time trolling around the ocean, try out this one simple tuna fishing technique and you will almost certainly put more tuna in your boat today!

There is nothing like the site of blackfin tuna in a feeding frenzy. I love the way they simply destroy the surface of the water eating anything, and everything, in site. The sound that the surrounding birds make is music to my ears.

But where do you find the elusive fish? How can you increase your chances of having a large school come your way?

The secret is rubbish; trash to be more precise.

Shrimp boats trawl the ocean floors all night and almost immediately begin separating harvested shrimp from the other sea creatures that are scooped up along with the shrimp. I have heard scientist refer to this as 'bycatch' but captains simply call it trash, and this trash is how the magic happens.

When the shrimp boats have finished separating their catch, they go ahead and throw the trash overboard. All of this typically catches the attention of predators in the area, who quickly move in to feed upon the tiny fish and crustaceans now floating like perfectly prepared chum.

Enterprising captains know that we are fishing for tuna and will often save a few bags to sell for a few bucks. The key is to buy a few bags so that you can create your own trash feeding frenzy. Once you have your trash in hand, slowly approach the stern of an anchored shrimp boat. You will almost certainly see fish in the area. Once you do, turn off your engine and let some trash fly.

Drop a lot of chum initially to see what is in the water. If you see a bunch of bonitos you may need to consider moving. If, however, you see more blackfin tuna than bonitos slow the rate at which you are chumming to prevent the bonitos from going into a feeding frenzy. Wait until you see a few blackfins circling around, and then cast your line into the water. That is all there is to it!

The first thing you need to consider when fishing for tuna is the season. During the warm summer months, tuna like to stay near the surface of the water. They tend to enjoy the warm surface temperatures of coastal waters. During the winter months, however, tuna tend to dive deep and stay there, making it more difficult to find these incredible fish.

When searching for possible fishing grounds, it is crucial that you pay attention to your environment. Be on the lookout for diving birds. Where there are diving birds, there are schools of fish. Where there are schools of fish, the chances of finding tuna are greater increased.

Additionally, it you see whales or sharks, tuna are likely to be in the area. Continue searching for diving birds or bait fish splashing on the surface of the water.

It is essential that you prepare well before you even leave the dock. Research successful tuna fishing techniques, gather recent fish counts from local fishermen, determine the current surface temperature of the water and check the weather.

When fishing for tuna, I prefer to troll using a typical "W Pattern". This pattern consists of 2 long lines on each outrigger, 2 short, flat lines and 1 long line right down the center. Keep in mind that the ideal trolling speed is between 7 and 9 miles per hour.

Additionally, many experts prefer a flashy presentation of multiple lures, especially when fishing for yellowfin tuna. The trick is to create a pattern of lures that splash, wiggle and flash enough to fool the tuna into thinking he is looking at a school of agitated bait fish.

Fishing for tuna is a truly magnificent experience. These majestic saltwater game fish can instantly bring a smile to any angler's face. Unfortunately, most people do not even know the most basic tuna fishing tips. As such, finding, let alone actually catching, these amazing fish can sometimes lead to anger and frustration. If you are sick of trolling for tuna and only catching seaweed, consider these three tuna fishing techniques.

1. Nature is Your Friend - If you see birds diving in and out of the water, it is time to pay close attention. Diving birds are indicative of shallow swimming bait fish. Anytime bait fish are present you can almost guarantee that schools of hungry tuna are not too far behind. Additionally, if you are fortunate enough to find a group of whales, or a pod of dolphins, act quickly. Get your fishing lines out in front of the path that they are swimming and more often than not you will land at least one fish.

2. Summer is Magical - During summer, schools of hungry tuna love to feed near the surface of the water. Fishing for tuna is much easier during the summer as these fish simply destroy the surface of the water while feeding. Plan on hitting the water early, or plan your trip later in the afternoon, as tuna prefer to hunt in low light conditions.

3. Experiment with Your Speed - Trolling for tuna can sometimes take a bit of experimentation. Start off at slower speeds and work a section of the ocean. If nothing seems to be working, change the type of tuna fishing lures that you are using, along with the speed at which you are trolling. Effective tuna fishing tips usually revolve around displaying a flashy presentation of colorful lures. Trick these hungry fish into thinking they have hit the jackpot and stumbled upon a school of frightened bait fish.

If you are serious about attracting and landing more tuna fish than you ever dreamed possible, here is my #1 recommended resource to learn the best methods to use when fishing for tuna. To learn more, Click Here!

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