Artificials for yellowfin tuna

[October]

I have confidence in my yellow tail game with irons, waxwings and butterfly jigs... But I was wondering what people use for yellow fin? I'm going out on my first tuna boat and not sure exactly what to bring in terms of lures. Or if I should stick to fly lining live bait...?

[YakDout]

Megabait

http://www.meltontackle.com/products...ait-lures.html

Drop straight down to 150 feet and burn in. Repeat. If fish are around you will get bit. Can be much faster than fishing live bait. You are able to stay up in the bow all day without running back and forth because your sardine decided to swim in circles or under the boat.

[octico]

Originally Posted by YakDout

Megabait

http://www.meltontackle.com/products...ait-lures.html

Drop straight down to 150 feet and burn in. Repeat. If fish are around you will get bit. Can be much faster than fishing live bait. You are able to stay up in the bow all day without running back and forth because your sardine decided to swim in circles or under the boat.

+1 but be careful if you are on the drift, it will get tangled if you are on a cattle boat. I had a biggins snap my line, I was using the 4oz one. Be sure to take the ring off the lure, and tie your line directly to lure, those rings are notorious for causing a line break (couple of the guys on the boat confirmed).

Also, just like YakDout said stay on the bow, and you should be golden.

[ful-rac]

Fish bait.....



But if you have to fish lures...megabaits are good but make sure you change the hook out for a better one. The factory hooks suck!!!

Don't forget the point Wilson dart...also an amazing little lure. Got many a early morning Bluefin on those.

[October]

Noted. So are most the schools deep or surface right now? What's the standard live bait rig setup for em right now?

[blazian]

Was out Monday on the Malihini, wide open fishing once they found the school. If it is still around its is about 35 miles so a good 3+ hr ride. They were biting everything, live bait but be prepared to lose half your fish to dumbasses around you. One thing new the crew and a couple of us were trying were large popper jigs, looks really cool watching yellowfin crash on them. Landed over a dozen. You should have a great time, bring two coolers!!!!

[Fishin' Magician]

I was out on the Islander last week on a day and a half and the yellowfin were plentiful but because all we had were smallish anchovies, we had to drop down to 20 to 25lb test with Number 2 hooks. Most of us had 30 to 40 pound mono and it was too heavy. But for those who had the lighter line, they did really well.

I think that I should have stayed with using the iron instead of the live bait....

[tattuna]

I got a few on the Waxwing the other day. I did better with the wing than my buddy did on live bait. If you're confident with it, throw it and stick to it. If the fish are up and feeding they can't resist it on a really fast retrieve.

[FlyFishinYakr]

If it's been a good consistent bite I bring about 6-8 outfits (20# bait if the fish get line shy, 25-30# bait, (2) 40#outfits one bait and one jig, (2) 60# for jig and bait, 80# for bait and 100#+ for trolling.
I use an old school chrome Y-2 for tuna & blue and chrome Salas 6X on my 40# jig stick.
FFY

[RookieYakker]

Originally Posted by tattuna

I got a few on the Waxwing the other day. I did better with the wing than my buddy did on live bait. If you're confident with it, throw it and stick to it. If the fish are up and feeding they can't resist it on a really fast retrieve.

I've been hearing really good things on Waxwings. How long after the cast are you retrieving? I'm headed out on the Malihini next Wednesday!

[tattuna]

Originally Posted by RookieYakker

I've been hearing really good things on Waxwings. How long after the cast are you retrieving? I'm headed out on the Malihini next Wednesday!

I start winding as soon as it hits the water. Wind fast!