Artificials for yellowfin tuna - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

YakDout · 08-27-2014, 05:35 PM

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 · 08-27-2014, 05:43 PM

Quote:

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 · 08-27-2014, 05:59 PM

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 · 08-27-2014, 06:12 PM

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

blazian · 08-27-2014, 06:32 PM

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!!!!

October · 08-27-2014, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!!!!

So they hit surface irons too? And I was planning on using a topshot of 30lb big game. Most the fish I see coming in are in the 20lb range. Or should I up the test? And are most people fly lining them, egg sinkers, dropper loops? Sorry for the bombarding questions I just want to be ultimately prepared. I can handle my own on a crowded party boat with retards but I am feeling I'll be out of my element a bit.

fishingfiend · 08-27-2014, 07:14 PM

If it's your first trip, I'm on the side that says learning how to pitch bait into the chumline, finessing a flyline bait and working through the tuna shuffle is a must. This is a fundamental skill that's needed for the rest of your tuna fishing existence from larger boats. You will eventually learn the skills and tricks to help you thrive in open party warfare. Lures can also work great, but you have to know when. Use a swimbait for cheater troll or cast a swimbait/megabait/coltsniper/tideminnow on the slide after a jig strike. When the boat settles in for the drift, work the jigs on the way down and on the retrieve while experimenting with retrieve speed depending on the lure. Always keep an eye out for what other jigs/lures are working and switch! Poppers on spinning gear have also been tearing it up.

The flat fall jig for example has been frustrating for me. Thrown into boils and no love. Grind, no love. But a slow wind retrieve, got bit. But then again, the guy next to me tells me he's been hit on the grind. That's fishing...

Either way good luck to you out there and remember to eat the heart!

Widgeon · 08-27-2014, 07:41 PM

A week ago, I hooked 3 and landed one on an 80g shimano Colt Sniper.they have a really nice swimming action and cast a mile. Besides that, they are inexpensive.
Also poppers are doing well. People killing it on big poppers.
I caught 2 on bait.
Best to fish jigs and lures off the bow. Bait too, some times.
I was throwing the jig at boils on the slide and then switching to bait.
Good times

08-27-2014, 05:59 PM	#3
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	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. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

08-27-2014, 06:12 PM	#4
October Fish Whisperer Join Date: May 2012 Location: Menifee Posts: 154	Noted. So are most the schools deep or surface right now? What's the standard live bait rig setup for em right now? __________________

08-27-2014, 05:35 PM	#1
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	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.

08-27-2014, 06:32 PM	#5
blazian Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 106	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!!!!

08-27-2014, 07:14 PM	#7
fishingfiend Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 196	If it's your first trip, I'm on the side that says learning how to pitch bait into the chumline, finessing a flyline bait and working through the tuna shuffle is a must. This is a fundamental skill that's needed for the rest of your tuna fishing existence from larger boats. You will eventually learn the skills and tricks to help you thrive in open party warfare. Lures can also work great, but you have to know when. Use a swimbait for cheater troll or cast a swimbait/megabait/coltsniper/tideminnow on the slide after a jig strike. When the boat settles in for the drift, work the jigs on the way down and on the retrieve while experimenting with retrieve speed depending on the lure. Always keep an eye out for what other jigs/lures are working and switch! Poppers on spinning gear have also been tearing it up. The flat fall jig for example has been frustrating for me. Thrown into boils and no love. Grind, no love. But a slow wind retrieve, got bit. But then again, the guy next to me tells me he's been hit on the grind. That's fishing... Either way good luck to you out there and remember to eat the heart!

08-27-2014, 07:41 PM	#8
Widgeon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Clairemont Posts: 175	A week ago, I hooked 3 and landed one on an 80g shimano Colt Sniper.they have a really nice swimming action and cast a mile. Besides that, they are inexpensive. Also poppers are doing well. People killing it on big poppers. I caught 2 on bait. Best to fish jigs and lures off the bow. Bait too, some times. I was throwing the jig at boils on the slide and then switching to bait. Good times