Yellowfin Tuna
LOCATIONS
BODIES OF WATER
The Mid Atlantic region and Southeastern region of the U.S, including states such as North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Yellowfin Tuna can be found in the offshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. They are typically found in the warm water currents and are known to migrate long distances.
STRUCTURE/HABITAT
Yellowfin Tuna are pelagic fish that can be found in both the warm surface waters and the cold deep waters.
They are often found around natural structures such as underwater canyons, seamounts and temperature breaks.
They are also known to congregate around man-made structures such as oil rigs, buoys, and floating debris.
Yellowfin tuna are known for their speed and agility, making them popular among anglers for their exciting fights. They tend to be more active during the day and are often caught while trolling or using surface lures.
PATTERNS
SPRING
Typically found in the Gulf of Mexico as they migrate northwards from their wintering grounds in the south.
SUMMER
Typically considered the prime season for catching them in the Mid Atlantic and Southeastern region as the waters are at their warmest and the fish are abundant.
FALL
Can still be caught in the Mid Atlantic and Southeastern region as they migrate southwards. As the waters start to cool down, Yellowfin Tuna may be found in deeper waters.
WINTER
During the winter, Yellowfin Tuna are typically not as abundant in the Mid Atlantic and Southeastern region, but they can still be caught in the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
Bait
Baitfish, Ballywhoo, Butterfish, Mackerel
Techniques
Trolling
How: Troll with lures or rigged ballyhoo or squid. Fish around seamounts, weed lines, or other structure. Vary your trolling speed and distance from the boat until you find what works best.
Gear: Rods: Heavy conventional rods. Reels: 50-80lb class conventional reels with a high gear ratio. Line: 50-80lb test monofilament or braided line. Lures: Trolling lures or rigged ballyhoo or squid.
Chunking
How: Create a chum slick by throwing chunks of bait into the water or use ground chum in a bucket/bag. Then, use a chunk of bait on a hook to entice the fish to bite. The bait should be drifted in the current, allowing it to flow naturally with the chum slick. When a tuna takes the bait, it's important to let the fish run with the bait before setting the hook. Once the fish has taken the bait, set the hook. For chunking, the best bait is typically fresh chunks of oily fish such as mackerel or bonito. It's important to use fresh bait, as tuna can be picky eaters and may not take old or frozen bait
Gear: Rods: For chunking, use a heavy-duty rod with a strong backbone, around 6-7ft in length, and capable of handling a 80-100 lb test line. Reels: Use a conventional or spinning reel with a high line capacity and a strong drag system. Line: Use a braided line with a 80-100 lb test. Braided lines have low stretch, which allows for better hook sets and increased sensitivity. Leaders: Use a fluorocarbon leader with a 80-100 lb test to reduce visibility and increase abrasion resistance. Hooks: Use 6/0 to 9/0 hooks, depending on the size of the bait used.
Artificial Lures
How: Yellowfin tuna are attracted to a variety of lures, including poppers, stickbaits, and metal jigs. Fish around floating debris, seamounts, or other structure. Vary your retrieve speed and technique until you find what works best.
Gear: Rods: Heavy spinning or conventional rods. Reels: 6000-8000 size spinning reels or conventional reels with a high gear ratio. Line: 50-80lb test braided line or fluorocarbon leader. Lures: Poppers, stickbaits, metal jigs, and surface plugs.
Fly Fishing
How: Yellowfin tuna can be caught on a variety of fly patterns, including baitfish imitations and poppers. Fish around floating debris, seamounts, or other structure. Vary your retrieve speed and technique until you find what works best.
Gear: Rods: 10-12wt fly rods. Reels: Large arbor saltwater fly reels with a strong drag system. Line: Weight forward floating or sinking tip saltwater fly line. Leaders: 12-16ft 40-80lb fluorocarbon leaders with tippet sizes ranging from 20-40lb. Flies: Baitfish imitations, poppers, and streamers.