The important thing to catching large bluefin tuna is discovering them; with the intention to discover them, that you must perceive their conduct. Whereas it’s true that one of many defining traits of those fish is their unpredictability, there are specific elements that may assist any fisherman be extra profitable in catching these elusive fish.
Whereas I nonetheless have a lot to be taught, I’ve been engaged on a harpoon boat since I might stroll and have grown up on this fishery. When harpooning, we search for tuna swimming or feeding on the floor, and as soon as we spot them, we attempt to sneak up behind them. A 40-foot boat with virtually 600 horsepower shouldn’t be the stealthiest craft on the water, however finished proper, the boat can get remarkably near the fish. One among us will then run out into the 25-foot-long pulpit on the bow of the boat and try to throw a handheld harpoon into the tuna. The pulpit is about twelve ft off the water, and the vessel is transferring at round six to eight knots. Coupled with wind and waves, this implies the duty is commonly fairly tough. However to me, there isn’t any methodology of fishing that’s extra enjoyable or extra rewarding than harpooning.
I’m positive most On The Water readers use rod and reel gear or handlines, and you might be asking your self, “What does this stick-boat man have to supply me?” Whereas prior to now I’ve spent a while catching bluefin with a hook aboard the Cookie Too out of Gloucester, I can’t fake to be an knowledgeable with a rod and reel. That’s not my intent right here.
As a harpooner, my success depends on discovering fish. Whereas some tuna fishermen appear to depend on trolling blindly, probably the most profitable ones all have the necessary means to seek out the fish. So whereas I can’t provide recommendation on the most effective line to make use of or one of the simplest ways to tie a mackerel rig, I can provide ideas that I hope will aid you discover the tuna, perceive their conduct, and in the end, catch extra. Armed with this data, it is possible for you to to seek out the overall space the place the fish are, and might bait to tuna you see on the floor, as an alternative of counting on blind strikes.
Forage is the Key Issue
Step one find large tuna is discovering their meals. Bluefin tuna come to the waters off New England for one motive, and one motive solely: to eat. And never for mere consuming, however gorging. The fish arrive emaciated after swimming 1000’s of miles from their spawning grounds within the Gulf of Mexico. They wish to eat as a lot as they’ll whereas expending the least quantity of effort earlier than they proceed onward and repeat the migratory cycle once more.
It is because of this that forage is the important thing issue driving the conduct of huge bluefin tuna. How forage drives their conduct is dependant upon the kind of forage fish and the quantity of forage.
Sea Herring
When the tuna arrive within the Gulf of Maine by mid-June, nothing satisfies their starvation just like the plenty of sea herring which have traditionally been discovered off the coast. Whereas there are a number of forage fishes that large bluefin eat off the coast of New England, the opinion of most profitable tuna fishermen is that sea herring is the forage of alternative. Whether or not on Jeffreys Ledge in the summertime or within the Nice South Channel within the fall, herring have actually introduced the plenty of huge bluefin to our a part of the ocean.
For harpooners, herring are essential due to the impact they’ve on tuna. Herring are loaded with fats and journey in giant, dense faculties. When tuna corral them right into a bait ball on the floor, the feeding tuna are oblivious to anything – together with a harpoon boat. The scene is commonly chaotic, with fish breaking the floor and rolling by means of the bait ball, mouths agape, filling up on the high-fat forage. From a distance, a college of tuna feeding on herring seems as a steady mass of white water. And sometimes, lots of, and even 1000’s, of shearwaters, gannets and sea gulls will likely be diving for the herring as nicely.
I can recall a spectacular instance of this about ten years in the past off Mount Desert Rock in Downeast Maine. After a summer time of sub-par fishing out of Boothbay Harbor, the ocean herring got here in thick all alongside the Maine coast in late July. On the final day of the month, we heard a report of tuna 80 to 100 miles due east, and we decided to go offshore.
We arrived at about 7 a.m. to seek out the mom lode. Giant faculties of bluefin had lastly discovered plenty of five- to eight-inch herring. The primary bunch we discovered included about 150 to 200 fish, every over 500 kilos, feeding in a frenzy on the floor. We have been capable of get proper in the midst of the varsity with out them even realizing we have been there; within the chaos, one fish truly ran head-on into the hull of our boat. Even after harpooning that first fish, the varsity continued feeding. We chased fish all day lengthy, going from bunch to bunch to bunch. There have been 1000’s of shearwaters and 1000’s of tuna, and solely when the wind got here up at round 4 p.m. did we understand how nice a day we had simply had.
Mackerel
Atlantic mackerel are one other necessary forage for tuna on this area. The basic signal of bluefin feeding on mackerel is scattered splashes unfold out over giant areas – two to a few splashes right here, two to a few there, however nothing actually concentrated or lasting for a very long time. As harpooners, we’re not all the time blissful to attempt to catch fish feeding on mackerel. Not like herring, mackerel are very fast and athletic fish, and which means that tuna must work a lot more durable to get sufficient to eat. Whereas tuna are gradual and torpid when gorging on herring, when consuming mackerel they dart round, usually unfold out, and are very laborious to harpoon.
The identical conduct that makes tuna feeding on mackerel tough to harpoon could make them wonderful targets for rod-and-reel fishermen. The scattered circumstances of mackerel-eating tuna could favor the fisherman who covers floor by trolling. Completely different fishermen have completely different opinions on one of the simplest ways to focus on fish feeding on mackerel (or any forage, for that matter). When you would suppose that mackerel rigs can be splendid on this scenario, it is extremely laborious to say for positive forward of time. Bear in mind, bluefin could be unpredictable; the most effective methodology is to hold a number of forms of gear and adapt to the scenario at hand.
And don’t restrict your self to trolling – there will likely be instances when chunking or live-baiting will likely be only. One methodology that has labored nicely in the previous couple of years is live-lining a bluefish utilizing a kite rig. Whereas I haven’t seen it in individual, from what I’m informed, catching a tuna with such a gear is about as thrilling because it will get. Needless to say because of the plague of dogfish as of late, the chunking and dwell baiting could be practically inconceivable in lots of areas through the summer time months.
In relation to sand eels, measurement issues.
Sand Eels
When tuna feed on sand eels, one other necessary forage species on this area, they don’t bounce and crash as they do when feeding on herring, and typically mackerel. Typically the fish are seen swimming quickly and erratically on the floor, making small wakes and zooming from spot to identify. They’re seemingly feeding a number of ft down after which coming as much as seek for extra sand eels. Typically the whales and birds will likely be in the identical tight space, and so it is extremely laborious to identify the tuna amidst all of the motion. Search for a V-wake that’s not being made by boats or whales; there’s a very good likelihood you might be seeing tuna.
In relation to sand eels, measurement issues. Small eels, these which can be just a few inches lengthy, are usually not going to have the ability to fulfill a fish as giant as a large bluefin. Bluefin solely care about placing on fats, and won’t stick round in the event that they should expend extra energy catching a meal than they get in return.
When the bait is small sand eels, an space can look utterly alive with whales, stripers, birds and juvenile tuna, and but there will likely be no large bluefin. This was the case final summer time on Stellwagen Financial institution. Originally of the season, there have been loads of bigger sand eels over eight inches lengthy. Due to this, giant faculties of large bluefin confirmed up in mid-June and stayed on the grounds for weeks. By mid-July, principally small eels have been left, and it wasn’t a coincidence that the big faculties of huge tuna have been lengthy gone.
Small bluefin require completely different prey than the large tuna. A 30-pound fish can get by on pencil-sized sand eels, krill or scattered bunker. The identical goes for stripers, cod and different life that may be discovered on Stellwagen Financial institution late within the season. However large bluefin are usually not going to have the ability to make a residing on tiny sand eels; the second-to-last fish we caught on Stellwagen – amidst acres of small sand eels –was stuffed with the bones of stripers and a big dogfish, however not one single eel.
However don’t overlook the potential of catching large bluefin when they’re feeding on giant sand eels. If there are sufficient large eels in an space, there could be large numbers of fish.
Tuna on the Run
Large bluefin are simpler to seek out and catch not solely when they’re actively feeding, however between feedings as nicely. Tuna which can be full from feeding usually come to the floor to run, which is the time period we use for after they swim up on high. These fish most frequently swim at round 5 to 6 knots, however relying on the scenario, they’ll swim at a crawl or as quick as fifteen knots. Many fishermen consider that the tuna journey by means of the nice and cozy floor waters to digest after gorging in deeper water. This conduct is mostly seen when the tuna have been feeding on sea herring. For unknown causes, bluefin seem to change into virtually intoxicated after gorging on herring.
Typically we see comparable conduct when the tuna are feeding on giant sand eels. I can recall someday about ten years in the past, solely eight to 10 miles off the breakwater in Gloucester, once I noticed 4 or 5 bunches of over a thousand fish. Earlier the tuna have been feeding on the eels, however on the finish of the day they have been all operating on the floor. A few of the bunches have been cartwheeling, or swimming in a giant circle. Whereas the explanation for this conduct is unknown, it seems that the fish are content material the place they’re, and since they should swim repeatedly however don’t wish to depart the world, they swim in place.
This side of tuna conduct is arguably extra necessary to the harpoon fishery, as we depend on the fish coming to the floor. As a result of the tuna are full and content material, they’re simpler to harpoon. As a hook fisherman, why would you’ll wish to discover the fish when they’re most likely already full?
Effectively, don’t assume that seeing fish operating on the floor means dangerous information. It means you might be the place the fish are, so you might have already elevated your probabilities of catching them. You by no means know for positive whether or not fish on the floor are hungry or not. A few of the finest trollers I do know thrive on discovering fish operating on the floor after which slowly and methodically pulling the baits in entrance of the fish.
Additionally, for those who see tuna operating on the floor, there could also be others within the space actively feeding. And if the surface-running fish return into feeding mode, you may be within the place to catch a number of fish. I keep in mind someday on the Cookie Too once we baited bunches on high all afternoon and solely had combined outcomes. However a number of hours later, we moved a brief distance towards Stellwagen Financial institution and began trolling the sting. We had over 50 bites and caught eight or 9 fish in about two hours. Had we not seen the fish on the floor a number of hours earlier, we most likely would have left the world altogether. However since we noticed the fish and knew they have been there, we put within the time and it paid off.
Tides and Climate
Though discovering giant numbers of herring, mackerel or large sand eels is essential to discovering large bluefin tuna, don’t underestimate the significance of tides and climate. When it comes to tides, most individuals know that slack tide is without doubt one of the finest instances for all bluefin fishermen. Bluefin, particularly giant bluefin, appear to hate sturdy tides. The slack tide presents reduction, so all the time be on guard throughout these durations. There are many days when you may be in an space seemingly devoid of tuna, after which the tide turns and instantly fish are all over the place. Sturdy moon tides are normally a foul time for locating tuna, and through these instances even the slack might not be sufficient to carry the fish up. Slack tides throughout such moons are sometimes quick and provide little to no reduction for the fish. And eventually, whereas slack tides will usually carry fish up, there are all the time exceptions relating to bluefin, and there are occasions when the turning of the tide inexplicably shuts the fishing off.
As a normal rule, bluefin tuna feed closely early within the morning, after which run offshore within the afternoon. On Jeffreys Ledge, for instance, for those who discover the fish on the ledge within the morning, likelihood is they may head east or southeast by afternoon. There is no such thing as a positive wager although, and there will likely be days when the fish run inshore within the afternoon. The important thing appears to be that they wish to get out into extra nonetheless waters, and meaning getting away from the shallower banks and ledges the place the currents and tide run more durable.
Climate may affect large tuna. Higher climate usually means higher fishing, which is handy as a result of most boaters should watch for a day of sunshine winds and clear climate for security and luxury when fishing offshore. Nevertheless, giant bluefin are notoriously choosy relating to wind course, so don’t assume {that a} good day with gentle wind means the fish will likely be on the floor. The very best scenario for locating fish on the floor is when you might have a north/northwest wind within the morning, and it shifts round to the south within the afternoon. There is no such thing as a higher wind for locating large tuna than a light-weight southerly. It’s inconceivable to say why, however regardless of the motive, the consequences could be profound. Whereas southerly winds within the afternoon carry the tuna up, an east wind, even when gentle, appears to maintain the fish down.
One factor to remember is that even for those who come throughout tuna central, these fish are extremely cellular and might usually disappear for brief durations of time. Many instances we thought we had the fish dialed in, and have been humbled the following day once we received out and there didn’t look like a single tuna within the ocean. What makes the fish disappear sometimes is difficult to say, however it could simply be their approach of digesting. Regardless of the motive, all the time be ready for the “positive factor” to change into a bust; there isn’t any such factor as a positive factor relating to bluefin. For instance, the day after we received 9 tuna off Mount Desert Rock, we got here again out and located nothing. Not one single fish. It took 4 to 5 days earlier than the fish returned out of nowhere, as if that they had been there the entire time.
Discovering large bluefin tuna is a ability that may solely be obtained by means of expertise. However for those who take note of the elements mentioned above, you’ll hopefully have the ability to put your self in the correct space. With sufficient time and expertise, pursuing large bluefin tuna could be some of the rewarding fishing experiences you can find.
