| Bluefin tuna are one of the greatest challenges to | | | | preferably using the Jinkai crimping tool listed on this |
| anglers off the coast of New England, and | | | | page. |
| Massachusetts continues to be a center of activity for | | | | They also use these crimps to attach a small wind on |
| giant bluefin tuna.Most tuna are caught chunking or | | | | swivel. This way, the leader can be wound all the way |
| trolling. I will describe the techniques used by top crews | | | | on the spool, protecting the flurocarbon during storage, |
| to catch these giants. | | | | ensuring clean decks, and allowing the angler to reel |
| Chunking for Bluefin involves archoring on a good | | | | the fish as close as needed to harpoon it. |
| fishing spot known to hold bluefin. Once anchored, top | | | | All crews attach the sinkers and ballons using rubber |
| crews deploy chunks, stick baits and live baits | | | | bands. Sinker weight is selcted based on the spped of |
| suspended on ballons at different depths. Most | | | | the current and the desired depth that you are trying |
| captains have their crew position the baits where at | | | | to fish. |
| the depth they mark tuna fish on their fish finder. | | | | Most crews that troll bluefin fish spreader bars from |
| Many top captains use Gamahastu Live Bait hooks. In | | | | their outriggers at about 3-4 knots. Most crews fish |
| determining the hook size, it is important to match the | | | | three to four spreader bars, two from the outriggers |
| hook to the size bait that you are using. You shouldn't | | | | and one or two flat lines. Outriggers are rigged with |
| use a hook that is too large, because it will detract | | | | roller trollers so that the line can be reeled through the |
| from the presentation of the bait. | | | | clip to tease the fish into striking again if he misses the |
| All top crews use fluorocaron leader. Leader varies | | | | first time. The clip is set tight so that the outrigger sets |
| from 150-lb to 220lb, with many crews fishing light gear | | | | the hook on the fish. |
| (150-180) to get bites when they are hard to come by. | | | | Fisherman use different spreader bar sizes and colors |
| Most crews start off with a long leader (say 15 feet), | | | | in their trolling spread based on experience and |
| so they can cut back and recimpt the hook on if their | | | | conditions. Snap swivels are used so that rigs can be |
| leader gets nicked up by dogfish or other pests. | | | | swapped out easily. Thimbles and heavy chafe gear |
| Many crews using light fluorocarbon also use H crimps | | | | protect the mono where it connects to the hook and |
| instead of G crimps for their 150 or 180 fluoro. The | | | | swivel. Most crews use the Mustad or VMC southern |
| lower profile H crimp must be done carefullly, | | | | tuna hook style on their trolling rigs. |